The history of Le Lude encompasses all ancient or recent events related to the town of Le Lude in Sarthe, France. The megalithic complexes in the Loir Valley provide evidence of the region's occupation since the Neolithic period. The spur of the Vaux camp and the Cherré site, both located a few kilometers east of Le Lude, demonstrate the region's continued dynamism from the Bronze Age to Antiquity.
During the Middle Ages, Le Lude emerged as a formidable stronghold on the border between the counties of Anjou and Maine. The defensive apparatus of Le Lude consisted of a feudal motte and a stone castle. The town's development was facilitated by its milling activity and the establishment of several religious buildings. However, it subsequently experienced the challenges of the Hundred Years' War, during which the English occupied Le Lude Castle from 1425 to 1427. The town of Le Lude experienced a new period of growth and prosperity during the Renaissance era, thanks to the efforts of its lord, , who undertook the castle restoration from its ruins. His successors continued to develop the town by establishing hospitals and leather and woolen cloth factories. In 1545, the lordship of Le Lude was elevated to a county, and in 1675, it was elevated to a duchy-peerage. The lordship later had a salt storehouse in the .
During the French Revolution, the commune of Le Lude was attached to the Sarthe department. Following the Restoration, it was repeatedly affected by unrest related to the Chouannerie, with the royalist troops of seizing control of the area on two occasions. In 1816, four men who were part of a group known as the "Vultures of Bonaparte", demonstrating their loyalty to the emperor, were executed in Le Lude.
The 19th century saw the economic and industrial development of the town, facilitated by the arrival of the railway and then electricity, and the establishment of factories such as the Courbe paper mill. The town suffered a significant loss of life during the First World War, with the death of 123 of its inhabitants, and experienced German occupation during the Second World War. Russian prisoners were interned in the area, and a munitions storage camp was established between the communes of Le Lude and those of Savigny-sous-le-Lude and Thorée-les-Pins. The explosion of the Le Lude station on March 3, 1944, was one of the most notable local events of the period. Similarly, the deportation of several young people who resisted compulsory work service (STO) triggered a spontaneous protest against the occupying forces.
Following the conclusion of the previous conflict, Le Lude distinguished itself through the implementation of one of France's inaugural sound and light displays. However, the town, along with the entirety of the south of Sarthe, experienced a pronounced decline in industrial activity during the latter half of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century.
Territorial occupation from prehistory to antiquity
The Ludois region has been inhabited by humans for a very long time, with evidence of Neolithic occupation. This is indicated by the presence of several megalithic complexes. One such complex is the dolmen, known as "de Cuissé", located on the Le Lude territory. However, this dolmen was destroyed in 1928. The menhir of Loup-Pendu, situated four kilometers southwest of Le Lude in the commune of Savigny-sous-le-Lude, has been preserved. Moreover, numerous other dolmens or menhirs have been reported in neighboring communes, along with several protohistoric enclosures. The , excavated in the 1970s in Saint-Germain-d'Arcé, was used as a burial place at the end of the fourth millennium BC. Two other dolmens are listed near the farms "la Persillière" and "Colombier" in Aubigné-Racan.
Furthermore, the "camp de Vaux", a spur located 6 kilometers from Le Lude and overlooking the Loir, was occupied from the 7th century BC. Its fortification phase was accompanied, in the northeast and the valley, at the Cherré site, by the creation of a necropolis from the Bronze Age and the Hallstatt period.
In the era of the Roman Empire, Le Lude was situated on the route that connected Le Mans to Poitiers, traversing Coulongé. Its territory was at the northern border of the civitas of the Andecavi, which followed the course of the Loir. It was located at the crossroads of the Turones' territory to the southeast and that of the Aulerci Cenomani to the north. During this period, the commercial significance of the Cherré site increased considerably. Archaeological excavations have revealed a theater, a forum, a temple, baths, and the remnants of an aqueduct. Additionally, three kilometers north of Le Lude, on a hillside overlooking the Loir, the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa have been unearthed in the vicinity of the .
Le Lude in the Middle Ages
From the Early Middle Ages to the 13th century From the end of the Antiquity period onwards, a settlement seems to have developed in Le Lude around its church, which is first mentioned in Actus pontificum Cenomannis in the 4th century. Furthermore, the discovery of a coin struck in Le Lude around 650 provides evidence of the city's economic activity at the beginning of the Middle Ages. The bridge was fortified with a postern flanked by towers on the right bank, which defended access.
The initial Viking incursions into Anjou between 853 and 873 prompted local lords to construct fortresses to safeguard their territories. Given its pivotal location at the border of Maine, Anjou, and Touraine, the site of Le Lude assumed particular significance, leading to the erection of the "Fort de la Motte" on the left bank of the Loir. The original castle was constructed approximately one hundred meters to the north of the current castle. It was a primitive structure comprising a motte on which a keep was erected, surrounded by moats and palisades. The site was later established as a castellany under the name of La Motte-sous-le-Lude.
