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MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE CHARLEVILLE

The Manufacture had obtained the title of "Royale" as early as 1688; but it seems that all the arms of the Ancien Régime only bear the mention "Manufacture de Charleville".

During the French Revolution, several communes in France were renamed (about 1,200 towns or villages) with a revolutionary name. By a decree of 25 Vendémiaire Year II (October 16, 1793), the National Convention (September 1792-October 1795) asked the "communes that had changed their name since the time of 1789 to pass the new name to the division committee".

The city of Charleville was baptized Libreville on 23 Brumaire 1793 and renamed Charleville in 1796. This means that the weapons with the signature "Manufacture de Libreville" were manufactured between 1793 and 1796.

This change of name is desired by the revolutionary authorities : the names of the municipalities beginning with "Saint" or "Sainte" are changed, due to dechristianization, and those that evoke feudalism and the symbols of the Ancien Régime, the decree of 1793 "inviting" the municipalities that wish to change the names that can "recall memories of royalty, feudalism or superstition, to deal with it immediately."

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MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE CHARLEVILLE

As a preamble, here is the well-documented presentation of my friend Jean Louis Gillier - La Pistole:

The Charleville arms factory

The city of Charleville benefits from an important artisanal gunsmithing tradition in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1667, Louvois, Secretary of State for War, asked the city of Charleville (founded in 1606) to reserve its gunsmithing production for the King.

In 1675, a store became an annex of the Royal Weapons Store of the Bastille in Paris.

Two major weapons factories were to be established in Charleville. They would supply the armies with rifles and ammunition.

In 1688, the Charleville factory became the “Royal Manufacture”. Victor Fournier, the owner, son of Toussaint Fournier, director of the city's police, thus became the exclusive supplier of firearms to the King, to the detriment of independent manufacturers.

Under the First Empire, production became considerable.

As early as 1822, the decision was taken by the artillery committee to abandon Maubeuge, Charleville and Klingenthal.

In 1836, the Royal Manufacture of Charleville, considered too close to the borders, closed its doors. St Étienne would benefit from it.

This Manufacture had obtained the title of "Royale" as early as 1688; however, to our knowledge ALL the arms of the Ancien Régime only bear "Manufacture de Charleville".