Edict of Roussillon

The Edict of Roussillon from 1564 laid the beginning of the year in France firmly on the 1st of January.

On one of his trips around the country, King Charles IX. found that the beginning of the year in France was set up differently depending on the diocese: in the Archdiocese of Lyon it was Christmas, in the archdiocese of Vienne - a few kilometers away - March 25. Other data were the usual already in the Roman Empire March 1st and Easter. The derogations generated not only in the time of confusion; they act as uncertainty continues to historical annual figures today.

After he had unified the beginning of the year for the entire country, he added an edict which he had adopted in early January 1563 in Paris, four articles (No. 39 to 42 ) which will he announced in Roussillon on August 9, 1564: the beginning of the year has now been fixed in Article 39 to January 1:

" Voulons et ordonnons qu'en tous actes, registres, instruments, contracts, ordonnances, edicts, tant que patentes missives, et toute escripture privé, l' année commence doresénavant et soit comptée du premier jour de ce Moys de janvier. Donné à Roussillon, le neufiesme lour d' Aoust, l'an mil cinq cens soixante de grace - quatre. Et de notre règne de quatriesme. Ainsi signé le Roy en son Conseil " Sébastien de L' Aubespine.

• Gregorian and Julian calendars
• History of France in the early modern period
• 1564
• Political History (France)