Lecture by Alexandre Bochatay, PhD student in modern history at the University of Neuchâtel, as part of the ‘Valais en Recherches’ lecture series, followed by drinks.
The origin of mountain pastures and summer grazing in the Bagnes Valley is a question that has fascinated historian Muriel Eschmann in her thesis Les alpages dans la vallée de Bagnes (Mountain Pastures in the Bagnes Valley) (13th-14th centuries). She argues that the use of mountain pastures has been a slow and continuous process, probably dating back to ancient times, which leads us to believe that they were used throughout the Middle Ages. After the turning point of the 14th century, due in particular to the Great Plague of 1349, competition for mountain pastures declined slightly. In fact, the most remote mountain pastures, such as Charmontane, were partially or completely abandoned during major epidemic peaks. This is undoubtedly how the people of the Aosta Valley were granted the lease of the mountain pasture from at least 1377 onwards.
Assigned to Valdostan farmers throughout the 15th century, Charmontane was coveted by the people of Bagnes, who wanted to return to the valley floor. These ambitions led to conflicts, sometimes armed and violent, as in 1517, 1528 and 1539. The situation became very tense between the local communities, as well as between the lords of Valais and Savoy, to the point that the conflict took on a supra-regional dimension with the intervention of Emperor Charles V and Pope Paul III.
Finally, in 1551, the Valais lords decided to seize the mountain pasture and assign it permanently to the people of Bagnes. Taken by surprise and experiencing a very difficult period, the Duke of Savoy, Charles II, was unable to prevent this Valais initiative. From then on, the situation was never reversed and the people of Bagnes have enjoyed Charmontane without interruption to this day.
Assigned to Valdostan farmers throughout the 15th century, Charmontane was coveted by the people of Bagnes, who wanted to return to the valley floor. These ambitions led to conflicts, sometimes armed and violent, as in 1517, 1528 and 1539. The situation became very tense between the local communities, as well as between the lords of Valais and Savoy, to the point that the conflict took on a supra-regional dimension with the intervention of Emperor Charles V and Pope Paul III.
Finally, in 1551, the Valais lords decided to seize the mountain pasture and assign it permanently to the people of Bagnes. Taken by surprise and experiencing a very difficult period, the Duke of Savoy, Charles II, was unable to prevent this Valais initiative. From then on, the situation was never reversed and the people of Bagnes have enjoyed Charmontane without interruption to this day.
