Champdieu

Champdieu
Champdieu
Administration
Country	France
Region	Rhône-Alpes
Department	Loire
Arrondissement	Montbrison
Canton	Montbrison
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération Loire Forez
Mayor	Patrice Couchaud (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	363–727 m (1,191–2,385 ft) (avg. 398 m/1,306 ft)
Land area1	18.2 km2 (7.0 sq mi)
Population2	1,651  (2008)
- Density	91 /km2 (240 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	42046/ 42600
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 45°38′44″N 4°02′46″E / 45.6455555556°N 4.04611111111°E / 45.6455555556; 4.04611111111

Champdieu is a commune in the Loire department in central France.

History

The town and name of Champdieu evolved in the course of ages. First of all CANDICUS (Roman leader), then in 11th century the village is called CANDIACO. It becomes in 13th century CHANDIACO then CHANDIEU and becoming in the 16th century into "FIELD-GOD" expression in French to finally in 1801 to be registered CHAMPDIEU.

CASTRUM CANDIACO

"Sunt autem ipsæ res site in pago Lugdunense, in agro Candiacense, in villa et Castrum Candiaco dei Baronum Candiæ" Latin inscription in the land registry of the Castle and baronny of Candia.

The origin of the village parried be previous to Carolingian times. The current village of Champdieu was formed in 10th century (980) around the rich bénédictain establishment created on the fief of the old Castle of Candiae (Castrum Candiacus). The first Lords of Candiae or Chandieu were the barons of Candia descendents of Robert Guiscard d'Hauteville founders of the dynastic House of Candia vassals of the counts of Forez.

References

• History Archives of the Loire, France
• Historical Records of the Counts of Forez

See also

• Communes of the Loire department