Verbigier The Saint Paul Michel Begon
January 2009
Township Holy Cross Volvestre remains to this day one of the forest, the least populated and poorest the department of Ariege. Here lie the foothills of the Pyrenees and the small-Plantaurel first notches in the north of the Salat. They are poor soils for agriculture and livestock, but wild-prone industries. Until the 1880s, many There were loggers, charcoal burners, carpenters, joiners and the glass heated with wood. The rural exodus is more left than the few clearings Fabas, or Tourtouse Pointis-Mercenac among thick forests. We must recollect that these places sometimes become isolated and lost once had a great story.
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Several families of gentlemen glassmakers practiced their art in the hills of this country that methodically deforesting. The "trail of glass," recommends that the union initiatives Holy Cross Volvestre and was traced to the diligence of Ms. Marie-Genevieve Dagain (from Verbizier Verbizier) and Laurette Fauroux, winds through the forest from one site to another, which often remains more than walls in ruins, some temples disused or abandoned cemeteries, but also, miraculously, the beautiful castle Poudelay.
The oldest families of glassmakers seem to have arrived here during the sixteenth century, perhaps from relatives Comminges, under the names of Vervigier, Bervigier, Verbezier, Verbigier or, depending on the whims spelling time, Verbizier. The presence of abundant forests are chosen to exploit. According to family tradition and the archivist Claude Martin (Robert Bousquet), these families come from even more distantly from the small village of Berbiguières, perched on the south bank of the Dordogne, near Milandes and stronghold in the sixteenth century Caumont , leaders of the Protestant nobles in Périgord. That would be the medieval origin of their name. When forested sites were lacking there, they have migrated, as did the other clans glass, forests of the Massif Central towards the forests of the Pyrenees, throughout the Renaissance period. In any case, the known ancestor of these lineages appears to be in Couserans Verbigier John, son of Peter, who tested in 1614, shortly after the assassination of Henri IV. But first installation seems attested from 1544. Then the families of Robert Grenier and joined them towards the beginning of the seventeenth century, when religious persecution drove them out of glass of La Bastide de Sérou, Gabre or Greenhouse Cor.
These gentlemen enjoyed the privilege of hereditary blow glass to mouth, oil bottles and perfume bottles, under a monopoly granted by the king since the Middle Ages in 1585 and confirmed by the charter of Sommières (Gard), but under the prohibition of dual trading in their manufacture (merchants do this) and transmit their rights outside their lineages.
The three aforementioned family clans practiced endogamy them fairly closed, like the dynasties and corporations of the ancien regime, but also to avoid misalliance and transfer their rights to other lineages. Thus, between 1550 and 1850, over 3 centuries and 84 marriages recorded in Verbigier, 64 are knotted with the same three clans, 32 with Grenier, 18 and 14 with Robert with other branches or Verbigier Verbizier. So far no cases of congenital defect has been reported!
It is often said that these three family clans were not wealthy and the landlords of Couserans regarded them as "poor cousins", although their nobility was attested from the fifteenth century at the latest if even during the Crusades. Local elections for the States-General of spring 1789, at St-Girons, the second order of the kingdom showed them all his condescension, because of the difference rows and heritages. But this alleged poverty, historians are now wondering: Was not a display for tax reasons? These families of noblemen had large wood for their industry, yet at the time the forests were the main source of energy and could relate very much. One can also think that Protestants advocated modesty, which remained their religious image, to distinguish it from the luxury and extravagance of the Catholic nobility of the ancien regime and rentier. On the other hand, most were "heretics" and were feared whistleblowers eager for their property. In any case, the state houses of glass remained in that time did not reflect a lack of resources.
At the time, these gentlemen glassmakers were predominantly of the reformed religion, which was particularly strong in the southwest of the kingdom and Jeanne d'Albret was also encouraged in the County of Foix . It was still the case in the early seventeenth century. However, in 1685, King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes of his grandfather Henry IV Bearn, guaranteeing freedom of conscience, and provoked a blow hundreds of thousands of voluntary exile and simulated conversions among the Huguenots. In the county of Foix as Couserans soldiers obtained all conversions and renunciations that would supposedly spontaneous at Versailles. Overall, Verbigier officially converted to the Catholic faith, but in haste and in October 1685. However, the remainder of their history can doubt their sincerity of the moment. The parish registers attest that they would have converted several times and suggest that in the meantime they would replace religion. To give children a civil status, they had to submit to the cure who registered on the book of parish while he baptized them, but often the mothers preferred to conceal the birth by a minister of the desert waiting for their clandestine baptism. This double set of glass, part Catholic and part Protestant, has been best documented by Yves Blaquière to those of the Montagne Noire. Such ambiguity would be harder to take a long time!
