Jeanne l'Armagnacaise

The reading time is approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of Duke William, placed Armagnac at the heart of historical turmoil. Passed as dowry to King Louis VII of France, then retrieved upon their divorce to be given to Henry Plantagenet, King of England, Armagnac endured the challenges of English suzerainty until 1453. During these tumultuous times, it found its staunchest defenders alongside iconic figures such as La Hire, Xaintrailles, La Pailhère, Bertrand de Toujouse, Guillaume d’Armagnac, and Thibault de Termes, all united with Joan of Arc to drive the English out of the territory. This heroic resistance earned Armagnac the nickname "armagnacaise," a title proudly carried by the people in the face of English occupation and the Burgundians.

From revolt to integration

However, annoyed by the Gascons' desire for independence, particularly Count John V, the Kings of France suppressed the rebellion. The capture of Lectoure by the royal army in 1473 ended the revolt, and the kings decided to place the county under sequestration. Ultimately, Henry of Navarre, future Henry IV, integrated Armagnac into the crown of France in 1607, thus sealing its fate within the kingdom.

The Peace of Nogaro

The signing of peace between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs, marked by the exchange of wine barrels and pots of Armagnac, remains a key moment in the history of Nogaro. This treaty, signed in 1960 to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the city, brought together Duke Pierre de Montesquiou, ally of the famous Charles de Batz d'Artagnan, and the President of the Confrérie des Compagnons du Beaujolais, with General Pierre Béston, creator of the Compagnie des Mousquetaires, as a witness.