Anthon, Isère

Anthon
Coat of arms
Anthon
Location within Rhône-Alpes region Anthon
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Isère
Arrondissement	Vienne
Canton	Pont-de-Chéruy
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Bruno Bon
Area1	8.82 km2 (3.41 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	967
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	38011 / 38280
Elevation	182–249 m (597–817 ft) (avg. 200 m or 660 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Anthon is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France.

Geography

Anton stands on the left bank of the River Rhône opposite its confluence with the River Ain, about 30 kilometres upstream from the centre of Lyon. Its inhabitants are Anthonois.

History

The place was originally established as a town by one Antonius Nepos. The only one we have named in Roman history was the fellow consul of Cicero in 62 BCE. He was Caius Antonius Nepos, uncle of the triumvir Marcus Antonius and second son of Marcus Antonius Orator.

Caius Antonius Nepos was condemned for misappropriation of public funds and exiled in 59 BCE. He found refuge in Cephellenia according to some and in Gaul according to others. We might assume therefore that Anthon was the place.

A poem of about 450 CE, by Sidonius Apollinaris celebrates the wines of Anthon.

The Lords of Anthon have been from time immemorial, the tenants of this land. Nowhere in the period of Charlemagne's empire, nor in those around that period is there an indication of their having obtained it. We are therefore left to conclude that they have held the land since Antiquity.

Guichard I brought fame on himself during the First Crusade in 1096. His distant descendant, Louis d'Anthon disappeared in 1326; the manor was awarded to his younger sister, who ceded it to her aunt, spouse of Hugues de Genève.

It passed next to the Saluces. The d'Anthons had as a coat of arms (blazon): "gules, dragon or with human head."

The d'Anthon family survived some time through a cadet branch, the Varaxs which died out in the fifteenth century. The descent of Louis d'Anthon is not known. Several branches of the d'Anthons or Dantons claim descent from him.

There was also the "Battle of Anthon" which took place on 11 June 1430. Louis de Chalon, strengthened by his impressive numerical superiority with his 4 000 men, calmly advanced to the aid of the château de Colombier but he did not know that it had already been captured. He set out on the way from Anton to Colombier which winds through the woods but there were 1,600 soldiers from the Dauphiné (that is to say his enemies) lying in ambush in the thickets near the village of Janneyrias.

The Orangist (supporting the House of Orange), strung out along the narrow path, was sorely surprised throughout. The powerful Orangist cavalry was caught in a trap. Soon, there was general confusion and they were heading for Anthon; every man for himself. The fugitives abandoned arms and baggage and ran away through the wood. More than 200 men drowned themselves in trying to cross the tumultuous Rhône. That is how the 'Battle of Anthon' ended, with the Dauphiné saved.

Administration

List of mayors

period	name	party	background
2001-2008	Pierre Robert
2008-2014	Bruno Bon
Earlier data not available.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	201	—
1968	225	+11.9%
1975	264	+17.3%
1982	333	+26.1%
1990	697	+109.3%
1999	917	+31.6%
2009	967	+5.5%

Sights

• Ancient tower
• 19th century church

Personalities

• Caius Antonius Nepos

See also

• Communes of the Isère département
• Georges Danton

References

• INSEE commune file

External links

• Anthon on the Quid site
• Nearest communes to Anthon
• Anthon on the map of France
• Anthon on Mapquest