These comings and goings between the two Christian denominations at the time were even more frequent as they remained discreet and besides Unlike the two religions was not as marked as it was done later. The revolution of 1789 has widened to more than a century a political divide in rallying the Republican or liberal reformers in Orleans, and by rejecting most Catholics in ultramontanism, that is to say, under the sovereign authority of Pope. In any case, the edict of tolerance, established by Louis XVI in 1787, gave the Protestants not only freedom of worship, but also holding vital Christian baptisms. This explains a point of history we will see further uncertainty.
The three family clans showed their nobility and their privileges, carrying the sword or dagger with the broad hat and arguing in court against the usurpations of commoners. In the hierarchy they were noble knights, but the reformers could in principle be the king's officers, except of course in case of double baptism. In reality, these gentlemen glassmakers were prisoners of their condition and their annuity situation, what sudden growth after the Revolution Verbigier show brilliantly.
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The three family clans shared the mountainous sites are most favorable to glassware, wherever the forest to exploit the siliceous rocks which were close to the body of the glass. In three centuries, they exploited dozens of glass, now reduced to the status of remains and away from modern highways, it remains little more than the castle Poudelay, ever so prestigious in the heart of the woods. The Verbigier were implanted from the sixteenth century in the area a few miles west of St. Croix and north-Volvestre Fabas, in this place we called, depending on the variety of spellings of old, Pout Lagny, Pot-de-Leu or Poudelay. Only the last named on current maps. Here their presence is attested by deeds from 1544, thus dating from the reign of François 1st (1494-1547). We still find today, especially on the map, the places called "glass top" and "glass bottom".
In five centuries, this strain was so prolific that one can not easily trace his family tree, whose branches are interwoven twigs and often stay until nowadays more fruitful. Let us remember that in principle the reformers did not give their son or daughters in the army or on religion and their progeny it is even better perpetuated under the Ancien Regime, unlike so many other lineages nobles. To distinguish between them, hundreds of gentlemen glassmakers southwest affix to their surname the name of a glass, a house, a wood that nickname normally changed every generation and even to each individual; then it was extended from one generation to another to identify parentage and later still, it is incorporates the name, which is now inseparable. Verbigier the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries successively took the nicknames Mourtis, Laffitte, Sablon Montredon Coustaut, Poudelay and St. Paul, which we speculate further on the origin. By chance or in honor of the apostle, the name of St. Paul has prevailed and even eclipsed the ancestral surname.
At the head of glassware Poudelay, succeeded during the eighteenth century one of Verbigier Jacques (who died in 1703), his son Jacques (d. 1724) and his grand-son Paul (who died in 1787 ). Were master glassblowers and already leading owners, especially of forest areas. The castle was then Poudelay is a large two-story house in the style of the country. Dependencies housed many employees. From the archives, the working population was abundant in the glass studio, in addition to external aids, because with the family members worked for directors and workers, whose names remained. All these people were, apparently he and Protestants gathered in the small temple that remains near the castle and was later converted into Catholic chapel. They were buried among the fields and meadows without headstone or ornaments to rest in the simple Christian humility.
Like most gentlemen of the glass-and Volvestre Couserans, the tragic event was secondary to the repression of religion reformed in 1745 to secretly celebrated glassworks in forests, but immediately complained to the police royal . From the archives of the Herault, a meeting was held April 15, 1745 at Fauroux near Fabas; minister preached to 160 people three times, seven in the morning until one hour the afternoon. Other assemblies are made in the days and locations nearby neighbors, showing us the density of the population were living when the glass. None of Verbigier there was captured, or sent to the galleys, but they all saw "file" by the police, as evidenced by a survey report, which denounces the practice in secret for the RPR or RPR . In retaliation, the king's men razed in 1746 the glassworks Poudelay. It reinforced underground. Then, the Edict of Tolerance of 1787 allowed the Huguenots to raise their heads.
It seems that these glassworks Poudelay have ceased their activity under King Louis XV, perhaps as early as the razing of 1746 or later, and then be gone the Verbigier glass-blowing workshops in other Volvestre or those of Grésigne forest, located in the present department of Tarn, their distant cousins operator. It is therefore plausible that the gentleman Verbigier glassmaker Paul, born in 1712 and died in 1787, has practiced his profession in Grésigne in the second half of his life and he joined to his surname the name of St. Paul, from the parish of St. Paul Maimrac located Bruniquel near Tarn-et-Garonne, where Verbigier were then present. This conjecture was suggested by Mr. Claude Martin (Robert Bousquet).
