History of the Town of Chauvigny

Archaeological digs have proven that a settlement existed here in Roman times.  The seignory and consequently barony of Chauvigny belonged to the Bishops of Poitiers from the XIth century - a chauvinois family provided Poitiers with three bishops at this date - up until the French Revolution of 1789.  During the Hundred Years Way the French King, John II, stayed in Chauvigny on the eve of his ill-fated Battle of Poitiers-Maupertuis against Edwards II, the Black Prince, in 1356.

Captured and laid in ashes by the English in 1369, Chauvigny was liberated by Duguesclin but was retaken by the Duke of Clarence in 1412.  Re-captured by the French fifteen years later, the Scottish mercenaries of Charles VII were entrusted with the protection of the half-ruined baronnial chateau.

Hostilities resumed with the advent of the French wars of religion, when the baronnial chateau - become a Huguenot stronghold - was seized firstly by the king, then by Coligny, who had it burnt in 1569.

World War II also created ruins.  As a result of being home to the harassing French Resistance, Chauvigny was shelled by the retreating German armies in 1944.

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