# Pleine-Selve

> commune in Aisne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q870813](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q870813)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleine-Selve,_Aisne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pleine-selve

## Summary

Pleine-Selve is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated approximately 49.79°N latitude and 3.53°E longitude. As a commune of France—a fundamental territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789—Pleine-Selve falls within the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin. The small rural community has a population of approximately 186 residents and was recognized with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 military decoration for its suffering during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Pleine-Selve is in the Aisne department of France, in the Hauts-de-France region
- **Administrative division**: Part of the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin
- **Coordinates**: 49.790833333333°N latitude, 3.5272222222222°E longitude
- **Country**: France
- **Department inception**: Aisne established March 4, 1790
- **Commune system inception**: French commune territorial subdivision system established in 1789
- **Population**: Approximately 186 residents (most recent figure from population data series)
- **Historical recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, awarded April 2, 1915)
- **Wikipedia title**: Pleine-Selve, Aisne
- **Sitelink count**: 46
- **Image**: Municipal building (mairie) photographed by Havang(nl), released under CC0/public domain license

## FAQs

**What region and department is Pleine-Selve located in?**

Pleine-Selve is situated in the Aisne department, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The commune belongs to the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin, one of the administrative divisions within the department.

**What type of administrative area is Pleine-Selve?**

Pleine-Selve is classified as a commune of France, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in the French administrative system. Communes serve as the fundamental units for municipalities, similar to towns or parishes in other administrative systems, and are the equivalent of townships or boroughs.

**What historical recognition does Pleine-Selve have?**

Pleine-Selve was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and suffering during World War I. This award indicates that the commune experienced significant damage or casualties during the conflict, as the decoration was granted to communes that suffered heavily during German invasions or combat.

**What is the population of Pleine-Selve?**

Pleine-Selve is a small rural commune with a population of approximately 186 residents. Historical population data shows fluctuations between 149 and 222 inhabitants over recorded years, indicating a modest-sized community typical of rural northern French communes.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Pleine-Selve?**

The commune is located at coordinates 49.790833333333° north latitude and 3.5272222222222° east longitude, placing it in the Picardy region (now part of Hauts-de-France) in northern France, not far from the Belgian border.

## Why It Matters

Pleine-Selve represents the quintessential small French rural commune that forms the backbone of France's territorial organization. While modest in size, such communes are essential to understanding France's administrative structure, as the commune system—established during the French Revolution in 1789—remains the fundamental building block of local governance throughout the country. The commune's recognition with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its place in the historical narrative of the First World War, a conflict that profoundly shaped northern France and the Somme region. The award reflects the human and material toll that communities in the Aisne department endured during the German invasion and subsequent fighting that characterized much of the Western Front. Today, Pleine-Selve continues to serve as a living example of rural French community life, maintaining its municipal infrastructure and contributing to the demographic and cultural fabric of the Saint-Quentin arrondissement. Its existence illustrates the highly decentralized nature of French local government, where even the smallest communes maintain their own municipal administration, schools, and community services.

## Notable For

- **World War I recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for suffering during the Great War
- **Administrative continuity**: Part of France's commune system established in 1789, making it one of the oldest continuous administrative divisions in Europe
- **Rural character**: Small community representing the traditional agricultural villages of northern France
- **Municipal heritage**: Home to a municipal building (mairie) documented in Wikimedia Commons, preserving visual records of its civic architecture

## Body

### Geography and Location

Pleine-Selve is strategically positioned in the Picardy region of northern France, specifically within the Aisne department. The commune's coordinates of 49.790833333333°N latitude and 3.5272222222222°E longitude place it in the northeastern part of France, relatively close to the Belgian border. The terrain of the region is characterized by the rolling plains typical of the Somme basin, an area that witnessed some of the most intense fighting during World War I. The commune's location within the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin places it in an area with historical significance dating back to Roman times and through the medieval period, when Saint-Quentin itself developed as an important settlement.

### Administrative History

Pleine-Selve exists within France's distinctive administrative hierarchy, which traces its roots to the revolutionary period of 1789. The commune system was established during the French Revolution as part of the rationalization of local governance, replacing the previous feudal divisions. The Aisne department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments following the Revolution. This administrative structure has remained remarkably stable for over two centuries, with communes like Pleine-Selve maintaining their identity and boundaries through numerous political changes, from the monarchy through the various republics to the present Fifth Republic. The arrondissement of Saint-Quentin serves as an intermediate administrative level between the department and the commune, providing regional coordination and administrative services.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 awarded to Pleine-Selve represents one of the most significant distinctions for the commune. This military decoration, established on April 2, 1915, by the French government recognized both individual military valor and collective suffering by communes that experienced invasion or heavy combat during the First World War. The Aisne department was among the regions most severely affected by the conflict, lying directly along the Western Front where some of the most brutal battles of the war occurred. The German invasion of 1914 swept through this region, and the subsequent years of trench warfare left indelible marks on communities throughout the area. The award of the Croix de guerre to Pleine-Selve places it among the communes recognized for their sacrifice during this transformative conflict, which reshaped not only the political map of Europe but also the social and demographic character of northern France.

### Demographics and Community Life

As a small rural commune, Pleine-Selve exemplifies the demographic patterns of rural northern France. With a population of approximately 186 residents, the commune falls within the category of small villages that characterize much of the French countryside outside major urban areas. Population data spanning multiple years shows fluctuations between 149 and 222 inhabitants, reflecting broader trends of rural depopulation that affected much of provincial France during the twentieth century, though with some stabilization in more recent decades. The community maintains its municipal infrastructure, including the mairie (town hall), which serves as the center of local governance and community activities. Such small communes typically maintain basic services including municipal administration, and may share educational facilities with neighboring communes through intercommunal arrangements.

### Cultural and Civic Assets

The commune is documented through visual records including a photograph of its municipal building, the mairie, which was captured by the Wikimedia Commons contributor Havang(nl). This image, released under the CC0/public domain license, represents the kind of civic documentation that preserves the heritage of small French communes. The municipal building serves as the physical symbol of local government and community identity, typically housing the mayor's office, municipal council chambers, and often basic public services. The documentation of such buildings contributes to the broader archive of French architectural heritage, showcasing the varied styles of civic architecture found throughout the country's communes—from grand buildings in larger towns to more modest structures in smaller villages like Pleine-Selve.

### Regional Context

Pleine-Selve exists within the rich historical and cultural tapestry of the Aisne department and the broader Hauts-de-France region. The department takes its name from the Aisne River, which flows through the region and contributed to its agricultural importance. The arrondissement of Saint-Quentin, to which Pleine-Selve belongs, centers on the city of Saint-Quentin itself, which developed from a Roman settlement and became an important medieval city. The region has historically been a crossroads between France and the Low Countries, resulting in a cultural heritage that blends French and Flemish influences. The textile industry was historically important to the region, and Saint-Quentin developed as a manufacturing center. Today, the region balances its agricultural traditions with modern economic activities while preserving its distinctive cultural identity and historical sites from both the medieval period and the First World War.

## References

1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
2. INSEE code
3. répertoire géographique des communes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Annuaire de service-public.fr
6. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
7. Populations légales 2016
8. Populations légales 2017
9. Populations légales 2018
10. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)