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Revolution created for all the big break. No doubt the gentlemen glassmakers were they fair enough, but moderate royalists. The repeal of the nobility and privileges abolished by right of their status and monopoly, but without doing much to stop their glass industry. However, a great soldier left the lot.
Paul Verbigier was born in Poudelay officially April 25, 1775, son of Paul Verbigier glassmaker Saint-Paul, above, of Robert and Mary of Garils, from the commander of Gabre (county of Foix). However, uncertainty remains about its actual age, because his baptism in the Reformed Church was not on the parish registers of the Church and to commit to seventeen years in the army, he would have aged three years, saying he was born in 1772. His official birthday was retrospectively set for April 25 1775 by a court of Saint-Girons taken June 25, 1835.
Since 1789, the Revolution exalts some and scares others. In 1792, Paul has no father for five years now and his mother who bears the name of the glassware Garils, razed in 1621, it instills resentment. So here January 27, 1792, Louis XVI still reigning, Paul Verbigier enlisted as a sergeant in the 3rd Battalion of the Volunteers of the Ariege, cheating on his age and goes to the army of Spain, July 22 1792, as second lieutenant. Meanwhile, the king declared war on Austria in April 1792, pushed told by Marie-Antoinette, who expected the French defeat, and both ill-prepared, France lost it's first field in Alsace and Lorraine, but soon comes the start of the Battle of Valmy, September 20, 1792, the royalty is then reversed and the Republic proclaimed. March 7, 1793, Year One of the Republic, the Convention declares war on Spain Bourbon Charles IV, descendant of Louis XIV. Immediately the English army invaded Roussillon.
But here, too, burst of patriotism! The victory Peyrestortes, September 17, 1793, to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, pushes the enemy. This happens near the pond of Canet, where on a clear day you can see the Canigou. However, wounded by a bayonet wound in the forehead, the citizen and formerly noble Verbigier is captured. Sixty years later, the pastor and poet Napoleon Peyrat, Les Bordes-sur-Arize, will celebrate its emphasis Hugo's very heroic event:
O Peyrestortes battle,
Where Spain, Mountains breaking the old doors,
We challenged superb and found his grave!
Where the shock of our thundering phalanges strong
Our crushed France its evil cohorts,
Rome and the Escorial, vulture, raven,
A world of dead larvae!
Victory popular bright torch
Canigou snow, wearing the flap
Of your bloody shroud, keeps its doors forever
And France and Spain, O trophy, O grave,
O Peyrestortes battle! "
Finally released October 24, 1795, after two years of English citizens Verbigier incorporated in 1796 as a lieutenant of the army of Italy, under the orders of the young General Napoleon Bonaparte, who swept from victory to victory, Lodi, the bridge of Arcola, Campo Formic, and won immense glory that we know. Now the military talents of the offspring of Volvestre are recognized. His intelligence and courage to carry it forward. Here in 1798 he was made captain in the army of the new Cisalpine Republic, where he learned Italian. As to Bonaparte, he led the coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799 proclaimed himself emperor and resumes the fight against the allies. In 1803, the Kingdom of Italy was created, which Napoleon made king; Paul Verbigier helps build his army and became an aide to General Severoli. He was only 28 years! When in 1806 the French regained Naples Verbigier is poured into the Neapolitan army under the command of Murat. In 1807 he was appointed colonel of the Grand Army. In avril1809 it is on the Isonzo, to cover the advance of Napoleon to Wagram, then he proceeded toward occupied Germany.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant John Verbigier, younger brother Paul was born in 1778, died without more is known, at the age of 22 years and then in 1800, the military Pyrenees.
Imperial Eagles believe they now all-powerful. O presumption! In March 1808, the first Napoleon did invade Spain and Portugal. His first step to rally the friends of ideas: the "afrancesados" is to abolish the Inquisition. The second is that he gives his brother the throne of the Bourbons. But the French invasion of Spain to mark the beginning of the war of independence, commemorated each year as the country's national holiday. Because the English resist with fury by the guerrilla insurgencies and especially Catalonia Madrid on 2 and May 3, 1808, Goya magnify his large canvases on the Prado. In June, forcing the surrender of Bailèn King Joseph Bonaparte to flee from Madrid to withdraw as soon as possible on the Ebro. The British landed in Portugal and Junot at Cintra capitulated, August 30, 1808. The Emperor decides to take things personally in hand and engage their best captains with his best troops.
