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The foundation of Mirande
 
Towards the end of the XIth century, the south-west was scarcely populated. Apart from the villages (like Tolouse, Auch, Albi), which attracted a part of the population, the rest of the inhabitants was dispersed. In the countryside, the peasants were bothered by wandering groups of semi-nomades and bandits living in the depths of forests.
In these circumstances, the bastides contribute to changes. Creating Gothic cathedrals is a part of the urban trend - a thing without precedence in the south-west. It starts in the year 1222 with the foundation of Cordes and finishes in the year 1373 with Labastide d'Anjou.
 
 
Founded by the nobility, the bastide is initiated by the Abbot of Berdoues and the Comte Bernard IV d'Astarac, under the control of the king's senechal Eustache de Beaumarchès.
Un contrat de paréage is signed in 1281. It proclaims the equal share of duties and profits for the foundators.
 
Every contracting party finds its own benefits :
 
- the cisterian monastery contributes the major part of land to found a new city; this donation, although calculated, is a mean to enrich the untouched land and to make profits.
 
- the Comte of Astarac becomes the king's vasal and secures, by this deed, the protection from the lust of the Comte of Armagnac, his neighbour.
 
- the king of France, represented by his senechal, establishes his authority over the land which previously was uncontrolled.
 
 
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