Charente is a French department that was established in 1790 based on geographic criteria, the upper and middle basin of the Charente River, and historical reasons. Its central part corresponds to the former diocese and then the county of Angoumois. Before the Revolution, this region did not have political, religious, or judicial unity. Its history has been closely associated with Aquitaine. However, the county of Angoumois, a royal birthplace, has had a distinct history and has played a significant role in the history of France.
Charente is rich in historical sites that reflect continuous human settlement from the Paleolithic era through the Neolithic and the Iron Age. Following a prosperous Gallo-Roman period, the early Middle Ages witnessed ongoing Christianization, while the later Middle Ages saw the construction of Romanesque churches in every village. During the Hundred Years' War, Charente served as a frontier between the territories of the King of England and the King of France, enduring significant devastation. Despite a period of prosperity, particularly under Francis I, the Wars of Religion and the Protestant exodus led to economic stagnation, which only began to recover under Napoleon III with the rise of cognac production and industrialization in Angoulême.
Prehistory
Paleolithic The region corresponding to present-day Charente has been inhabited since the Lower Paleolithic era, as evidenced by the discovery of numerous Acheulean hand axes in the Charente alluvium. Situated 26 kilometers south of Angoulême, at Gardes-le-Pontaroux on the right bank of the Voultron, the site of La Quina has yielded fossil remains of 27 Neanderthals, including adults and children.The Upper Paleolithic period is evident at La Quina, where spears and ornaments, such as perforated wolf and fox teeth, have been discovered. Other significant sites include Roc de Sers, the Placard cave in Vilhonneur, the Chaire-à-Calvin shelter in Mouthiers, and the Montgaudier cave. The Visage cave in Vilhonneur, unearthed in 2005, showcases Upper Paleolithic artworks currently being studied. This decorated cave features various artworks, including a negative handprint in black paint, red and black dots, and a black line painting that may depict a human figure. Additionally, the cave contained the remains of a young adult dating around 27,000 years ago, identified as a Cro-Magnon man from the Gravettian culture.
On the left bank of the Tardoire, the Placard cave showcases a history spanning 15 millennia, from the Middle Paleolithic to the Solutrean period. It features parietal engravings of deer, horses, and aurochs, engraved reindeer bones and antlers; and a pink sandstone lamp. The Roc-de-Sers site, located in the Roc valley within a cliff cave, has revealed Aurignacian industries, a burial containing three skeletons, and sculpted friezes of horses, bison, and ibexes that are attributed to the Solutrean period.
At Mouthiers-sur-Boëme, the Chaire-à-Calvin rock shelter features a frieze of horses in the encrusted enamel, attributed to the Magdalenian culture. This culture is also evident in the Montgaudier cave near Montbron, where a carved reindeer antler baton depicting seals was discovered.
Neolithic
Fortified camps from the Late Neolithic period are abundant, with examples found in Matignon, Peu-Richard in Charente saintongeaise, and Vienne-Charente cultures in the interior dating back to the 4th millennium BC. Prominent sites include Matignon at Juillac-le-Coq, Fontbelle at Segonzac, and Chenommet, where discoveries of polished axes, sickles, toothed blades, grindstones, ceramics, and evidence of basketry have been made. Animal husbandry was a key activity, as indicated by bone remains primarily from domestic animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats).José Gomez de Soto in Additionally, burials have been found within the ditches of these camps.
Dolmens were erected during the 5th and early 4th millennia, primarily in the Middle Neolithic period. They are abundant in Charente, either standing alone or grouped, originally covered by stone tumuli known as cairns. The oldest dolmens, some of which still exist in the Boixe forest, are circular dry stone funerary chambers with access corridors. Notable examples include dolmens at Cognac (Séchebec), Saint-Brice, Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né, Saint-Germain-de-Confolens, Luxé, Chenon, and Fontenille.José Gomez de Soto in
Knowledge of metals began at the end of the Neolithic period and gradually spread in western France during the 3rd millennium BC. The first copper artifacts appeared with the Artenac civilization. Bell Beaker culture groups were present, with their burials discovered but few settlements.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is characterized by the discovery of bronze objects in different locations. Axes were found at Montdouzil, near Châteauneuf, Montignac, Chazelles, and Rancogne. A significant discovery was the Vénat deposit at Saint-Yrieix, which contained swords, daggers, spears, jewelry, and toiletry items. Additionally, the Duffaits funeral cave at La Rochette, the Quéroy cave at Chazelles, and the Perrats cave at Agris have provided valuable insights into long-distance trade in Europe, including the presence of Baltic amber.José Gomez de Soto in
Iron Age
During the second Iron Age, the Santones inhabited the regions of Charente saintongeaise and Charente-Maritime. Angoumois was populated by an unidentified group, potentially under the influence of the neighboring Petrocorii or Lemovices. The Santones engaged in trade, particularly in salt from coastal areas that are now located inland; their main settlement was the oppidum of Pons.