Soult took command. It is also a descendant of the gentry-glass, his mother was Mary Grenier Lapeyre, glass of Black Mountain. May 28 1810, Verbigier is assigned as adjutant commander for offensive-cons the army of Aragon: it participates in terrible siege of Zaragoza, the battle Vic and decision of Lleida, close to the Pyrenees. Appointed Chief of Staff in the division Peyri, it shows its value at the headquarters of Tarragona in Catalonia in May and June 1811, he led the assault on the Upper City, under fire from British ships in a battle streets, where you take one house, investing the fortress, he captured 10,000 prisoners and 380 guns. However, he was wounded by a bullet in his left leg June 28, 1811. Then the emperor distinguished by being Baron of the Empire, a hereditary title which was sent after him from father to son.
Promoted brigadier-general, Baron de Saint-Paul again illustrated at the headquarters of Valencia (December 26, 1811). He sees himself appointed Knight of the Iron Crown. In January 1812 he took command of 2 divisions to the front of the Ebro. He won the battles of Posa (February 1813) and Tolosa (June 1813). Napoleon sends reinforcements to the Italians in front of Spain and the Baron took command of their brigade. But the guerrillas seized the English countryside, with the ferocity that Goya recount later, in his " Disasters of War 'soldiers hanged or cut into pieces. The military approach of Wellington, defeated the French, forcing them to evacuate and Spain, in November 1813, crossed the Pyrenees. In December 1813, the General is returning to Italy with his brigade.
For, as the situation worsens for the kingdom of Italy, which is the Viceroy Eugene de Beauharnais, and the kingdom of Naples, where there Joachim Murat. Because he speaks Italian well, Baron de Saint-Paul is responsible for defending the peninsula. In February 1814, he commanded the garrison Domo d'Ossola on the border with Switzerland. But already the enemy invades northern France. The campaign mobilizes France does that too low numbers. The notable drop the emperor, who abdicated at Fontainebleau. Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI, made its debut in Paris, May 3, 1814. Our hero was discharged May 31, 1814 and returned to Poudelay defeated.
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Then one of the strangest episodes in the history of France's attempt to merge the nobility of the Empire with the nobility Old Plan, to reconcile the French after 22 years of wars. King Louis XVIII needs the veteran soldiers of the Empire as much as they need the king to retain their titles and dignities.
Like many others, the Baron of St. Paul rallied to the monarchy. As already holds the Iron Cross, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, he was also appointed a brigadier by the king in October 1814 and received the Cross of St. Louis. He married an heiress of the illustrious house of Foix: Charlotte-Honored, whose father is Paul-Louis de Foix-Fabas, former MP and Lord of Fabas monarchist in room 1814. It will be brother-Alexandre-Henri de Foix, bodyguard of Louis XVIII. As under the Restoration Paul Verbigier is of noble birth and has always been knighted by the grace of King St. Louis say well, there is not there to misalliance for in-laws. There will most legitimate reproach! But to marry Charlotte, Baron of St. Paul must promise that the couple's children are Catholic, although he himself remains forever Protestant. However, his mother Mary and Robert Garils, said the oral tradition, rejects this commitment and have even denied his son. Is that really true? She died to Poudelay in 1826.
Actually, St. Paul and Charlotte de Foix-Fabas were engaged for seven years, but because of the military campaigns were being little. The family keeps their correspondence in Italian, in which the bride accuses her future did not always enjoy their trips to visit him in Ariege.
Napoleon landed abruptly on the island of Elba on March 1, 1815. One after another, the cast rallied Bonapartist evil mask and join the Eagles. What to do? The Baron of St. Paul did not renounce his beautiful bride and passes the knot May 18, 1815. Then he joined the emperor and his comrades. In its place what would you do? On May 27, 1815, a week after the wedding, Napoleon first appointed Major General and General Clauzel assigned command of the fortress of Cerdanya in Montlouis, once configured by Vauban. He is facing the army of English General Castanos, which remains a great leader for his country (a street in Madrid bears his name). However, it is also during the "honeymoon" and his beautiful wife accompanies him among the soldiers. However, the danger and press from all parts of Charlotte St. Paul must regain Poudelay on horseback, with few zealous servants. Is the Puymorens pass and the Val d'Ariege? Or, to avoid Llivia Puigcerda and, descending the gorges of the Aude? In any case, what wild ride through the mountains and the perils!
