Mauperthuis


Mauperthuis is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.
The village is famous for having produced five Musketeers including d'Artagnan, who was made famous in Alexandre Dumas, père's books. The ruined Château d'Artagnan exists today. Much of the land once belonged to the Montesquieu Family.
This one tiny village billeted some of the US Air Service – precursor to today's great and mighty US Air Force while the men flew out of the adjacent village of Saints. They were in Mauperthuis probably for just short of two months – from July 8 to September 1, 1918 out of the seven months it saw combat.
Two adjacent villages – Saints and Touquin – also play a role in the lives of these men and the US Air Service. The men were based in Touquin from the end of June until July 8, when they moved to Saints. And the men were lodged in Mauperthuis, half a mile from Saints, while they were flying out of Saints.
Quentin Roosevelt was billeted here when he was shot down and killed on July 14, 1918.
Mauperthuis was occupied by the Prussians during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. It was also overrun by the Germans for one or two days in September, 1914 before being liberated by the British under General French. And it was once again in German hands from 1940 to 1944. American tanks of the US 3rd Armored Division under General Maurice Rose liberated Mauperthuis on August 27, 1944.

Geography

The river Aubetin forms part of the commune's south-western border.

Demographics

The inhabitants are called the Malperthusiens.