Gers, such a long history

At the beginning...

The settlement of Gers does not go up beyond 3 or 4 millennia, with the settling process of some human groups in the Neolithic era.

The arrival of the Romans provides the first information on the department population. Before their arrival, the Auscii lived in the oppidum or hill which holds the "old town" of Auch.
In the north, we already knew the Lactorates (Lectoure), in the east the Volques Tectosages, in the south-east and the south the Tarusates (Aire-sur-Adour), the Tarbelli, the Bigerriones. In the west, the Sotiates and the Elusates (Eauze).
All of them lived on oppida (fortified hills) and used the ancient Ténarèze, a very old ridge road which led from south to north, to move from the Pyrenees to the Garonne without ever crossing a bridge or take a boat.

The first cities in Gers...

When Caesar invaded Gaul, he sent his best lieutenant, Crassus, to conquer the south of the Garonne, and Crassus made a lightning war, very easily beating the Sotiates. When they learnt this defeat, the peoples submitted and sent hostages to the winner. The area then was organized around the cities of Auch, Lectoure and Eauze, inside the vast Aquitaine extending from the Loire to the Pyrenees. In those cities, the population was made up of three castes: Roman citizens (very few, the ruling elite), men or "pérégrins", which were the vast majority of the population, and slaves.
The three principal cities are perfectly organized and served by a network of roads which main ones were the one which joined Toulouse to Bordeaux and run through Eauze, and the one Northbound Southbound which joined Agen to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.

Besides, an impressive number of farms called "villas" were built: villa de Roquelaure, de Cassan, villa de Séviac, de Tarros. But still, and as early as the middle of the 3rd century, the northern invasions begin.
The barbarians impatiently stamp their feet at the borders of the empire. The rich Gallo-Romans tremble and hide their treasures hoping to find them back when the disorders are over. This is why the treasure of Eauze was discovered in 1985, 17 centuries later! Fortunately Constantine 1st (306-337) brings back peace and prosperity: villas are rebuilt, the countryside is prosperous and places of Christian worship start to be founded.

Black centuries...

During winter 406-407, barbarians cross the Rhine and turn up at full speed, sowing death and destruction. Gaul is nothing else but a smoking stake! The Visigoths settle then in Aquitaine and nevertheless restore peace. But in the 6th century, the Francs surge down the country, followed by Sarrazins, and the Normans install their domination for over five centuries.

Auch, Eauze, Lectoure are destroyed, as well as many villas. The population scatters in the countryside, ready to seek refuge in the woods. This is the end of romanity, Gers shifts to the Early middle ages: a poorly-known period which will extend until the middle of year 1000.

The resurrection...

From the 11th to the 14th century, comes the economic and demographic boom. Managed by monks, a working population starts clearing the countryside. This is when the first "mottes castrales" are created: hillocks supporting a wooden keep. Houses gather around such "mottes": these are the first "châteaux neufs" ("new castles") called "castelnaux" in Gascon; they are over one hundred in Gers. The enforcement of the right of sanctuary as well as the church protection allow the creation of "sauvetés".

The birth of bastides...

About two centuries later, after the Albigensian Crusade, which was carried out outside Gers, the country becomes a border area between the English and the French royalties. The bastides which were created after agreements between the owners of the ground and a protector (a lord, an abbot, a king) make it possible to place and bring the populations together and thus become development poles. They are also means for each of the kings to affirm their authority and "to mark" their territory, to the detriment of local lords. We can find about forty bastides in Gers.

Natural human disasters are back in the 14th century: plague, famine, war. The One Hundred Year war devastates Gascony and encourages insecurity and desertion in the countryside.

From Renaissance to modern times...

Renaissance enters Gascony at the end of the 16th century: it shows up by the construction of castles and cathedrals, by repopulating cities and villages, by the revival of arts and by the birth of the Reform. Unfortunately, religion wars and their accompanying horrors once more ruin the country.

All over the 17th century, the famous Cadets de Gascogne could practise their military talents with the princes enlisted in the Fronde, with French guards or with the Musketeers of the sieur of Troisville, who welcomed Charles de Batz Castelmore also known as d'Artagnan.

The 18th century will help breathe again; no more wars in the territory, no more famines, but technical and administrative progress particularly with great "intendants" (administrators) as Etigny, and the division of the Department, initially named Armagnac and then Gers. The population increases to reach 314 885 inhabitants in 1847 and the cities change. The following periods will not change the face of Gers any more, if not by a considerable decrease in its rural population.