Soissons Before and During the War

Michelin‏

Library of Alexandria

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Soissons derives its name from the Suessiones, a Belgian tribe who inhabited that part of the country during the Gallic period. At that time the City, then known as Noviodunum, was situated about two and a half miles north-west of the Aisne on the Pommiers Plateau. After C¾sarÕs conquest of the country, the city was rebuilt on the banks of the Aisne, under the name of Augusta Suessionum. Of the Gallo-Roman epoch, only a small portion of the city ramparts remains, but excavations have brought to light the site of a large theatre, and at the Mail, the foundations of what were luxurious villas. The greater part of the objects unearthed are in the Museum, with the exception of the famous group ÇLe Niobide et son PŽdagogueÈ, now in the Louvre.

Christianity was first preached in Soissons at the end of the 3rd century, by two shoemakers, the brothers Crispin and Crispinian, who suffered martyrdom there.

Soissons played an important part throughout the whole of the Frankish Monarchy. It was at its gates that in 486, Clovis won a decisive victory over the last Roman Count, Syagrius, thus causing the downfall of Roman domination in Gaul. It was after this victory that the famous episode of the Soissons Vase occurred.

The Frankish King lived for a long time in the city, and at his death in 511, Soissons became the capital of the kingdom of one of his sons, Clotaire I, who ultimately became sole king of the Franks. Later, Soissons once more became a separate kingdom under Chilperic, and again under Clotaire II (561Ð613). During this period, the rivalry ofBrunehaut and FrŽdŽgonde gave rise to sanguinary episodes in Soissons and the surrounding country.

In the 8th century, Soissons witnessed the fall of the Merovingian dynasty. In 752, PŽpin-le-Bref was proclaimed King by an assembly of nobles in the monastery of Saint-MŽdard.

In the same abbey, in 833, the emperor Louis-le-DŽbonnaire, was deposed and imprisoned by his rebel sons, after they had forced him to make a public confession in the church of the monastery.

In 923, under the walls of Soissons, Charles-le-Simple fought a battle with his rival Robert, Duke of the Franks. In this battle, Charles was taken prisoner and lost his throne, which passed to the powerful House of France, whence sprang the Capetian dynasty.

Throughout the Middle-Ages, religious life was intensely active at Soissons. At that time, the City comprised six large monasteries, in addition to the Cathedral and several churches or collegiates. It was none the less a lay fief with the rank of county, which in 1131 obtained a communal charter under Louis-le-Gros, and on the accession of Francis I, became definitely part of the crown lands.