Bessin

The Bessin is a country of the Normandy formerly called Pagus Baiocensis (country of Bayeux). Its inhabitants Gallic were the Bajocasses; they are Bessinois today.

Geography

The country of Bessin indicates today the area of Bayeux, in the Calvados. However, the geographical plate of Bessin exceeds Bessin itself since the Ville S of Caen and Vire are historically bessinoises .

With horse on the departments of the Apple-brandy and the Handle, Bessin represents one the Eastern third of the first. Bessin, with the current direction of the term, is thus surrounded in the west by the Cotentin, in the south by the Bocage virois and in the east by the Campagne of Caen and the Pays of Trough.

The western part of Bessin, between Bayeux and the Vire is a ground of Bocage, whereas towards the east, its plain became the Campagne of Caen.

Cities principal :

Bayeux - Port-in-Bessin - Grandcamp-Maisy - Isigny-on-Sea - Balleroy…

History

Old Diocese of Bayeux

The foundation of the country of Bessin is to be put in bond with the creation of old the Diocèse of Bayeux, around the town of Augustodurum. The Gallo-Roman city of Aregenua, old capital of the people of the Viducasses and its city was very early integrated into the diocese of Bayeux and thus into Bessin.

It is probable besides that the spring of this first diocese also included/understood the future Cotentin, i.e. the territory of the Unelles. The creation of the Diocèse of Coutances in Ve century reduced the spiritual authority of the bishop of Bayeux to the Christian of the cities of Vieux and Bayeux.

Consequently, this territory will form Bessin and will almost not change geographical limits until into 1790, creation date of the Département of the Apple-brandy.

Litus Saxonicum

One calls Litus Saxonnicum the maritime part of Bessin, but the influence of this litus is very badly known. It seems that Saxons come from the sea settled in the area of Bayeux, without continuation.

County of Bessin

At the time franque, the frank kingdoms were subdivided in county S where a comes represented the King and exerted his authority there. This county of Bessin has seems it corresponded to the old diocese of Bayeux. This county became Norman in 928 when it entered in possession of Rollon, forming then, at the same time as the Évrecin and the Hiémois a part constituent of new the Duché of Normandy.

Viscount of Bessin

Under the Duke S of the Norman , the title comtal belonged into clean to the duke of Normandy. The duke-counts named then Vicomte S to represent them in the various Norman counties. It was the case in Bayeux where the Viscounts of Bessin were the lords of Avranches, become thereafter counts of Chester.

After Normandy had become French, the kings of France continued to name or make name Viscounts in Bayeux charged to assist the Baillif S of Caen. This load was removed in April 1749.

Bailliage of Caen

The Bailliage of Caen was one of large the bailliages constitutive of French Normandy, with those of Rouen, Caux, Évreux, Gisors, Alençon and Cotentin. It included/understood in its spring Bessin.

Large bailliage of Caen

General information of Caen

The general information of Caen, created in XVIe century was one of the three general information of the province of Normandy, with those of Rouen and Alençon. It included/understood Bessin, as well as large the bailliage of Cotentin (with the Avranchin).

Department of the Apple-brandy

All these institutions, when they still remained, were removed in 1789 and were replaced by the departments. Bessin was then divided between the Apple-brandy and the English Channel.

Small Bessin (since the XIXe century)

agricultural Bessin

Tourist Bessin

Tiny room to a maritime fringe of the Apple-brandy, the current country of Bessin is a region rich in monuments of the medieval time, to start with majestic the Cathédrale of Bayeux but also the abbey of Cerisy-the-Forest.

The unloading of 1944 sufficiently marked the places to be become a reason for tourist attraction essential for the communes of Bessin. Many museums and military cemeteries testify some.

See too

Toponym S: Asnières-in-Bessin, the Breuil-in-Bessin, Port-in-Bessin-Huppain and Amblie.

Bonds

Site of the commune of St. Lawrence Saint-Laurent-on-Sea is located in the middle of the beach of Omaha Beach: official site of the commune with many very varied documents.

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