Sundgau: Encyclopedia II - Sundgau - History

Sundgau - History

In the 1st century BC, the Sequani tribe (the most "gaulish of Gauls" according to historian Henri Martin), which was centered around Besançon, settled in Sundgau. From 70 BC, they waged perpetual warfare with their neighbours, the Aedui, calling upon German mercenaires, led by Ariovistus. When the conflict finished, the Germans settled into the region, and the Sequani, to remove them appealed to the Romans. Julius Caesar defeated Ariovistus in 58 BC near Cernay, and a long domination by the Romans commenced. This ended suddenly in 405, when the Alamani crossed the Rhine and occupied Sundgau. They, in turn, were followed by the Francs following their victory at the Battle of Tolbiac in 496. Sundgau was incorporated into the kingdom of Austrasia and Christianity was introduced under the Merovingians.

About 750, the Duchy of Alsace was formed under the Merovingiens and was divided into two counties, Nordgau and Sundgau, the latter being mentioned in the Treaty of Mersen in 870. Historically then, Sundgau coincides with the lands of the counts of Ferrette and Habsburg, excepting the town of Mulhouse and its territories of Illzach and Modenheim. Geographically, Sundgau denotes a more restricted area comprised of the hilly country to the south of Mulhouse and reaching to the valley of Lucelle.

During the 9th century and the 10th century Sundgau was administered by the Lieutfried family. Following the breakup of Charlemagne's empire, the region entered a period of instability, culminating in the emergence of Feudalism.

In 1125, Frederic, son of Thierry 1st Montbéliard, inherited the south of Alsace and became count of Ferrette. So, from 1125 to 1324, Sundgau was administered by the counts of Ferrette. Ulrich III (1310-1324) comquered the valley of Saint-Amarin but died without male issue. His daughter Jeanne married Albert II of Austria and Sundgau became austrian, administered from Ensisheim by a bailli (bailiff or seneschal) and divided into four bailiwicks (Landser, Thann, Altkirch and Ferrette).

The Reformation did not trouble Sundgau, despite the proximity of Basle and Mulhouse. The country maintained its fidelity to the religion of the Habsburgs, Catholicism.

Commencing in 1632, the Thirty Years War broke upon Sundgau, with a violence unprecedented in the history of the region. The Swedish, supported by France, invaded the country, pillaging and burning all in their path. In reaction, the inhabitants of the countryside revolted. But the rebellion was subdued, and the Swedes hanged the ringleaders from roadside trees. From 1634, the Swedes ceded their fortresses to the French, and in 1648 the war ended with the treaty of Westphalia. The butcher's bill was disastrous - some parts of Sundgau had lost up to 80% of their population. The country became French, and in 1659, the counthood of Ferrette was granted to cardinal Mazarin (nominally by the then 21-year-old Louis XIV).

The beginning of the 18th century was a period of prosperity with the development of agriculture, et the development of the textile industry. But economic and social conditions disimproved in the second half of the century, with overpowering taxation, and occasional famines.

In 1789, the repercussions of the French Revolution reached Sundgau, and many conflicts arose in the townships, mainly due to the unpopularity of the ruling classes. In 1790, Sundgau was included into the département of Haut-Rhin, and Altkirch became its principal town.

Order was restored during the Consulate and the Empire. Little changed during the 19th century, agriculture remaining the principal economic activity, despite the establishment of industries such as the Gilardoni tileworks in 1835 and the construction of Xavier Jourdains' looms in Altkirch.

As a result of the 1870 war, Sundgau was annexed to Germany. Economic development picked up, and the region opened up to the rest of Alsace, for want of trade with France.

The battles of the First World War commenced in Sundgau in August 1914. The French blew up the viaduct of Dannemarie, and the front stabilised and extended from the Vosges to the Swiss frontier. The population suffered artillery bombardements and, for fear of spying, many were evacuated into those communes untouched by war.

Sundgau reverted to France in 1918, but its reintegration posed several problems; those Alsatians who since 1870 had to speak German, now saw themselves obliged to express themselves in French. By way of derogation, German was taught in schools for three hours a week.

Between the wars, 56% of the population worked in agriculture, 28% in industry and only 7% in services.

In the Second World War after the declaration of war, the communes bordering on the Rhine were evacuated. The German army crossed the river on June 15th 1940. Following the Armistice of June 22nd, Sundgau was once again in German hands. Jews, North Africans and French-speakers were expelled to the free zone between it and Vichy France, while schoolchildren were forced to speak German and absolutely forbidden to express themselves in French. Communes were renamed, and youngsters enrolled in Hitler Youth from 1942. From then also, men born between 1914 and 1925 were forcibly enrolled in the Wehrmacht.

Sundgau was finally liberated by General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny in November 1944. The first commune liberated was Seppois-le-Bas. As after the World War I, language issues arose, for example, from 1945 to 1984 the use of the German in newspapers was restricted to a maximum of 25%.

Post-war, there was a period of reconstruction and economic growth. Sundgau experienced Jean Fourastié's Trente glorieuses (the thirty years of economic growth 1945 to 1973 ended by the first Oil Crisis), and the number of agricultural workers dropped year by year. More than 35% of the population currently work in services.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki