2450) "Castle of Commequiers Vendee", France: La Poste, France (French Post) has issued a postage stamp of €1.43 (Euro) celebrating this castle: Date of Stamp issue: 18.07.2022:
Castle of Commequiers Vendee, France:
The Château de Commequiers is a castle in Commequiers in Vendée, France.
The original location and time of construction of the original castle is unknown.
It was built in the 11th Century, at the same time as the châteaux of La Chaize-le-Vicomte and Tiffauges, under the commission of the Viscount of Thouars, who had influence over what are today the northern parts of Vendée.
The earliest known lord of Commequiers (spelled "Quemeiquiers" at the time) is Urvoidus.
In 1093, he participated in the foundation of the priory of Saint-Nicolas at Chaize-le-Vicomte by Aimery IV de Thouars. Urvoidus was a vassal of the Thouars, and in 1099 was named Baron of Commequiers.
His barony consisted of the parishes of Soullans, Saint-Christophe-du-Ligneron, Maché and le Perrier.
Furthermore, five chatelaines were added including La Vérie, near Challans.
At the end of the 12th Century, through an arranged marriage, the barony of Commequiers was added to the Lordship of Montaigue.
At the beginning of the 14th Century, the new baron of Commequiers was the lord of Forêt-sur-Sèvres, Josselin.
Later, in the 14th Century, it belonged to Gui de la Forêt, then in the 15th century, it became the property of Louis de Beaumont, lord of Plessis-Macé, close to King Louis XI.
The castle at its present location was constructed by Louis de Beaumont between the latter half of the 15th century and beginning of the 16th using white Sallertaine stone.
It was the first castle with motte and barnyard. (A motte was an earth mound, forming a defensible raised platform on which a tower - a keep - could be built. The earth for the motte would be taken from around its own base, forming a deep ditch, aiding the builders' ability to defend).
His son, Thibault de Beaumont, razed the castle and rebuilt it anew on the mound, at the end of the 15th Century.
He built a small fortress suitable for artillery, a second home and a refuge for troops in the field.
The keep of Thibault de Beaumont was an octagonal plan with learned and rigorous geometry, which at the material time was exceptional in France.
It was constructed in an octagonal shape, organized along an axis of symmetry passing through the drawbridge door and through the center of the main room, an equally sought-after arrangement. At each corner there was a gunboat turret, of constant diameter. Each section corresponded to a square room or chamber module.
On the death of Thibault, the castle passed into the hands of the Bellay family for a century and ceased to be inhabited.
In the 17th Century, the abandoned castle, was used as a stone quarry.
In 1628, under orders from the cardinal de Richilieu, the castle was dismantled along with all other castles of its time in the region. It became property of historically Protestant nobles, the de la Trémoille family.
Present Day:
After the first works in 1960, the association of "Friends of the Old Castle" (ADVC), created in 1969, took over.
In 1974, the castle was bought by the municipality and in 2020 the first emergency works aimed at consolidating the most degraded elements began.
Presently, efforts are going on to recreate the significance of the cultural heritage and to restore the castle to its unique place in the Regional and National History of France.
The Stamp:
The Postage Stamp of 1.43 Euro depicts the ancient castle in its octagonal form and the surrounding moat built on a Motte.
The Philatelic Document (PD) gives a detailed description of the Chateau in French.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 18.07.2022
Designer: André LAVERGNE
Process: Intaglio
Size: 40.85 mm x 30.00 mm
Stamp Value: €1.43
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Rajan Trikha has commented:
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DeleteAshok Borate has commented:
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