A commemorative mural dedicated to Elion Senoni, a revered 15th-century hero from Pertuis, France, was officially inaugurated on Verdun Avenue on Saturday, September 20th. The artwork, created by artist Graff Matt, was unveiled in front of numerous attendees during European Heritage Day celebrations.
Elion Senoni has been celebrated as a hero in Pertuis since the 15th century for his pivotal role in integrating the commune into the French crown. His diplomatic efforts not only secured the town's incorporation into France but also earned Pertuis its official coat of arms, which still adorns the city's emblem today. Heritage councilman Jacques Barone recounted the hero's remarkable story during the inauguration ceremony.
Senoni's historic mission began on February 13, 1492, when the consuls of Pertuis elected him to meet with King Charles VIII of France. The bilingual diplomat, who spoke both French and Provençal, was tasked with a crucial objective: to incorporate Pertuis into the French crown and secure numerous privileges for the town, including the right to self-governance and independence from both secular and religious lords.
The winter morning when Senoni entered the courtyard of the Tours castle marked the beginning of a diplomatic journey that would change Pertuis forever. As a skilled negotiator who regularly attended Parliament sessions in Aix-en-Provence, Senoni possessed the linguistic abilities and political acumen necessary for such a delicate mission. His fellow consuls had entrusted him with the monumental task of freeing their town from seigneurial rule.
Senoni's mission proved remarkably successful. King Charles VIII personally designed the coat of arms for Pertuis, incorporating the fleur-de-lis from his own royal lineage - a rare privilege previously granted only to Aix-en-Provence as the Provençal capital. In October 1493, Charles VIII sent an official parchment to the Parliament in Aix confirming the town's new status.
Two weeks after the royal decree, the aldermen of Pertuis unveiled their new coat of arms, the same emblem that represents the city to this day. Following his successful diplomatic mission, Elion Senoni was buried in the Church of Saint-Nicolas alongside other Pertuis syndics, cementing his status as a local hero whose legacy continues to be honored more than five centuries later through this new public artwork on Verdun Avenue.
