Remember Paul de Chomedey. He was Sieur de Maisonneuve. Maisonneuve was the founder of Montreal. Maisonneuve’s story is etched into the very foundation of this city.
Maisonneuve was born in 1612 in Neuville-sur-Vannes, Champagne, France. He began his military career at the young age of 13. Maisonneuve quickly became known as a man of honor. He distanced himself from the wild lifestyles of his comrades. He showed great piety early on.
Around the age of 30, Maisonneuve was chosen to found Ville-Marie. Jérôme Le Royer de La Dauversière and Jesuit priest Charles Lalemant chose him. In May 1641, Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance left La Rochelle for the colony. They spent the winter near Quebec City. In May 1642, Maisonneuve took possession of Montreal Island. He claimed it in the name of the Société de Notre-Dame.
The Jesuits reported the event in their chronicles. On May 17, 1642, the Governor gave Sieur de Maisonneuve possession of the Isle. This was done in the name of the Messieurs de Mont-real. It was to begin the first buildings. Father Vimont had the Veni Creator sung. He said Holy Mass. He presented the Holy Sacrament. He asked Heaven for a happy start to this work. It depended on the labor of men. It was creating a log refuge from enemies.
Maisonneuve became Governor of the island. He oversaw the first “Montréalistes.” He organized their defense against Iroquois incursions. These attacks had been happening since 1643. He built Fort Ville-Marie. It was near a Catholic cemetery for the first French graves. This is now in the Pointe-à-Callière ruins in Old Montreal.
Jeanne Mance and Maisonneuve divided the work. Maisonneuve was responsible for “outdoors and war.” Jeanne Mance looked to “care indoors.”
From 1648, Maisonneuve distributed the first concessions to the inhabitants. He marked the city limits. This was in keeping with the seigneurial regime. In 1653, with Jeanne Mance’s support, he returned from France. He brought 120 recruits. Marguerite Bourgeoys and 100 soldiers soon followed. This greatly increased the island’s population.
The early years were hard for the Montreal colony. Conditions were not good. The climate was harsh. House construction was slow. Co-existence with the First Nations was not always easy.
In 1643, a flood threatened the city. Maisonneuve prayed to the Virgin Mary to stop it. When it stopped, he put a cross atop Mount Royal. A cross has been there ever since.
The Mohawk resented French efforts to interrupt their trade. They severely threatened the new colony. The Algonquin maintained peaceful relations with the French. The Haudenosaunee discovered the new French settlement in 1643. Maisonneuve commanded its defense using his military training.
On March 30, 1644, settlers faced 250 Haudenosaunee people. Maisonneuve remained last. He allowed the others to retreat safely. He killed a Haudenosaunee chief before returning to the fort.
In 1663, Maisonneuve gave the Seigneurie of Montréal to the Sulpicians. Two years later, he retired and returned to France. He lived in Paris. He died on September 9, 1676, at age 64.
Vestiges of the era are under Pointe-à-Callière. There is the first Ville-Marie cemetery. Now, there is the Fort Ville-Marie – Québecor Pavilion. It houses the exhibition, Where Montréal Began.
After his death, Rue Saint-Paul in Montreal was named after Maisonneuve. He had built his home on that street in 1650. The Maisonneuve Monument was erected in 1895 in Place d’Armes in Old Montreal. It honors his memory. An imaginary model was used. No authentic portrait exists of Maisonneuve.
De Maisonneuve Boulevard and Rue Chomedey are also named for him. So are Maisonneuve Park and the Collège de Maisonneuve. The neighborhood of Chomedey in Laval is named for him too. The Maisonneuve pavilion is a dormitory at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean.
Maisonneuve’s legacy lives on all around us. He was Montreal’s first builder. He shaped the city’s destiny with courage, faith, and determination. His story reminds us of the challenges and triumphs. These shaped Montreal into the vibrant city it is today.