Saint-Python (; officially spelt Sainct-Pieton and St-Piton during different periods preceding 1800) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It was named after Piatus of Tournai. Its inhabitants are called Saint-Piatiens or Piatonnais.
Toponymy
In 1176, a Leprosarium Title of Cambrai first mentions 'Santus Piatus'. 'Sancto Piato' is found in a letter by Roger de Wavrin, évêque de Cambrai in 1182 and in the Communal Charter of Solesmes in 1202. 'Python' is a deformation of 'Piatus or Piat'. The church of the commune is also under the name of Saint-Piat also named Piat de Seclin or Piatus of Tournai, thus confirming the origin of the name of the village.
Heraldry
History
Chronology
The following chronologically-ordered dates mark the historical events which had the most impact on Saint-Python: 57 BC: The legions of Julius Caesar marched on the Mourmont, a lieu-dit between Saint-Python and Solesmes to lead the Battle of the Sabis, and were nearly defeated. 1074: Saint Lietbertus donated lands and properties located in Saint-Python to the Abbaye Saint-André du Cateau in Le Cateau-Cambrésis. 1185: Saint-Python was set on fire by Philip I, Count of Flanders. April 1263: Founding of a chapel belonging to Abbaye Saint-André. 24 February 1416: The Burgundians are housed in Saint-Python. 1437-1440: The écorcheurs (French: [ekɔʁʃœʁ], lit. "flayers") devastated the country including Saint-Python. 1450: The plague struck Saint-Python at least in 1450 and around 1669 (as quoted in Solesmes' Public Registers). 1536: Reconstruction of Saint-Python Church. 1544-1581: The village is periodically abandoned during French occupation of the region, with some inhabitants taking refuge in Cambrai, Valenciennes or Le Quesnoy. 1559: Traités du Cateau-Cambrésis: Peace between Henry II of France and Philip II of Spain. 7 July 1637: Landrecies and Le Cateau taken by the French (Turenne). Saint-Python is declared to have been abandoned after taking Landrecies.
7 November 1659: The Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed to end the 1635–1659 Franco-Spanish war. Saint-Python then becomes French. 2 May 1668: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: France takes over Douai, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, Lille. March 1675: Saint-Python is obliged to deliver to many cities many carts full of fodder for the king such as in Le Quesnoy, Avesnes-les-Aubert, Fayt, Charleroi, Ors, Philippeville). On 10 August 1678: Treaties of Peace of Nijmegen (Traités de Paix de Nimègue)that gives France Valenciennes, Bouchain, Cambrai, Bavay and Maubeuge. 1757: Construction of the current Saint-Python's Church. 1790: Saint-Python's first municipal election. The first mayor is Charles J. Marlier. 1793: Several conflicts occur when Catholic clerics refuse to follow the Decadary Cult. 1832, 1848 and 1866: Cholera raged in Saint-Python. 9 May 1944: Saint-Python hit by Allied bombing.
Government
Until 1790 many different lords owned Saint-Python's lands and properties and had administrative power over the town. Notable lords included Claude Lamoral De Ligne, a nobleman, soldier, and diplomat from the Spanish Netherlands in the service of Philip IV of Spain and Charles II of Spain, who controlled Saint-Python from 1641 to 1679.
On 3 February 1790, voters elected Mr. Duplessy, vicar of St-Python, as public prosecutor, but he refused. On February 23, Etienne Dambrinne was elected prosecutor but already held another office, so the function was given to Mr. Lernou, priest of St-Python. This first municipal act was recorded on a sheet of paper from St-Python's Marlier paper mill, decorated with a drawing of three fleurs-de-lis inside a circle.
Georges Flamengt has been mayor of Saint-Python since election in March 2001.
In the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen came in first place in the 2nd (final) round with 59.41% of the votes in Saint-Python, ahead of Emmanuel Macron (En Marche!) who received 40.59% of the votes. 7.21% of voters returned a blank ballot paper. The participation rate was 77.73% for the 2nd round, a decline in turnout of 1.68 points from the first round of the election.