The Château de Cruseilles is a former castle, probably dating from the 13th century and now in ruins, located in the commune of Cruseilles in the department of Haute-Savoie, in the Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes region.
Location The Château de Cruseilles belonged to the County of Geneva and was situated along the road linking Geneva to Annecy. Located after the Mont Sion pass when coming from Geneva, it preceded the crossings of the Usses and the Caille. A secondary route along the southern slope of the Salève, passing through Le Sappey and Vovray-en-Bornes, connected the area to the Arve Valley and the . The settlement defended by the castle had three gates: one on the Geneva side, one on the Annecy side to the southeast, and a southern gate known as the Corbet gate; a postern may also have existed on the road to Ronzier.
The present-day Rue du Corbet provided access to the castle.
The site is associated with the fortified house of Pontverre, described as the “little castle” of the nobles of Cruseilles. This structure, now disappeared, was located below the Château de Cruseilles on the right bank of the Usses.
History According to (1854–1933), curator of the Musée d’Annecy, the structure was likely built in the 13th century.
In his will, Count Amadeus II of Geneva granted his wife, Agnes of Châlons, the usufruct of the castles and châtellenies of Annecy, Clermont, , La Bâtie, and de Sillingy, along with a dowry of 5,000 livres tournois secured by the estates of Cruseilles and .
From 1402 onward, Cruseilles, like the County of Geneva, became part of the domain of the House of Savoy.
In 1563, although already in decline, the site was used as a prison. In 1590, Spanish troops briefly took refuge there during the town's sack.
By the time the cadastre of the Duchy of Savoy was compiled, only a square tower of the castle remained.
Description In 1865, only a single tower of the former castle remained. Baron (1812–1890) noted that it was inhabited at the time and contained a vaulted room. He also reported the presence of surrounding architectural remains, including remnants of buildings, sections of ramparts, and the entrance gate. The pointed arch of the gate bore a carved cross and the arms of Savoy.
The castle had a chapel (capella castri) dedicated to Saint Agatha, attested between 1371 and 1373. Three chaplaincies were recorded at the beginning of the 15th century during a pastoral visit.
Châtellenie of Cruseilles The Château de Cruseilles was the seat of a châtellenie, also called a mandement (mandamentum). It functioned as a comital châtellenie, directly dependent on the Count of Geneva. In the 12th century, authority in Cruseilles was shared between the count and a vidomne (or viscount, vice dominus), with individuals recorded around 1160 (Guillaume), 1179 (Humbert), and 1282 (Johannet). During the 13th century, the hereditary office of vidomne was replaced by a châtelain appointed directly by the count.
In the 17th century, the arms of the mandement of Cruseilles were blazoned as a silver scallop on a red field.
The châtelain was an officer appointed for a fixed term, revocable and removable, responsible for administering the châtellenie, collecting fiscal revenues, and maintaining the castle. The châtelain was occasionally assisted by a receiver of accounts, who prepared the annual report submitted by the châtelain or his deputy. +Châtelains of Cruseilles, 14th to 16th CenturyGenevan Administration The châtellenie regularly served as an apanage for members of the . Thus, Guy, the seventh son of Count William II of Geneva, future (1266–1291), inherited the mandement.The authors of Histoire des communes savoyardes confuse him with Guy, who died in 1294, son of Raoul of Geneva. It also formed part of the dower of Countess Agnes of Châlons. Finally, it was a possession of the last count, the antipope Robert of Geneva (1342–1394).
1 May 1370 – 14 September 1371: Richard de the younger, for Cardinal Robert of Geneva May 1371 – 14 September 1371: Squire Richard de Virieux the younger 14 September 1371 – 2 July 1378: Squire Jean de Lucinge 2 July 1378 – 7 May 1398: Squire Richard de Virieux
Savoyard Administration
In 1402, it entered the Savoyard domain.
24 April 1402 – 8 January 1405: Noble Richard de Virieux 8 January 1405 – 8 January 1411: Noble Aymon, son and heir of Richard de Virieux 8 January 1411 – 8 January 1417: Noble Dame Peronette, widow of Squire Richard de Virieux 8 January 1417 – 8 January 1427: Noble Aymon de Virieux, son and heir of Peronette de Virieux 8 January 1427 – 21 January 1451: Noble Ame (Amed) de Virieux, Guillaume, and Jean, brothers, sons and heirs of Noble Aymon de Virieux 21 January 1451 – 21 January 1473: Guillaume (master of the household of the Duke of Savoy), Aymon, and Jacques, sons of Squire Amed de Virieux; Jean, Jacques, and Guillaume (until 1467), sons of Noble Jean de Virieux 21 January 1474 – 21 January 1480: Noble Jacques, son of Squire Amé de Virieux, son of Aymon; Jean Louis, Claude, and Aymon, sons of Noble Aymon de Virieux; and Jean and Jacques, sons of Jean de Virieux 21 January 1481 – 21 January 1483: the sons and heirs of Noble Ame de Viry, Aymon, Louis, and Jacques, lords of ViryThe surname de Viriaco found in the charters is sometimes rendered as de Viry or de Virieu(x), which has caused some confusion. 21 January 1484 – 21 January 1512: the sons and heirs of Noble Amed, Aymon (until 1510), Guillaume, and Jean de Virieux
21 January 1512 – 21 January 1515: sons and heirs of Noble Amed and Jean de Virieux
Administration of the apanage of Genevois (1502–1659)
1516–1517: Noble Nicolas Du Chastel 1517–1518: Noble Louis Provane 1520–1522: Noble Louis Provane 1527–1532: Noble Nicolas Du Chastel 1530–1534: Noble Catherin Dulcis 1535–1544: Noble Philippe Ducrest 1544–1547: Squire Aymé Cartier 1550–1553: Noble Jacques Parvi 1553–1556: Squire Aymé Cartier 1555–1559: Master Louis Després 1565–1568: Noble Étienne Dulcis 1565: Noble Pierre , châtelain for judicial matters 1571–1577: Master Aymé de Malbuisson 1577–1580: Master François Ducrest 1580–1586: Master Étienne Mouthon 1586–1592: Master Jacques Du Chastel 1592–1598: Master Claude Paris 1598–1604: Master François Fusier 1604–1610: Master Claude Paris 1610–1616: Masters Guillaume Pellarin and Antoine Vassal, co-farmers 1616–1622: Master Guillaume Pellarin, associated with Master Charles-Melchior Viollet by deed of 6 December 1616 1622–1628: Master François Galley 1628–1634: Master Claude Dulcis 1634–1640: Noble François Quimier 1640–1646: Master Louis-Philippe Joly 1646–1652: Master Jean-Jacques Bosson, who subrogated the office to Master Louis-Philippe Joly from 1647 to 1652 1652–1658: Masters Claude Dulcis and Benoît La Baume 1658–1659: Master René Saget, who handed the office over to Master Benoît La Baume
See also
Medieval fortification Castle Fortification
Notes
References
Bibliography
Archival collections