Another consequence of the Norman expeditions in Anjou was the plundering of the town of Le Lude and the destruction of its church. In 976, Geoffrey Grisegonelle, Count of Anjou and Lord of Le Lude, donated it to the Abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes, Poitou. The church was not rebuilt, and only a chapel was erected on its ruins. In 1085, Lord Hubert de Beaumont transferred the chapel's custody to the Abbey of Saint-Aubin d'Angers’ monks. On June 25, 1113, they established a priory at the site, under the patronage of Saint Vincent. They were also responsible for the construction of the new church, which bears the same name.
Before this, in 1027, the Count of Anjou, Fulk Nerra, was besieged at Le Lude Castle by Duke Alan of Brittany, who sought to exact retribution for the mistreatment of his ally, Herbert Wakedog, Count of Maine. Two years prior, the latter had been captured in Saintes by Fulk Nerra, who sought to seize his possessions. He was released in exchange for land and hostages. Surprised by the attack of the Duke of Brittany and lacking the necessary troops to sustain the fight, Fulk Nerra immediately submitted and returned the men and property he had seized.
The castle of Le Lude enjoyed a lengthy period of prosperity over the centuries. Its lord held rights over the Loir River from Vaas to the Vilaines mill in Luché-Pringé, and milling activity was highly developed within its territory. The Thienval mill is referenced in the cartulary of the Abbey of Saint-Aubin d'Angers as early as the beginning of the 11th century. This abbey also owned the mills of RihouyThis mill, like the one in Pontfour, is not situated on the Loir River but rather on the Ris-Ouï stream, as it is currently spelled. and Pontfour. Additionally, several mills were established on the Malidor site. Richard III de Beaumont, Lord of Le Lude from 1236 to 1239, granted the tithe to the . Furthermore, from the end of the 12th century, the hamlet of Raillon developed approximately 1,500 meters south of the town, on the banks of the Marconne. The initial gathering of inhabitants occurred around a priory established in 1190 by the monks of Saint-Aubin d'Angers. Subsequently, a leper house was constructed in 1202 at the behest of near the Chapel of Sainte-Marie de Raillon.
Construction of the current castle and the Hundred Years' War Towards the end of the 13th century, the Fort de la Motte was abandoned. The foundations of a masonry fortress were laid further south, giving rise to the current castle. The construction of this medieval fortress spanned two centuries, and significant defensive measures were put in place. These included the digging of moats, the construction of a masonry spur, and the building of ramparts facing the Loir. Louis II de Beaumont, Lord of Le Lude, was a member of the French troops led by Bertrand du Guesclin. He perished during the Battle of Cocherel.
Le Lude's strategic location on the border of Maine, within the territory of Anjou, rendered it a significant site during the Hundred Years' War. The fortified castle of Le Lude, which belonged to the Viscountess of Beaumont, Isabeau de Bourbon, constituted a strategic point. Captain Guillaume de Méron was appointed to oversee the defense of the castle. The English launched two attacks on the castle, likely between April and September 1371. Méron promptly initiated a series of measures to reinforce the fortifications. During the initial assault, the English filled the moats with wood piled up in front of the ramparts but were repelled, with notable assistance from . Under the command of Robert Knolles, the English attempted a second assault, which proved unsuccessful. Some of the troops then withdrew to construct a fort at Vaas.
In 1417, the English undertook several incursions into the Loir Valley, resulting in the capture of the castles of Gallerande and . However, following the French army's defeat at Verneuil in 1424, the English proceeded to complete the conquest of Maine. In the fall of 1425, the Earl of Warwick ordered the seizure of Le Lude Castle. He promptly appointed Guillaume Gladsdall, who had already been captain of Malicorne, to govern the area. He remained in control for a brief period following his appointment as bailiff of Alençon and captain of the fortress of Fresnay in 1426. He was subsequently replaced by his lieutenant, William Blackburn, who led a garrison of 1,200 men. For the local population, the English occupation was particularly onerous, as elucidated by Dr. Paul Candé: "The subjected parishes were obliged to procure, for a fee, a certificate issued in the name of the Duke of Bedford, regent in Anjou, attesting their oath of obedience to the English. [...] The number of certificates required corresponded to the number of hearths in each parish". "Each parish was also required to pay a ransom or composition, called appatis, to ensure protection from the pillaging of the English garrisons". However, this was insufficient to guarantee peace for the local population, who continued to suffer from numerous pillages. Additionally, the Chronicle of the Abbey of Bourgueil indicates that in 1427, on Saint Denis's Day, the English garrison of Le Lude collaborated with those of neighboring towns to perpetrate a series of incursions into the territory situated between Beaufort-en-Vallée and Bourgueil. Ultimately, the English occupation endured for a mere two years. By the end of 1427, the French troops, led by Ambroise de Loré, successfully recaptured Le Lude Castle following a prolonged siege. Notably, Gilles de Rais and Jean de Bueil played pivotal roles in this operation.
Le Lude in the Modern Era