Audigny

Audigny is located some 22 km east of Saint-Quentin and 35 km north of Laon. It can be accessed by the D946 highway from Guise in the north passing through the heart of commune and continuing to Le Hérie-la-Viéville in the south but without passing through Audigny village. The village is reached on road D37 branching south-east off the D946 through the village and continuing south-east to Puisieux-et-Clanlieu. The D586 also passes through the west of the commune from north to south-west. The commune consists entirely of farmland with no other villages or hamlets.[3]

There are no identifiable streams or rivers in the commune.[3]

British field artillery at Audigny, 17 Oct 1918

Audigny was known as Aldiniacum in 1065, Aldinisia in 1161, Aldigni in 1165, and Auldigny in 1530. The name comes from a Germanic form of Aldinus derived from the Latin Albus meaning "White".

Albanus (Aldanus) was the name of a saint who lived near London at Verulanium in the 3rd century (now called Saint Albans). A soldier in the army of Diocletian, he returned home to England where he hosted a Christian missionary who was sought by local police. Converted in one night he gave his clothes to the missionary who managed to escape. Shortly after he was arrested for refusing to sacrifice to idols and he was immediately beheaded in 287. His fame and miracles arrived in France where many parishes adopted the saint as protector. His feast day is 22 June - the summer solstice.

The commune land in the 11th century belonged to various religious communities who venerated the saint and gave his name to the hamlet then the parish that was established in the area.

In 1918, after heavy fighting the at Louvry's Farm, the village was liberated on 5 November 1918 at 6:30am by the 70th and 115th Infantry Battalions.

List of Successive Mayors of Audigny[4]

(Not all data is known)

• The Château de l'Étang (16th century) is registered as an historical monument.[5]
• The Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul contains a number of items that are registered as historical objects:
  • An Altar Painting: The Resurrection of Christ (1835)[6]
  • The main Altar, Tabernacle, and Retable (18th century)[7]
  • A Restoration style Chair (19th century)[8]
  • A Grotto of Lourdes with statues of the Virgin and Saint Bernadette Soubirous (19th century)[9]
  • A pair of Stools (19th century)[10]
  • A Cross: Christ on the Cross (18th century)[11]
  • A Baptismal font (15th century)[12]

• Communes of the Aisne department