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Biography in Nice West, on the french riviera
Family tree patterns : 4 générations,6 générations, agnatique 9 générations...
This page is part of François Nespola's bioraphy, Nice 1858-1911,click here to see the intro and here to see the table of contents
Due to its situation on the Mediterranean coast and as port of the States of Savoie, Nice always knew an admixture of population. As city border, she saw crossing nmany armies and underwent numerous sieges until the French people distroyed its castle in 1706 on the orders of Louis XIV. Russians and English people enjoyed its mild climate and returned there.
French fleet with Barbarossa at the Siege of Nice 1543
François Ier enters into an alliance with the Ottoman sultan Soliman the Magnificent, against Charles the Fifth. In 1543, Nice is besieged by the Ottoman fleet managed by Khayr al-Din, said Barbarossa. The low city is taken, during the assault of August 15th, 1543, but the fortress will resist, until French people and Turks withdraw, in September. It is during this siege that had taken place the intervention of the character, legendary, Catherine Ségurane.Catherine Segurane was a washerwoman. She threated the Ottoman with her linen beater and by mockery, she showed them her ass. The Turkish fled away.
From left to right, on the 1624 map, we can see :
This touristic development literally exploded during the post-napoleonic period, after the restoration of the Sardinian States between 1814 and 1860.
It was only the beginning of the period of splendors and wealth that still increased with the incorporation to France in 1860 and opening up of Nice towards the Northern Europe with the arrival of the train in 1864.
Tobias George Smollett is one of first English writers to make Nice known from the end of XVIII eme century. After suffering the loss of his only child, 15-year-old Elizabeth, in April 1763, Smollett left England in June of that year. Together with his wife, he traveled across France to Nice. In the autumn of the next year, he visited Genoa, Rome, Florence and other towns of Italy. After staying in Nice, winter 1764-1765 . His health improves thanks to the mild winter climate which he appreciates especially, the summer seems to him too hot. On the way back in England, he publishes a book to tell his journey.
"When I stand upon the rampart, and look round me, I can scarce help thinking myself inchanted. The small extent of country which I see, is all cultivated like a garden. Indeed, the plain presents nothing but gardens, full of green trees, loaded with oranges, lemons, citrons, and bergamots, which make a delightful appearance. If you examine them more nearly, you will find plantations of green pease ready to gather; all sorts of sallading, and pot-herbs, in perfection; and plats of roses, carnations, ranunculas, anemonies, and daffodils, blowing in full glory, with such beauty, vigour, and perfume, as no flower in England ever exhibited.» (Letter XIII,Nice 1764)
Click here to read the book on Gutemberg project, it's free.
His travel story knows an important success. It attracts then the very first wealthy English families and the artists in lack of inspiration.
To welcome these tourists, upper-class hotels are built. Exelcior hotel Regina is one of them. This luxurious hotel presented all the comfort and welcomed queen Regina Victoria of England. Victoria staid from March 12th till April 28th, 1897, then there from March 13th till April 28th, 1898 and third and last time from March 12th till May 2nd, 1899.
Ralf SCHOR's book , Histoire du Comté de Nice en 100 dates, ALANDIS Editions, ISBN 2-913637-48-5, describes very well this topic :
"In 1770, the imperial fleet makes stopover in Villefranche-sur-Mer. During the wars of the Revolution and the Empire, Russia supports the House of Savoy exiled in Sardinia. The links are still strengthened by the trade: the County, lacking of cereals, buys the Ukrainian wheat sent by Odessa. Winter tourism strengthens the interest of the Russians for the region. Leading heroes stay in Nice: Duke Michel, brother of Nicolas Ier in 1837 and Gogol in 1843-1844. During winter 1850-1851 are counted 52 familes Russians on 560 foreign families installed(settled) in the city, 141 in 1856-1857 and 214 in 1850..."
This book is very pleasant to read in french, I do not know if there is a free english translation online!
Then in 1856, came Alexandra Fedorovna, widow of czar Nicolas Ier with her family. In 1865, tsarevich Nicolas Alexandrovitch dies in Nice at the age of 22 from meningitis. In his memory a chapel is built then the very beautiful orthodox cathedral, built between 1903 and 1913.
The short history: in the time of the "folies", end of XIX th century, Michel Mikhailovitch, also duke of Russia but born in 1861 - It is not the one above, not Nicolas Ist's brother - falls in love in Nice of a countess and gets married to her in 1891 without the agreement of his family. When his mother learns it, she dies from heart attack...
( and the story goes on ! Cliquer ici pour voir l'article détaillé sur Wikipedia)
The railway was built by the Company of railroads from Paris to Lyon and to the Méditerranean, company designator PLM, . First it arrives to Cagnes-sur-Mer in 1863. Despite of the incorporation of Nice to France in 1860, and the stategic will of Napoleon III, the river Var is an obstacle to the extension of the line towards the new city border of Ventimiglia. Once the robust constructed and tested stone bridge, the works move forward fast and the first trains arrive to Nice in 1864. In the district of Sainte-Hélène, train is parallel to the National road, it overhangs campaigns and plans numerous bridges of access to the properties. At present only three remain : Barla, the pedestrian access to the school Sainte Hélène and that of Fabron.
Train links Paris to Nice in less that 24 hours in 1864 then in 13 hours in 1914. The development of the tourism is strengthened but also the sale of flowers. Both are going to allow our ancestor gardener to make his living, to buy its ground and to build its large house.
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Due to its situation on the Mediterranean coast and as port of the States of Savoie, Nice always knew an admixture of population. As city border, she saw crossing nmany armies and underwent numerous sieges until the French people distroyed its castle in 1706 on the orders of Louis XIV. Russians and English people enjoyed its mild climate and returned there.