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Then came a glorious feat of arms. On 18 June 1815, Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium on June 22 he abdicated in favor of his son, the "Eaglet", and attempts to flee the United States by Rochefort. A period of political uncertainty settles before Louis XVIII returns to Ghent where he had fled during the Hundred Days. Gen. Baron de Saint-Paul considers it his duty to take all costs instead of Montlouis to the English, so they do not seize the Pyrenees Orintales.
is first a soldier wants to serve his country until the end. He would have preferred to fall as a hero on the battlefield, but the die otherwise. He did make that "to save his men." Here is how he makes himself account of the case by a letter dated 8 October 1830 the Minister of War, the new king Louis-Philippe which is another minister while Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, Duke of Dalmatia.
On July 5, 1815, the Duc d'Angoulême him give the order by General Baron Damascus to recognize the authority of the king. He did not respond. 7, second order: it is removed from his command of the place, which would be entrusted to an officer who could take it. This action would forget the past. Third summons the next day: "Given the refusal of ex-general of Saint Paul comply with the orders of His Royal Highness, dated 5 and 7 of this month, it is removed and subjected to a trial military commission and in accordance with the royal decree of March 6. " St. Paul always resists. "The irrelevance of threats: to deceive, progress ... while I was proposed with a prodigality no wear, no such delicacy. I made known to the Baron de Damas contempt that inspired me to similar proposals and that I was more determined than ever to hand over the place according to the orders of the Minister of War. I continued my command until 26 July and I am not determined to leave after having been assured that a English division under General Saarfield had come to France the next day, my friend too country for him to pay an additional misfortune and some also that further resistance would only worsen the plight of a garrison that had shown such reluctance and was the last to submit. I did finally fly the flag should no longer be that of France. Garrison immediately left his place, bag and baggage, shouting that she would take the army of the Loire. Since 18, I was without news of my superiors, I was preparing to follow the movement of the troops, but I was arrested and taken to the gendarmerie in Foix to stand trial. I must the influence of General Perigueux, then commander in Toulouse, for not having brought my head on the scaffold (his sword was broken in his hands). I received orders to return him home, where I remained long under surveillance by the police. "
On 15 July 1815, Napoleon 1st win waives the United States and is taken prisoner in the hands of England. Perhaps this failed attempt she also explain the long resistance of St. Paul, until July 26 or 38 days after Waterloo, to cover the emperor leakage through the southern flank?
Put on half-pay at age 45, retired Gen. Poudelay therefore, with his beautiful wife, who gave him four children, all bearing his name: Paul-Celanira, Paul-Louis Gustavus, Paul-Louis-Leopold and Paul-Henri-Gaston.
In 1825, St. Paul is retired from the army. He replaces his father-Louis de Foix-Fabas the general council of Ariege, during the "war of ladies," the ultimate peasant uprising in France.
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Back wealth by the "Three Glorious Days" of July 1830. Having ousted the legitimate Bourbons, Louis-Philippe claims to be Napoleon, completes the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, brought back the ashes of the emperor and especially reminded to Marshal Soult, first as Minister of War and then as prime minister. It is the era of liberalism and romanticism.
St. Paul wants to return to arms and to address this lette Soult, 8 October 1830, we have already cited. "I was eighteen campaigns, party simple Soldier, I acquired all my grades on the battlefield, I want the army as to my existence, it would make me die of regret and pain of not linking me the day my principles have triumphed . He was appointed military commander of the garrisons of the Indre, January 14, 1831 and Commander of the Legion of Honor, November 16, 1832. The portrait preserved by his family represents so in full uniform, blue coat with gold epaulettes, three dangling decorations, red pants and gold belt, with the imperious look, a gray mustache and sideburns fashionable Louis-Philippe. In the Indre, he met Talleyrand, who owns the castle Valencay. Then, he was elected in 1833, voting census, general counsel of the township of St. Croix-Volvestre. There is also Mayor of Fabas. His responsibilities make him open the local highways No. 3, which connects St. Lizier Salies-du-Salat which is now planned enlargement of 2 times 2 channels. But the Second Republic, proclaimed in February 1848, no longer reflects his views, nor those of his son, Gaston, as we shall see. He retired from all his duties and died November 2, 1850. He is buried in the Protestant cemetery Fabas.
