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Wednesday
Apr152009
History of the House: 16th Century
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 10:00AM | Tweet
One of the most interesting discoveries I've made about Jonvilliers is its link with the Protestant Reformation. To help you dust off your French history, the Reformation began in earnest in the 16th century. One of the main reformers, along with Luther and Zwingli, was John Calvin, a French theologian who resided in Geneva. French Protestants were called Hugenots and belongs to the Reformed Church of France, which was organized into presbyteries (called consistoires).
In 1535 Rogerin de Jouan was the lord of Jonvilliers. The Jouans came, perhaps, from the Guyenne region, just to the west of Bordeaux. Eighteen years earlier he and his wife, Madeline Imbault, had a son called Charles, who went on to become the personal secretary of John Calvin. Charles was born in Chartres and moved to Geneva with his mother. Charles served Calvin for a decade or so. He also studied with Jean Budé, another famous Protestant theologian, who ended up marrying Marie de Jonvilliers, one of Charles three sisters (and the only one who was Protestant).
This link between Jonvilliers, the Jouan family and the Protestant church was an important chapter in the house's history. According to the local historian, Maurice Vié, by 1561 a quarter of the French population was Protestant. According to him, Protestantism arrived in the region via Jacques Herouard, lord of Sausseux, whose seat was in Baillolet, just a couple kilometers from Jonvilliers. It spread to the villages around Gallardon, including Jouy, Hermeray, Cherville and Jonvilliers.
Since the region of Gallardon had a growing Protestant population but already had a Catholic church (complete with priests who weren't very open to the new faith), the Protestant church of Gallardon was actually located on the property at Jonvilliers. We know that a religious assembly was held in Jonvilliers in 1561. The property was home to a series of pastors for 1562 to 1633. The Budé family worshiped here. There was even a chapel, but we don't know where it was located on the property. According to Vié, the Paix d'Amboise (Edict of Amboise) mentions Gallardon, which meant Jonvilliers, as an authorized consistoire.
During this period, the ownership of Jonvilliers is a bit of a mystery. There's mention of it being owned by Guérin de Fesnières in 1562, but we don't know how it came into his possession. It isn't until 1564 that another Jouan, this time Jean, is mentioned as the lord of Jonvilliers. He remains lord until 1610.
Just over three decades later, from 1644 to 1648, Charles de Jouan is lord of Jonvilliers. He has two children, Anne-Mauricette and Louis. A squabble over his inheritance between his children, their descendants and his widow's new husband will mark the next chapter in the history of Jonvilliers.
In 1535 Rogerin de Jouan was the lord of Jonvilliers. The Jouans came, perhaps, from the Guyenne region, just to the west of Bordeaux. Eighteen years earlier he and his wife, Madeline Imbault, had a son called Charles, who went on to become the personal secretary of John Calvin. Charles was born in Chartres and moved to Geneva with his mother. Charles served Calvin for a decade or so. He also studied with Jean Budé, another famous Protestant theologian, who ended up marrying Marie de Jonvilliers, one of Charles three sisters (and the only one who was Protestant).
This link between Jonvilliers, the Jouan family and the Protestant church was an important chapter in the house's history. According to the local historian, Maurice Vié, by 1561 a quarter of the French population was Protestant. According to him, Protestantism arrived in the region via Jacques Herouard, lord of Sausseux, whose seat was in Baillolet, just a couple kilometers from Jonvilliers. It spread to the villages around Gallardon, including Jouy, Hermeray, Cherville and Jonvilliers.
Since the region of Gallardon had a growing Protestant population but already had a Catholic church (complete with priests who weren't very open to the new faith), the Protestant church of Gallardon was actually located on the property at Jonvilliers. We know that a religious assembly was held in Jonvilliers in 1561. The property was home to a series of pastors for 1562 to 1633. The Budé family worshiped here. There was even a chapel, but we don't know where it was located on the property. According to Vié, the Paix d'Amboise (Edict of Amboise) mentions Gallardon, which meant Jonvilliers, as an authorized consistoire.
During this period, the ownership of Jonvilliers is a bit of a mystery. There's mention of it being owned by Guérin de Fesnières in 1562, but we don't know how it came into his possession. It isn't until 1564 that another Jouan, this time Jean, is mentioned as the lord of Jonvilliers. He remains lord until 1610.
Just over three decades later, from 1644 to 1648, Charles de Jouan is lord of Jonvilliers. He has two children, Anne-Mauricette and Louis. A squabble over his inheritance between his children, their descendants and his widow's new husband will mark the next chapter in the history of Jonvilliers.
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