The idea of turning a worthless metal into gold is as old as Greco-Egyptian alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone, which some claim Adam was told by God of its existence.
Lord of Château-Chervix, François de Coignac examines this problem which ends up becoming a real obsession. Its goal is to turn all metals into gold by mixing them with solidified mercury.
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An evil monk
To carry out his research, he enlisted the skills of a certain Bernadière or Bernadiera. This priest is not very Catholic. His manners are shocking. De Coignac’s stepfather is not very clear either. Man is also passionate about alchemy. Accused of being a counterfeiter, he is imprisoned in Angoulême. But Francis finds these unjust imputations.
He therefore went to the city of Charente to defend it. On his return, he tells Bernardière about this mishap. The latter puts the chip in his ear. He fears that, following this story, justice is interested in his illegal activities.
He pushes him to crime
De Coignac gets scared and tries to find a solution. The priest, who wields the ropes of manipulation with dexterity and Machiavellianism, advises him to perish with his family in a fire. The plan is simple. De Coignac kills his relatives, sets fire to the castle, and runs away, making believe that he is among the victims.
De Coignac accepts, but delegates the murderous missions to Bernardière and his accomplices. On the evening of October 6, 1553, the murderers entered the castle. While his wife and children are murdered, François de Coignac takes refuge in the hamlet of Puy-de-Bar.
A frightful killing
Illustrations Château-Chervix
Bernardière for his part accomplished his sinister work. He lures Dame Coignac into the laboratory and kills her with a dagger. Then it is the turn of the children and the servants. The remains are then piled up in the laboratory where Bernardière sets fire. The castle ignites. And from his hiding place, de Coignac sees the flames lick the building. Only the dungeon is spared.
A leak in Switzerland
It was a little shepherd, who had come down to the cellar for food, who heard the cries. He saw everything and heard everything. Terrified, he hid for two days. Then once out of his hiding place he tells the whole story to the people of the village. This story reaches the ears of the judges who then issue an arrest warrant.
Bernardiera was immediately squeezed by the guards. He did not think that a witness had witnessed this tragedy. He then confesses his crime. Taken to Limoges prison, he was tortured, wheeled, quartered and beheaded. We do not know, however, what has become of Coignac. Immediately after the incident he left the region and fled to Switzerland.
Confiscated land
Also condemned to have his head cut off, it is believed that he was caught and executed. It would be the least of things. His Limousin lands were confiscated and given to the lord of Lanzat. The castle, which was never repaired, then knows a succession of owners. Today, the tower stands in the center of the village. We do not know if it is haunted. But it remains the symbol of what human madness can produce when the embers of greed are stirred up.
Alchemy
Science or deception? Esoteric art or real science, is alchemy really the ancestor of chemistry? Advocating the ability to turn lead into gold and even offer eternal life, it attracted crooks like the first true scientists fascinated by matter and its mutations.
Tower
Illustrations Château-Chervix
Former keep of the motte castle built in the 12th century and which was deliberately burnt down by its owner in 1553. Remarkably built, it bears witness to the wealth of its builder: the Viscount of Limoges. The ground floor does not have a door to better defend against the attacker, the entrance is located 6 m from the ground. The 2nd and 3rd floors were separated by a floor. The association “Les Amis de la Tour” of Château-Chervix, takes care of its development.
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Jean-Francois Julien
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