Later, when the Catholic cemetery is abandoned, the graves of Foix-Fabas will be transferred to the Protestant cemetery. Now, being a Calvinist, Baron de Saint Paul was buried there, certainly, next to his wife Charlotte, which lies in consecrated ground by the Church, but on the other side of a virtual line separating the holy land Soil profane.
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After him, the Saint Paul Verbigier combine the Bonapartist zeal with a sincere Catholic faith, including the manuscripts of his daughter Celanira can no longer doubt. These will be notable national and military tradition.
But their fates turn out quite different. Baron Paul-Louis-Gustave was general counsel of the Holy Cross, Mayor Fabas and treasurer of the Lozere, and the Tarn-et-Garonne, but unfortunately it has no descendants. Paul-Louis-Leopold Brigadier spahis in Algeria, but in 1840 is to kill the enemy in a heroic fight a rearguard action. Finally Paul-Henri-Marie-Gaston, born in 1820, under the Second Empire will be a great political career.
His studies at the College of Sorèze and law school opened up by the Ministry of Interior in 1846. The terrible days of June 1848, causing several thousand deaths on the barricades of Paris, he commanded a company of mobile guards in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, which is the traditional district of artisans and the nerve center of street fighting. One of the aims insurgents at close range, a guard turns the blow, the weapon was kept by the family. Then, the coup of December 2, 1851 brought to power the Emperor Napoleon III. It is again the peak of Bonapartist!
Assigned to the department of Tarn, as sub-prefect of Castres, Gaston St. Paul faces the riots of 1851 and cholera in 1854. In 1856, the following sub-prefect of Brest in 1858, prefect of the Basses-Alpes in 1859, Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Interior. His reputation as "iron fist" had him appointed director of personnel and the press, Beauvau place to hold a candle to the legitimate opposition and Republican. It then binds friendship with Bernard Grenier Cassagnac also descended from gentlemen glassmakers of Biscay and one of the great leaders of the Bonapartist party.
statements made at the time of Gaston Verbigier of the second capital of the Ariege, with several hundreds of hectares in the canton of St. Croix and all 50,000 gold francs, behind the Viscount Saintenac, For its part worth 150,000 gold francs. These official statements even encrypt its heritage to 8000 hectares, but this area seems implausible to the family and the current mayor of Fabas. These forests near Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, smallholdings inherited from Foix-Fabas and building lots in the area west of Paris.
Why and how such a heritage? Her father nor the Foix-Fabas were so rich. We can try to identify the source of such a fortune. Under the Second Empire, the railway and industrial capitalism develops impetuously closely with the political and Gaston of St. Paul is just part of the narrow circle of "friends of Power." He presides over a railroad company. He knows full well Baron Georges Haussmann (1809-1891), which was sub-prefect of Saint-Girons (Ariège) and probably Poudelay attended the occasion. Appointed prefect of the Seine, Haussmann with engineering leads the development of Paris and combines his friends to the huge land transaction that accompanies it. Any time (Voltaire already!) And even today, the "Friends of Power" have enjoyed "insider information" they know how to make the most discreetly. Was this the case? Anyway, Gaston Saint Paul acquires land and buildings at Passy or near the Place Vendome (in particular street of Mount Tabor), whose land value has been considerable at the time. Besides a street bordering the Palais de Tokyo in the Seine (Paris XVI) still bears the name of Gaston of St. Paul.
His official portrait shows a broad front in a black hair and a face encased in a thick black mustache identifying the chin, fashionable "Gallic" of Napoleon III. It was at the time of the excavations of Alesia. This is a faithful servant of the state, which has a heavy hand to opponents and quickly transform differences pen press offenses. Exile in Jersey, Victor Hugo is out of reach. But a young medical student named Georges Clemenceau was imprisoned a few weeks and keep a grudge.
often returns to St. Paul country and hunting in its forests. A bad day he is bitten by a fox and fears the contagion of rabies. In Couserans, we knew against this scourge that the remedy of an omelette prepared specially by the St. Paul and the peasants were pitifully fans eat at the castle. Gaston swallows omelette suitable, but not too much confidence in this medication soft, so the risk of the worst, he locks himself in a room with a gun and food is hoisted through the window. But Fox was not mad! Louis Pasteur invented the rabies vaccine only in 1885.