French fleet with Barbarossa at the Siege of Nice 1543
François Ier enters into an alliance with the Ottoman sultan Soliman the Magnificent, against Charles the Fifth. In 1543, Nice is besieged by the Ottoman fleet managed by Khayr al-Din, said Barbarossa. The low city is taken, during the assault of August 15th, 1543, but the fortress will resist, until French people and Turks withdraw, in September. It is during this siege that had taken place the intervention of the character, legendary, Catherine Ségurane.Catherine Segurane was a washerwoman. She threated the Ottoman with her linen beater and by mockery, she showed them her ass. The Turkish fled away.
Since 1750, russian and english tourism developped in Nice in winter season.
Up to 1800, the city was laid on the left bank of the Paillon, it's now called the "old town". Some English tourists and Russians began to stay there at the end of 1700.From left to right, on the 1624 map, we can see :
- the district of Marble Cross with big gardens
- the river Paillon
- the old town laying down the castle. From this castle, only remains tower Bellanda which dominates the rocky point of Roba Capeu
- close to Roba Capeu, the pebble shore where fishermen dragged their nets. There was no harbour.
This touristic development literally exploded during the post-napoleonic period, after the restoration of the Sardinian States between 1814 and 1860.
It was only the beginning of the period of splendors and wealth that still increased with the incorporation to France in 1860 and opening up of Nice towards the Northern Europe with the arrival of the train in 1864.
English tourists
Tobias George Smollett is one of first English writers to make Nice known from the end of XVIII eme century. After suffering the loss of his only child, 15-year-old Elizabeth, in April 1763, Smollett left England in June of that year. Together with his wife, he traveled across France to Nice. In the autumn of the next year, he visited Genoa, Rome, Florence and other towns of Italy. After staying in Nice, winter 1764-1765 . His health improves thanks to the mild winter climate which he appreciates especially, the summer seems to him too hot. On the way back in England, he publishes a book to tell his journey.
"When I stand upon the rampart, and look round me, I can scarce help thinking myself inchanted. The small extent of country which I see, is all cultivated like a garden. Indeed, the plain presents nothing but gardens, full of green trees, loaded with oranges, lemons, citrons, and bergamots, which make a delightful appearance. If you examine them more nearly, you will find plantations of green pease ready to gather; all sorts of sallading, and pot-herbs, in perfection; and plats of roses, carnations, ranunculas, anemonies, and daffodils, blowing in full glory, with such beauty, vigour, and perfume, as no flower in England ever exhibited.» (Letter XIII,Nice 1764)
Click here to read the book on Gutemberg project, it's free.
His travel story knows an important success. It attracts then the very first wealthy English families and the artists in lack of inspiration.
To welcome these tourists, upper-class hotels are built. Exelcior hotel Regina is one of them. This luxurious hotel presented all the comfort and welcomed queen Regina Victoria of England. Victoria staid from March 12th till April 28th, 1897, then there from March 13th till April 28th, 1898 and third and last time from March 12th till May 2nd, 1899.
The first Russian tourists
Ralf SCHOR's book , Histoire du Comté de Nice en 100 dates, ALANDIS Editions, ISBN 2-913637-48-5, describes very well this topic :
"In 1770, the imperial fleet makes stopover in Villefranche-sur-Mer. During the wars of the Revolution and the Empire, Russia supports the House of Savoy exiled in Sardinia. The links are still strengthened by the trade: the County, lacking of cereals, buys the Ukrainian wheat sent by Odessa. Winter tourism strengthens the interest of the Russians for the region. Leading heroes stay in Nice: Duke Michel, brother of Nicolas Ier in 1837 and Gogol in 1843-1844. During winter 1850-1851 are counted 52 familes Russians on 560 foreign families installed(settled) in the city, 141 in 1856-1857 and 214 in 1850..."
This book is very pleasant to read in french, I do not know if there is a free english translation online!
Then in 1856, came Alexandra Fedorovna, widow of czar Nicolas Ier with her family. In 1865, tsarevich Nicolas Alexandrovitch dies in Nice at the age of 22 from meningitis. In his memory a chapel is built then the very beautiful orthodox cathedral, built between 1903 and 1913.
The short history: in the time of the "folies", end of XIX th century, Michel Mikhailovitch, also duke of Russia but born in 1861 - It is not the one above, not Nicolas Ist's brother - falls in love in Nice of a countess and gets married to her in 1891 without the agreement of his family. When his mother learns it, she dies from heart attack...
( and the story goes on ! Cliquer ici pour voir l'article détaillé sur Wikipedia)
PLM train arrives in Nice in 1864
The railway was built by the Company of railroads from Paris to Lyon and to the Méditerranean, company designator PLM, . First it arrives to Cagnes-sur-Mer in 1863. Despite of the incorporation of Nice to France in 1860, and the stategic will of Napoleon III, the river Var is an obstacle to the extension of the line towards the new city border of Ventimiglia. Once the robust constructed and tested stone bridge, the works move forward fast and the first trains arrive to Nice in 1864. In the district of Sainte-Hélène, train is parallel to the National road, it overhangs campaigns and plans numerous bridges of access to the properties. At present only three remain : Barla, the pedestrian access to the school Sainte Hélène and that of Fabron.
Train links Paris to Nice in less that 24 hours in 1864 then in 13 hours in 1914. The development of the tourism is strengthened but also the sale of flowers. Both are going to allow our ancestor gardener to make his living, to buy its ground and to build its large house.
the bridges across the river Var, ancient border 