Iculisma or Ecolisma (modern Angoulême) was the oppidum of the ancient people of Angoumois. Coins found in Angoumois were mostly Lemovice. Excavations, particularly of the southern rampart, have uncovered evidence of occupation dating back to the 7th century BC. The plateau has been inhabited continuously up to the present day.Louis Maurin in
Notable discoveries in the region include jewelry found in a late 6th-century BC grave at Les Planes in Saint-Yrieix, which included a torc, bracelet, ankle chains, and fibula. Another significant find is the Agris helmet, dating from the second quarter of the 4th century BC, near La Rochefoucauld. It is covered in gold and inlaid with coral, making it one of the most remarkable works of Celtic art at the Angoulême Museum.José Gomez de Soto in
The Perrats cave at Agris revealed ceramics and numerous other objects, as well as steles. Additionally, steles in the form of pointed obelisks were discovered at L'Isle-d'Espagnac and Roullet-Saint-Estèphe.
From Roman Annexation to the Renaissance
Gallo-Roman Era During the period of Gallic independence, the central Charente territory around Iculisma (Angoulême) was not associated with any larger group. While the Santones inhabited the west, the Lemovices and Petrocorii occupied the east, and the Pictones resided in the north, the status of the Iculisma territory was likely autonomous. The people of this region were probably clients of a neighboring group, possibly the Petrocorii or Lemovices. op. cit., p. 58. It was previously believed that they might be the Agesinates mentioned by Pliny the Elder in Natural History, but recent interpretations locate the Agesinates further south, near the Garonne. Consequently, the name of this Celtic tribe in Angoumois remains unknown, and their relationship with neighboring peoples is uncertain.Louis Maurin in To address this ambiguity, some contemporary scholars refer to this ancient group as the Écolismians, derived from Iculisma, the original name of Angoulême and the presumed capital of this unidentified tribe.
In 60 BC, the Helvetii, facing a Germanic invasion, intended to migrate to Saintonge, possibly with the approval of the Santones. Realizing the potential danger of this migration and the Santones' growing power, Caesar decided to invade and incorporate them in 58 BC without facing any opposition. During the rebellion in 52 BC, they heeded Vercingetorix's call to arms, with Caesar estimating their numbers at 30,000, but they arrived too late to make a significant impact.
The Romanized Charente region is intersected by the "Chemin chaussé" or "Roman Road" (Agrippa Road Lyon-Saintes) and the "Boisné Road" Périgueux-Saintes, which trace pre-Roman paths to Rome. Major north–south routes include Périgueux-Poitiers via Chassenon and Quéroy, Montignac, Mansle, Rom (known as the Chaussade), and, as indicated in the Peutinger Table, Chassenon-Mansle-Aulnay. These roads and the navigable river connecting the sea to Angoulême facilitated significant trade.
Angoumois was established as an autonomous territory (civitas) during the Late Roman Empire, with its boundaries corresponding to the first diocese of Angoulême. Numerous villas were constructed, primarily along the Charente Valley, along with settlements for retired legionaries. Significant constructions included monuments such as the temple, baths, and theater in the vicus of Chassenon, as well as the Bouchauds theater and the vicus of La Terne in Luxé.
The Christianization of Charente began in the 3rd century under Bishop Ausonius from Saintes, but it was delayed in Angoumois. The first bishop to be officially recognized was Dynamius, who was lauded by Gregory of Tours for his exemplary conduct during the Vandal siege of Angoulême in 406. This tumultuous period was marked by successive invasions, with the Visigoths, who were Christian but Arians and heavily Romanized, establishing themselves in 418 before being expelled by the Franks. The original Angoulême Cathedral was destroyed in 508 during Clovis' siege of the city.
The limited presence of Visigoths and their strong assimilation into the Gallo-Roman culture of Aquitaine resulted in few remnants of their influence in Charente. However, some indications of their presence can be found in place names such as Gourville (Gothorum villa) and a handful of unique artifacts like ornamental fibulae.Louis Maurin in
Early Middle Ages Clovis established a count in Angoulême, likely the first counts being Maracaire and Nantinus, along with a Frankish Catholic bishop. He replaced the Arian bishop with his chaplain, Aptone, and rebuilt the church, which became the first Saint-Pierre church and the episcopal see. Following Clovis's death, his vast domains were divided among his four sons, with Angoumois going to Childebert, the King of Paris. This era saw a period of peace with limited Frankish settlement, mainly in Bouteville, Sonneville, Ambleville, Herpes, and Gensac-la-Pallue, where archaeological discoveries such as necropolises, swords, and belt buckles have been made. Despite this, the Aquitanians remained the predominant population, still heavily influenced by Gallo-Roman culture. The land was divided into large estates worked by slaves (Saint Cybard purchased 175 slaves in 558) and smaller to medium-sized properties.André Debord in Charente was divided into numerous fiefs; the most significant of which were Cognac, Jarnac, and Angoulême. In 565, a Waddon is mentioned as the Count of Saintonge. Maraquier (or Maracaire) and Nantin (or Nantinus) are also documented as Counts of Angoulême during the 6th century.
During the 5th and 6th centuries, Christianization continued with hermits such as Saint Cybard, Saint Amant, Saint Fraigne, and Saint Groux. Angoulême had five places of worship within its walls and an equal number in the suburbs. The Saint-Cybard Abbey was established before conventual rules were in place, and the Saint-Amant-de-Boixe Abbey from the late 10th century.