# Proviseux-et-Plesnoy

> commune in Aisne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q868131](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q868131)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proviseux-et-Plesnoy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/proviseux-et-plesnoy

## Summary

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy is a commune located in the Aisne department of northern France, situated at coordinates 49.465°N latitude and 4.009722°E longitude. It is part of the arrondissement of Laon and was historically part of the canton of Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne until March 2015. The commune has been recognized with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 military decoration for its suffering during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Proviseux-et-Plesnoy
- **Alias**: Proviseux
- **Department**: Aisne (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Laon
- **Historical Canton**: Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne (until March 2015)
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 49.465°N, 4.009722°E
- **Population**: 117, 119, 124, 120, 123, 150, 107, 117, 110, 102, 94, 119, 123, 126, 130, 133, 136 (recorded across multiple years)
- **Administrative Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Military Recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915)
- **Image**: Municipal school and church tower photograph by Havang(nl)
- **Image License**: CC0 / Public Domain
- **Wikipedia Title**: Proviseux-et-Plesnoy
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Aisne, France

## FAQs

**What type of administrative region is Proviseux-et-Plesnoy?**

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It is located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.

**What is the historical significance of Proviseux-et-Plesnoy?**

The commune was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration recognizing suffering and damage during World War I. This indicates the commune experienced significant impact during the First World War, a period when the Aisne department saw intense fighting during the Battle of the Aisne and subsequent trench warfare.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Proviseux-et-Plesnoy?**

The commune is located at latitude 49.465°N and longitude 4.009722°E, placing it in the northern part of France within the Aisne department.

**Which administrative divisions is Proviseux-et-Plesnoy part of?**

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy belongs to the Aisne department (established March 4, 1790), the arrondissement of Laon, and was historically part of the canton of Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne until the French cantonal boundaries were reorganized in March 2015.

**What is the population of Proviseux-et-Plesnoy?**

The commune has recorded population figures of 117, 119, 124, 120, 123, 150, 107, 117, 110, 102, 94, 119, 123, 126, 130, 133, and 136 across various census years, indicating fluctuations in population over time.

## Why It Matters

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy matters as a representative example of the small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial organization. While numerically small, these communes embody the decentralized administrative structure of France, where municipal governance operates at the most local level. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its historical significance during one of the most devastating conflicts in European history, when the Aisne department became a theater of intense warfare during the First World War. The Battle of the Aisne in 1914 established the static trench warfare that would characterize much of the conflict along the Western Front, and many communes in the region bear the physical and demographic scars of this period. Today, Proviseux-et-Plesnoy represents the continuity of French municipal traditions and the preservation of local identity within the broader framework of departmental and regional administration.

## Notable For

- **War Commemoration**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for World War I suffering
- **Historical Administrative Changes**: Part of the canton of Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne until the 2015 cantonal reorganization
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Aisne, one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution in 1790
- **Historical Canton Connection**: Associated with the historical canton system that structured French local government until 2015

## Body

### Geography and Location

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy is situated in the northern French department of Aisne, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region. The commune's precise coordinates are 49.465°N latitude and 4.009722°E longitude, positioning it in the northeastern portion of the Paris basin. The territory encompasses the traditional commune areas, with the municipal infrastructure centered around the church and school facilities. The commune's location in the Aisne department places it within one of the departments that formed the historical Picardy region, known for its agricultural plains and its significant role in French history, particularly during the World War I period when the department saw some of the most intense fighting along the Western Front.

### Administrative History

The commune operates within the contemporary French administrative system as a "commune," which represents the lowest level of territorial organization in France, dating back to the revolutionary period of 1789. Proviseux-et-Plesnoy is part of the arrondissement of Laon, which serves as the administrative center for the northern portion of the Aisne department. Historically, the commune was part of the canton of Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne until March 2015, when France underwent significant cantonal reorganization as part of departmental restructuring. The Aisne department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the early stages of the French Revolution, forming part of the original 83 departments established to replace the old provincial divisions of the Kingdom of France.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures recorded for Proviseux-et-Plesnoy across multiple census years show significant variation: 117, 119, 124, 120, 123, 150, 107, 117, 110, 102, 94, 119, 123, 126, 130, 133, and 136. These numbers reflect the demographic fluctuations common among small rural French communes, influenced by factors including agricultural economic conditions, rural depopulation trends affecting much of rural France during the 20th century, and more recent efforts to maintain rural communities. The population figures indicate a commune that has experienced both growth and decline periods, typical of small municipalities in agricultural regions.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

The commune of Proviseux-et-Plesnoy was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a prestigious French military decoration established on April 2, 1915. This award recognizes communes that suffered damage during the First World War, specifically acknowledging significant human casualties or material destruction. The Aisne department was heavily affected by the war, particularly during the Battle of the Aisne in September 1914, when the German advance was halted along the Aisne River, leading to the establishment of trench warfare that would characterize the Western Front for years. Many communes in the department, including Proviseux-et-Plesnoy, experienced occupation, destruction, and loss of life during the conflict, justifying the award of this military recognition.

### Cultural and Community Assets

The commune features a municipal school and church, with the church tower serving as a notable landmark captured in photographs documenting the commune's built heritage. An image of the Proviseux-et-Plesnoy municipal school and church tower, photographed by Havang(nl), is available through Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license. This photographic documentation represents the type of local heritage preservation efforts undertaken for small French communes, providing visual records of architectural and cultural significance at the municipal level.

### Administrative Relationships

Proviseux-et-Plesnoy exists within a hierarchical administrative structure that includes the commune itself, the canton (historically Neufchâtel-sur-Aisne), the arrondissement of Laon, and the department of Aisne. This structure reflects the Napoleonic administrative model adopted by France, which organizes territory into progressively larger administrative units for governance, judicial, and statistical purposes. The commune of France classification, established in 1789, provides each municipality with a local mayor and municipal council, maintaining the principle of decentralized governance that characterizes the French administrative system.

## 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)