Compesières
Origin of the name Compesières
The name appears in the 12th century as « Compeseres », borne by a family of the same name. Where does the name come from? That is still unknown.[1]
Founding of Compesières
Nobody knows who founded Compesières. The place owes its importance to its church of Saint-Sylvestre, which the bishop of Genève, Aymon de Cruseilles, gave to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem. Compesières then became the seat of their Genevois commandery. Today a hamlet of Bardonnex, with its commandery, its church, a school and a few farms, it remains the administrative and religious centre of the municipality.[1][2][3]
History of Compesières
12th century. First mention, in the form « Compeseres », as the name of an eponymous family.[1]
1270. Bishop Aymon de Cruseilles gives the church of Saint-Sylvestre to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, who appear to have set up a first hospice there.[2]
1536-1567. During the Bernese occupation, Compesières adopts the Reformation and is the seat of a consistory. The commandery castle houses the Bernese bailiff of Ternier.[1][2]
After 1567. After the return of the House of Savoy, the church of Compesières becomes the centre of a large parish.
1792. The parish boundaries are kept during the French occupation. The knights' presence comes to an end.[1][2]
1816. The parish boundaries are kept when the area joins Switzerland.[1]
1817. The municipality of Compesières begins to be broken up: part of it is ceded to Troinex.[1]
1821. The municipality of Perly-Certoux is created on part of the territory of Compesières.[1]
1822. The commandery, acquired by the municipality, houses the town hall, the school and the presbytery.[2]
1850. The former municipality of Compesières has 1'559 inhabitants, before it is divided.[1]
1851. The municipality of Compesières is abolished and divided between the new municipalities of Plan-les-Ouates and Bardonnex. Compesières becomes a hamlet of Bardonnex.[1][3]
1899-1900. The municipality of Bardonnex, which has set up its town hall at Compesières, builds a school there.[1][2]
2000. The hamlet has a few dozen inhabitants.[1]
Historic sites in Compesières
Commanderie de Compesières. Former fortified house of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, seat of their Genevois commandery. It houses a small museum of the Order of Malta.[1][2]
Church of Saint-Sylvestre. Church on Romanesque foundations, enlarged in the 15th century, altered in the 17th century and almost entirely rebuilt in 1834-1835. Centre of a large parish after 1567.[2]
School and town hall of Bardonnex. The town hall of Bardonnex is at Compesières, where the municipality built a school in 1899-1900.[1][2][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Compesières (localité) » (Isabelle Brunier), version du 08.10.2003
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Compesières (commanderie) » (Isabelle Brunier), version du 21.01.2004
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bardonnex » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 24.06.2014
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Compesières, Bardonnex)
Other villages near Compesières
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