NEWSLETTER

  Mail Address
  P.O. Box 241
    Pomfret Ctr.,
    Ct., 06259

ARE WE FRENCH?
Written by Gilles L. Caisse & Alex Caisse

The question "Are We French?" can have many answers.  It really depends on what period in our family history that the question is answered.
If the Caisses really originate from the Alsace-Lorraine area , as research indicates, we are officially French.  In

1648 the Treaty of Westphalia (Munster) ceeded the territory to France.  Seveux, the town of origin for our ancestor, Francois Caisse dit LeDragon is located in that region.  But, we could also be German because since Charlemagne's rule (9th century) to the 14th century, this

same territory had  changed allegiance several times. Or Scandanavian,  when even earlier a majority of the Suebi tribes roamed across France in migrating (406 to 409 A.D.) from Germania to Galicia(Spain),  where they established their kingdom.
        (cont. on page #3)

The map above shows the route of the remnants of the Suebi tribe after their defeat by the Visigoths in the year 585 A.D.  The move was from Galicia(present day Spain) to an area of southwestern Germany, Switzerland and portions of France.  The Suebi had occupied the area sometime around 405-406 A.D. after traversing from Scandanavia.