Constantine

Origin of the name Constantine

Constantine is first mentioned in 1228 in the Latin form « Costantina ». The exact origin of the name is not established with certainty by the sources consulted. A hypothesis frequently put forward for this type of regional place name is that it derives from a Gallo-Roman estate name formed on a Latin personal name, but this explanation could not be confirmed by a specialised source and would deserve to be cross-checked before being presented as certain.

Founding of Constantine

The village develops on the southern slope of the Vully massif, between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat, a few kilometres north of Avenches. In the 12th-13th centuries, the territory belonged to the bishopric of Sion. In the 13th century, Pierre II de Savoie acquired the fief of Charbuens and the locality was attached to the castellany of Cudrefin, then under the rule of the House of Savoie, which controlled a large part of the Vully region between the 13th and 15th centuries. This was therefore not a foundation planned by an individual or an identifiable single institution, but a gradual village development under seigneurial and later Bernese administration.

History of Constantine

1228. First attested written mention of the village, in the Latin form « Costantina ».

13th century. The territory initially belonged to the bishopric of Sion, before Pierre II de Savoie acquired the fief of Charbuens; Constantine was then attached to the castellany of Cudrefin, under the House of Savoie.

13th-15th century. The Vully region, including Constantine, remained largely under the rule of the House of Savoie, before being progressively divided between the influence of Berne and that of Fribourg.

1536. Following the conquest of the Pays de Vaud by Berne, Constantine came under Bernese administration, incorporated into the bailiwick of Avenches; the locality was governed by a council of twelve members and fell under the jurisdiction of the Mayorie de Cudrefin.

1550. The village has 24 hearths (households) according to the figures cited by the Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse.

1668-1671. The vicarage is renovated by the architect Abraham Dünz I.

1675-1680. The church, dedicated to Saint Martin, is renovated by the same architect, Abraham Dünz I.

17th century. Construction or acquisition of Constantine Castle by the de Pury family.

1764. 328 inhabitants are recorded for the combined entity formed by Constantine and Montmagny, which were then administratively linked.

1803. The Pays de Vaud becomes an independent canton of the Swiss Confederation; Constantine is part of it.

1811. Constantine and Montmagny, united until then, separate into two independent municipalities.

1850. The municipality of Constantine has 193 inhabitants.

1900. The population stands at 189 inhabitants.

1919. Constantine Castle is converted into a holiday and rest home.

2000. Federal census: 82.9% French speakers, about 69.3% Reformed Protestants and 24.3% Catholics among the resident population.

2004. The municipality has 280 inhabitants at the end of the year.

2009. 301 inhabitants are recorded, with recent growth driven mainly by the arrival of new residents rather than by natural increase.

2011-07-01. Constantine merges with Bellerive, Chabrey, Montmagny, Mur, Vallamand and Villars-le-Grand to form the new municipality of Vully-les-Lacs, ending its existence as an independent municipality.

Population of Constantine

Population of Constantine

1550	24 hearths (households, not a number of inhabitants)
1764	328 (figure combined with Montmagny)
1850	193
1900	189
2004	280
2009	301

Historic sites in Constantine

Saint-Martin church. Parish church dedicated to Saint Martin, renovated between 1675 and 1680 by the architect Abraham Dünz I. It is built above a necropolis dating from the 11th century.

The vicarage. Building renovated by the architect Abraham Dünz I between 1668 and 1671, at the same time as the work carried out on the church.

Constantine Castle. 17th-century building, owned by the de Pury family. It was converted into a holiday and rest home from 1919.

Remains in Constantine

11th-century necropolis. Remains of a necropolis dated to the 11th century were uncovered beneath the present-day Saint-Martin church.

Roman road of the Vully. According to Wikipedia, the village lay on the route of a Roman road crossing the Vully region; this information, resting on only one source consulted, would deserve to be cross-checked by a dedicated archaeological study.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse - Constantine
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse - Vully-les-Lacs
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse - Vully (région)
• Wikipédia - Constantine (Vaud)
• Wikipedia - Constantine, Switzerland
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud - fiche Vully-les-Lacs
• Site officiel de la commune de Vully-les-Lacs

Other villages near Constantine

• Montmagny (VD)
• Salavaux (VD)
• Bellerive (VD)
• Cotterd (VD)
• Vallamand (VD)