Appointed Prefect of Meurthe Nancy (the department will be split in 1871 between the German Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle remained French), St. Paul enters into friendship with Marshal MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, who commands the armies of the time east. Beauvau back up, here it is responsible for secret messages, it must give the emperor in person, then in 1868 he was promoted to State Councillor and extraordinary service, Lille, became director of the department of North. However, the emperor, under pressure from public opinion is moving towards economic and political liberalism. The journalist Jules Ferry attack in the press the "Friends of Power" and publishes "Fantastic Accounts Haussmann" against speculators. Baron Haussmann was dismissed from his post as prefect of the Seine for the benefit of that Jules Ferry, who later became chairman of the Cabinet during the Republic. In January 1870, the Republican Emile Ollivier, which will unconsciousness scandal, calling him "a light heart" in the war against Prussia, was charged with forming the government. That was enough for St. Paul Gaston, who resigned as prefect. He was appointed Senator of the Empire, in recognition of his services. Here's how he writes the emperor's concern for such laxity:
"I can not keep a militant position, when your Majesty inaugurates a policy away from my beliefs. The abuse of speech is especially formidable when its auxiliary freedom of the press. I foresee the time when these two powers will be a considerable danger for the institutions of my country, a threat to domestic tranquility ... because then we [will] be able to contain within reasonable time limits, the Liberal tide that rises quickly and is often the precursor of the revolutionary tide. " (Lille, January 3, 1870)
The same family tradition that during a dinner with Napoleon III and MacMahon, Senator Gaston St. Paul their softness has denounced the Trochu general, appointed military governor of Paris. His daring equaled his lucidity! At the siege of the capital by the Prussians in the winter of 1870, Trochu involves only the military passivity. From him, we say: "Trochu, past participle of the verb fall too."
The cascade of events makes the dark prophecies of the new imperial senator. To first days of August 1870, the German armies jostle those of Mac Mahon and take Alsace. Ollivier is discredited. Napoleon III took command of the troops on the ground and entrust the regency to the Empress Eugenie. It seeks a strong man who takes a dream to Gaston Paris and Saint Paul to form the new department. But he prefers a military that is General Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao. Subsequent capitulation of Sedan, Metz and Paris, the forfeiture of the emperor and the bloody Paris Commune ... Gaston St. Paul retired to his estates in Ariege, to become the undisputed leader Bonapartist opposition to liberal democracy. His friend Marshal MacMahon, who was elected president in 1873, seeks to establish "moral order", calling the Conservatives in power. He gives strength and even his fortune by publishing the newspaper "the Ariège, which will rally yet only 283 subscribers.
The senior editor of the publication is the writer Octave Mirbeau (1848-1917), who in his debut Catholic and monarchist journalist, eventually, in his maturity, anarchist, advocate of modern art and contemptuous turpitude bourgeois, with his famous "Diary of a Chambermaid," which much later inspire the English filmmaker Luis Bunuel.
formation Bonapartist fortresses in the territory then seems to be a fallback strategy systematically. Thus the Attic Cassagnac are theirs in Plaisance-du-Gers, with electoral success that will continue long.
In Ariège, the political struggle is tight. Parliamentary elections of February 1876, St. Paul Gaston was elected member of Saint-Girons, with 50.05% of the votes cast, beating Frederick Arnaud supporters and winning even 70% of the vote in the canton of St. Croix. The triumph is all the more significant that the death of his older brother gives him the title of Baron of the Empire. But it is short! Not obtaining the conservative majority he wanted, President MacMahon called a right wing government and dissolved the Chamber of Deputies. It's political crisis 16 May 1877. The name of St. Paul is a leading time for the Department of the Interior. To new elections in October 1877, St. Paul was re-elected with more still ahead: 52.76% of the vote. It is also elected General Counsel of St. Croix in November 1877 to replace his older brother and beating Sentenac. But the Republicans remain the majority in the House vote and the invalidation of 70 deputies and Legitimists Bonapartist, including St. Paul, accusing them of having benefited from the support of the prefect and the clergy. For the elections of July 1878, Baron Verbigier is, this time beaten by the republican Jules Sentenac. The "Ariège" said the defeat, before finally disappearing:
"Monsieur de Saint-Paul succumbs and with him what remained standing of the Conservative party. We have no bitterness against the Republicans or resignation. We pity them, that's all ... As for us, without abdicating any of our beliefs, we ignore the political struggle now. We look at the windows and the Revolution that password. "(July 13, 1878)
Verbigier Gaston de Saint-Paul died in Poudelay, very experienced, 26 November 1878, with his family. Celanira sister, stayed single, write the memoirs of his father and his brothers, in a touching and unpublished manuscript, that keeps the family.
