Septfontaines en Thiérache
Title
Septfontaines en Thiérache
Also Known As
Septem Fontes, Septem Fontium in Therascia, Terascia
Dates
Founded 1129-1135; dissolved 1790
Dedication
Mary
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Septfontaines was founded in 1129 by Hélie, lord of Mézières. The first brothers came from Floreffe. It was originally a double house. Thanks to damage from the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion, the abbey was impoverished by the early modern period. It became a commendatory abbey in 1541. Following a major fire in 1678, the monastic complex was rebuilt ca. 1698.
The abbey of Septfontaines was suppressed in 1790. The property has been in private hands since the Revolution. From the 1980s until the 2010s, it was a hotel and golf club.
Not to be confused with Septfontaines en Bassigny (comm. Andelot-Blancheville).
The abbey of Septfontaines was suppressed in 1790. The property has been in private hands since the Revolution. From the 1980s until the 2010s, it was a hotel and golf club.
Not to be confused with Septfontaines en Bassigny (comm. Andelot-Blancheville).
Heads of Community
Abbots
Jean I, ?-aft. 1153
Baudouin I, fl. 1158
Jean II, 1175-1176
Gui d’Epernay, ?-1183
Jean III, ca. 1185-ca.1188
Wicardus, fl. 1192
Lambert, fl. ca. 1200
Jean IV de La Chapelle, 1222-1239
Baudouin II, fl. 1253
Gregorius, fl. 1268
Gilles de Niel, 1277-1291
Jean V, ?-1300
Nicolas I, ca. 1325-?
Jean VI, ca. 1349-?
Jean VII, ca. 1360-?
Roger, fl. 1370
Gérard I, fl. 1396
Jean VIII Agrapart, ca. 1400-?
Nicolas II Cavroll, fl. 1433
Nicolas III Taurel, fl. 1437
Jacques Maret, fl. 1461
Adam Cornu, 1483-1518
Gérard II, ?-1529
Jean IX Robinet, fl. 1530
Pierre Piquet, fl. 1531
Nicolas IV Loret, fl. 1537
Nicolas V d’Herbeuxville, ca. 1541-1544
Jean X de Salignac, 1544-1568
Jean I, ?-aft. 1153
Baudouin I, fl. 1158
Jean II, 1175-1176
Gui d’Epernay, ?-1183
Jean III, ca. 1185-ca.1188
Wicardus, fl. 1192
Lambert, fl. ca. 1200
Jean IV de La Chapelle, 1222-1239
Baudouin II, fl. 1253
Gregorius, fl. 1268
Gilles de Niel, 1277-1291
Jean V, ?-1300
Nicolas I, ca. 1325-?
Jean VI, ca. 1349-?
Jean VII, ca. 1360-?
Roger, fl. 1370
Gérard I, fl. 1396
Jean VIII Agrapart, ca. 1400-?
Nicolas II Cavroll, fl. 1433
Nicolas III Taurel, fl. 1437
Jacques Maret, fl. 1461
Adam Cornu, 1483-1518
Gérard II, ?-1529
Jean IX Robinet, fl. 1530
Pierre Piquet, fl. 1531
Nicolas IV Loret, fl. 1537
Nicolas V d’Herbeuxville, ca. 1541-1544
Jean X de Salignac, 1544-1568
Status
Abbey
Archival Sources
Charleville-Mézières, Archives départementales des Ardennes
6 FI 561 (20th c.; engraving)
H 192 - H 202 (12th-18th c.)
H 499 (14th-18th c.)
6 FI 561 (20th c.; engraving)
H 192 - H 202 (12th-18th c.)
H 499 (14th-18th c.)
Reference
Bibliography
Menvielle, Virginie. “Sept-Fontaines : l’abbaye des Sept-Fontaines a traversé près de dix siècles d’histoire.” La Semaine des Ardennes, May 1, 2014.
Sery, Jean. “Dictionnaire historique des communes des Ardennes: Septfontaines-en-Thiérache.” Revue historique ardennaise 11 (1976): 179–89.
———. Histoire de l’Abbaye royale de Notre Dame de Septfontaines en Thierache: des villages de Fagnon, Neuville-les-This, This, Sury, Gruyeres et des hameaux de la Forge-Maillart et Écogne. Neuville-les-This: s.n., 1970.
Simonet, Florent. “La charte de Fagnon (1234).” Le pays sedanais 40 (2022): 7–33.
Theret, Jacques. “L’abbaye Notre-Dame de Septfontaine.” Chez nous, May 2014.
Image Credit
View of the former abbey, 2012. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Septfontaines en Thiérache,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/420.