Diesse
Origin of the name Diesse
Diesse is mentioned in 1178 under this name. Its old German name is Tess, hence Tessenberg, the German name of the plateau. A local tradition derives the name from a Burgundian chief called Tiezo.[1][4]
Founding of Diesse
Diesse is the chief place of the Montagne de Diesse, a plateau at the foot of the Chasseral shared in the Middle Ages between the bishop of Basel and the count of Neuchâtel-Nidau, whom Bern succeeded. Until 1798 the village was the seat of the mayoralty of the Tessenberg, and its church of Saint-Michel served the parish of Lamboing, Prêles and, until 1708, Nods. The noble family of Diesse, whose first known ancestor, Thierry, is mentioned in 1178, held the fief until the 14th century. Diesse is now part of the municipality of Plateau de Diesse (merger of 2014).[1][2][4]
History of Diesse
1185. On 2 October a bull of Pope Lucius III lists the church of Saint-Michel among the possessions of the abbey of Saint-Jean near Erlach.[1][3][4]
1229. The Diesse family inherits Twann castle, where Bourcard II lives.[4]
1334. Claire de Diesse marries Othon de Vaumarcus and brings him the fief, which the Vaumarcus keep until 1519.[4]
1352. The «rollet de franchises» sets out the rights of the Montagne. The courts apply it for nearly four centuries.[2][4]
1367. Bishop Jean de Vienne is said to have escaped the Bernese disguised as a woman, with the help of the mayor Perrin. In reprisal, Bernese troops lay waste to the villages.[4]
1382. Jacques de Vaumarcus grants a charter of liberties.[4]
1460. The church tower is built, 22.30 m high.[3][4]
1529-1530. Diesse first rejects the Reformation, on 6 August 1529, then accepts it in 1530 by a narrow majority. Mass is still said alongside until 1566.[1][3][4]
1577. Plague kills 360 people in the parish.[4]
1611-1667. During the witch trials, 55 women and 11 men are tried, then burned at Les Places. Almost every family of the place is affected.[4]
1797. In late December French troops occupy the Montagne de Diesse, part of France until 1815.[2][3]
1816. Diesse joins the district of Erlach, then in 1846 that of La Neuveville.[1][3]
1851. On 15 June a fire destroys 16 houses and damages the choir and tower of the church.[3][4]
1854. On 13 May the school burns. Plans for a new school are settled on 30 January 1855.[3]
1870. On 1 January fire hits eleven houses in the upper village.[3][4]
1940. On 1 June a German bomber is shot down at the Prés-de-la-Lignière.[3]
1980s. Diesse becomes a residential village, with the Mamelon-Vert district to the north.[1]
2013. On 9 June Diesse accepts the merger by 118 votes to 81. On 1 January 2014 the village becomes part of the municipality of Plateau de Diesse.[1][6]
Population of Diesse
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1764 | 927 (parish) |
| 1800 | 258 |
| 1850 | 408 |
| 1900 | 387 |
| 1950 | 325 |
| 1970 | 277 |
| 1980 | 280 |
| 2000 | 419 |
Historic sites in Diesse
Church of Saint-Michel. Romanesque church, seat of the parish of Diesse, Lamboing and Prêles. In 1600 Bern gave it three bells from the secularised abbey of Saint-Jean. Restored and reopened on 20 May 1956, it received abstract windows by Fernand Giauque in 1967 and a new organ in 1987.[1][3][4]
Parsonage. The parsonage was rebuilt in 1675.[4]
Remains in Diesse
Roman road and finds. A secondary Roman road, the chemin Mulet, crossed the mountain, and a fortified relay is said to have stood at Diesse on the road from Neuchâtel to Solothurn, the «Via d'Etra». A Roman watch post is reported in the Châtillon forest, and coins were found at Les Epargelières, among them one from Nîmes kept in the Saint-Imier museum.[2][4][5]
Legends of Diesse
The witches of the Montagne. Tradition dresses the devil in red, black or green. The witches are said to have used a magic powder, the «pusset», turned coins into oak leaves, made hail with a white stick and held their sabbaths at a spring on the mountain, where Satan played the violin.[4]
La Crêtche. On the third day of the new year, young people in costume went from house to house, one carrying a basket, another dressed as a bear, collecting drinks and sausages. The custom died out during the war years.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Diesse » (Frédy Dubois, version du 20.09.2016, texte allemand)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Diesse, Montagne de » (Frédy Dubois, version du 09.02.2015)
- Chronologie jurassienne, « Diesse »
- Commune de Plateau de Diesse, « Historique de la commune de Diesse » (chroniques de la paroisse, fête villageoise de 1981)
- Commune de Nods, site officiel (historique)
- Commune de Plateau de Diesse, « Histoire de la fusion »
Other villages near Diesse
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