Edict of Roussillon

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The Edict of Roussillon of 1564 fixed the beginning of the year in France on January 1st.

On one of his trips through the country, King Charles IX. found that the beginning of the year in France was set differently depending on the diocese : in the Archdiocese of Lyon it was Christmas , in the Archdiocese of Vienne - a few kilometers further - it was March 25th . Other data was already in the Roman Empire usual March 1 and Easter . The differing regulations not only created confusion at the time; they continue to act as an uncertainty about historical dates to this day.

After unifying the beginning of the year for the entire country, he added four articles (Nos. 39 to 42) to an edict he had issued in Paris at the beginning of January 1563, which he proclaimed on August 9, 1564 in Roussillon : the beginning of the year was now set to January 1st in Article 39:

"Voulons et ordonnons qu'en tous actes, registres, instruments, contracts, ordonnances, édicts, tant patentes que missives, et toute escripture privé, l'année commence doresénavant et soit comptée du premier jour de ce moys de janvier. Donné à Roussillon, le neufiesme lour d'aoust, l'an de grace mil cinq cens soixante-quatre. Et de notre règne de quatriesme. Ainsi signed le Roy en son Conseil “ Sébastien de L'Aubespine .