The celebrity did not affect him in the sense of solidarity with the descendants of the gentlemen-glass, which were still operating at that time several glass timber and including Pointis-Mercenac. While the threat of destruction everywhere, due to rural exodus, he shows a generosity of which oral tradition remembers with gratitude.
* * *
In 1860, in Paris, Saint-Paul Gaston had married his second wife, Berthe Bruzard, niece of the famous physicist Hippolyte Fizeau (1819-1896), co-inventor of the "Doppler effect", by which we measure today the expansion of the universe after the offset of light galaxies to the red. Berthe St. Paul gave him four children: Gustav, an artillery officer, Guy, an artillery officer, Marie-Charlotte, wife of a naval officer, Henrietta, wife of a naval officer. One of these sons-and naval officers, Vincent Pinnelli, will be promoted to admiral. The military tradition of the hero of Tarragona is thus ensured for a long time!
Towards the end of his life, Gaston de Saint-Paul had drawn up plans for a magnificent castle, to expand the main house and couseranaise model Pelesh Castle, built by King Carol of Romania in its countries, the composite mode is now called the style of Napoleon III. It is this vast project that are carried out, from 1907 and Poudelay, Baron Gustave-Marie Saint-Paul and his wife. The building stands on a hillside and into the forest on several floors and with arrows. The rooms are beautifully decorated with panoramic wallpapers, still visible, due to the Dufour factory, according to Bourgeois and Lacroix de Marseille. The library has thousands of volumes. Below the building remain the service buildings of the eighteenth century glassware. All around a garden, now somewhat neglected, but flowered nicely once, cut and raked. Many at the time were the servants.
One can believe that much of the legacy of St. Paul Gaston has been invested in this prestigious building.
Then the lines of Verbigier are too divergent for us to follow them all. Military tradition remains bright. We shall mention at least two feats.
Colonel artillery Verbigier Jacques de Saint-Paul, grand-son of Senator empire and Ecole Polytechnique, held its first military career in Morocco, then in 1940 against the Soviets in the war Finland. It began in 1941 and 1942 to prepare young people remobilization and coordinate the concealment of military equipment in the "free zone", especially in Rodez, for the final liberation of the country. It is then removed by Vichy. On 10 August 1943 Nazi Gestapo raided the castle Poudelay to stop when he returned with his basket full of picking mushrooms. It seems that the teacher Fabas has denounced the Germans and later the Maquis have executed the informer. In short, the colonel of St. Paul was deported, first near Buchenwald, then to the Plansee Tirol, in a major hotel brand for hostages. This is particularly Marcel Diebolt, later Prefect of Paris, which identifies the arms depots and enemy prepares a possible hand. Y is also trapped the family of General von Paulus surrendered at Stalingrad that. When, 26 April 1945, the SS commander ordered the removal of Dachau hostages to Austria Central Diebolt threat to oppose by force and prevents the transfer perilous. Jacques Saint-Paul, come home safe.
Engineer-General Gaston St. Paul, cousin of the preceding, is charged in 1945 with a mission to Germany to recover the secrets and nuclear materials from the enemy, broken on the second division Panzer General Leclerc, who made his breakthrough victory Bertchesgaden up. The chief scientist of the mission is Frederick Joliot-Curie, Nobel Prize in physics. What they found is so far covered by the "defense secret."
However, the huge castle Poudelay, costly maintenance, was recently sold by the descendants, who were allies in the meantime to the bards, another old family Couserans ariegeois. However, the title of Baron is now worn by Robert Verbigier St. Paul, living in the Paris region and has 20 heirs. The clan Verbigier joined his cousins in the association of the Awakened, which now comprises all descendants gentlemen glassmakers and southwest of yore, including Soult and Cassagnac.
Bibliography
military records from Fort Vincennes
memories manuscripts of Verbigier Celanira Paule-Saint-Paul
manuscripts of Mr. Claude Martin Clairac
St. Quirin: The Glassworkers of Languedoc (1290-1790) - Awakened by the reissue in 1985
Claeys Louis: Two Centuries of political life in the department of Ariege (1789-1989) - Pamiers 1994
Six: biographical dictionary
Bruno Labrousse: Policies Ariégeois-1894
Adelin Moulis: Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of Ariégeois-Lacour / Rediviva
Napoleon Peyrat: Poetry Pyrenees, Lacour-1999 anthology
Internet
The author also thank all the families of Verbigier St. Paul for his valuable insights they have made.
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