Exoudun

Exoudun
Exoudun
Commune
	The fortified house in Exoudun
	Coat of arms
	Location of Exoudun
	Exoudun Exoudun
	Coordinates: 46°20′43″N 0°04′51″W / 46.3453°N 0.0808°W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Deux-Sèvres
Arrondissement	Niort
Canton	Celles-sur-Belle
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Murielle Heurtebise-Daniaud
Area 1	25.95 km2 (10.02 sq mi)
Population (2021)	549
• Density	21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	79115 /79800
Elevation	80–188 m (262–617 ft) ; (avg. 180 m or 590 ft)
	1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Exoudun is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in western France.

Etymology

The name is attested in 872 in the form of Exuldunus.

According to Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing, the name is derived from the Gallic uxelo, high, and dunum, fortress.^[3] (see Issoudun)

Ernest Nègre also brings the same meaning, from the Gallic adjective uxello- meaning elevated + the suffix dunum, fortified enclosure.^[4]

History

Human occupation, which seems ancient, dates back to prehistoric times, during the Neolithic, when the first neolithic men who practiced agriculture arrived, as highlighted by the presence in the commune itself, of the village's Dolmen; presenting a covering table and two orthostats at his side, his condition is considered ruined. The 'Pierre Levée des sept chemins' is also located halfway on the road towards the Chirons de Bougon, where half a dozen tumulus are located, among the oldest on the Atlantic coast, and used for almost 2000 years old, which is exceptional.

The presence of pottery in these different archaeological sites, dating from the Bronze Age, shows the presence of populations, which coincides with the end of megalithism; they mix with previous populations.

During Antiquity, in Exoudun, as its toponymy attests, the presence of the Celtic Gauls, probably the Pictons, as well as a fortified enclosure of good height are proven.

During the Middle Ages, Lordship of Exoudun was held in succession by several noble families, including the Lusignans. Lord of Exoudun was titled: Seigneur d′Exoudun.^[5]

References

^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
^ Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France, Paris, Librairie Guénégaud, 738 p. (ISBN 978-2-85023-076-9 et 2-85023-076-6), p. 278.
^ Ernest Nègre, Toponymie générale de la France, Genève, Librairie Droz, 1990 (ISBN 978-2-600-02883-7, p. 172
^ Painter 1955, p. 374-384.