Soissons () is a
commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
in the northern French
department of
Aisne, in the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost Regions of France, region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its Prefectu ...
. Located on the river
Aisne, about northeast of
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the
Suessiones. Soissons is also the see of an ancient Roman Catholic
diocese
In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...
, whose establishment dates from about 300, and it was the location of a number of
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* C ...
synod
A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. The word ''wikt:synod, synod'' comes from the meaning "assembly" or "meeting" and is analogous with the Latin ...
s called "
Council of Soissons".
History
Soissons enters
written history
Recorded history or written history describes the historical events that have been recorded in a written form or other documented communication which are subsequently evaluated by historians using the historical method. For broader world his ...
under its
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
* Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Fo ...
name, later borrowed into
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
,
Noviodunum {{Unreferenced, date=December 2009
Noviodunum is a name of Celtic origin, meaning "new fort": It comes from '' nowyo'', Celtic for "new", and '' dun'', the Celtic for "hillfort" or "fortified settlement", cognate of English ''town''.
Several places ...
, meaning "new hillfort", which was the capital of the
Suessiones. At
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
contact, it was a town of the
Suessiones, mentioned by
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...
(''B. G.'' ii. 12). Caesar (''B.C.'' 57), after leaving the Axona (modern
Aisne), entered the territory of the Suessiones, and making one day's long march, reached Noviodunum, which was surrounded by a high wall and a broad ditch. The place surrendered to Caesar.
From 457 to 486, under
Aegidius
Aegidius (died 464 or 465) was the ruler of the short-lived Kingdom of Soissons from 461 to 464/465AD. Before his ascension, he became ''magister militum per Gallias'' (Master of the Soldiers for Gaul) serving under Majorian, in 458AD. An arden ...
and his son
Syagrius
Syagrius (430 – 486 or 487 or 493–4) was a Roman general and the last ruler of a Roman rump state in northern Gaul, now called the Kingdom of Soissons. Gregory of Tours referred to him as King of the Romans. Syagrius's defeat by king Clovis ...
, Noviodunum was the capital of the
Kingdom of Soissons
The Kingdom or Domain of Soissons was a rump state of the Western Roman Empire in northern Gaul, between the Somme and the Seine, that lasted for some 25 years during Late Antiquity. The rulers of the rump state, notably its final ruler Syagrius, ...
, until it fell to the
Frankish
Frankish may refer to:
* Franks, a Germanic tribe and their culture
** Frankish language or its modern descendants, Franconian languages
* Francia, a post-Roman state in France and Germany
* East Francia, the successor state to Francia in Germany ...
king
Clovis I in 486 after the
Battle of Soissons.
Part of the Frankish territory of
Neustria
Neustria was the western part of the Kingdom of the Franks.
Neustria included the land between the Loire and the Silva Carbonaria, approximately the north of present-day France, with Paris, Orléans, Tours, Soissons as its main cities. It late ...
, the Soissons region, and the
Abbey of Saint-Médard, founded in the sixth century, played an important political part during the rule of the
Merovingian dynasty
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...
(447–751). After the death of
Clovis I in 511, Soissons was made the capital of one of the four kingdoms into which his states were divided. Eventually, the kingdom of Soissons disappeared in 613 when the Frankish lands were amalgamated under
Chlothar II
Chlothar II, sometime called "the Young" (French: le Jeune), (May/June 584 – 18 October 629), was king of Neustria and king of the Franks, and the son of Chilperic I and his third wife, Fredegund. He started his reign as an infant under the ...
.
The 744
Council of Soissons met at the instigation of
Pepin the Short and
Saint Boniface, the Pope's missionary to pagan Germany, secured the condemnation of the Frankish bishop
Adalbert and the missionary
Clement of Ireland
Saint Clement of Ireland (Clemens Scotus) ( 750 – 818) is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Biography
Born in Ireland, he founded a school for boys under the patronage of Charlemagne and figures in the Carolingian Renaissance of le ...
.
During the
Hundred Years' War, French forces committed a notorious massacre of English archers stationed at the town's garrison, in which many of the French townsfolk were themselves raped and killed. The massacre of French citizens by French soldiers shocked Europe; Henry V of England, noting that the town of Soissons was dedicated to the saints
Crispin and Crispinian
Saints Crispin and Crispinian are the Christian patron saints of cobblers, curriers, tanners, and leather workers. They were beheaded during the reign of Diocletian; the date of their execution is given as 25 October 285 or 286.
History
Bor ...
, claimed to avenge the honour of the saints when he met the French forces at the
Battle of Agincourt on
Saint Crispin's Day
Saint Crispin's Day, or the Feast of Saint Crispin, falls on 25 October and is the feast day of the Christian saints Crispin and Crispinian, twins who were martyred c. 286. They are both the patron saints of cobblers, leather workers, tanners, ...
1415. The town was liberated by French troops under the command of
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronat ...
on July 23, 1429.
Between June 1728 and July 1729 it hosted the
Congress of Soissons {{short description, Peace negotiations between Great Britain and Spain
The Congress of Soissons was a diplomatic conference held between a number of European powers, principally Great Britain and Spain, between 14 June 1728 and July 1729 in the Fr ...
an attempt to resolve a long-standing series of disputes between the
Kingdom of Great Britain
The Kingdom of Great Britain (officially Great Britain) was a Sovereign state, sovereign country in Western Europe from 1 May 1707 to the end of 31 December 1800. The state was created by the 1706 Treaty of Union and ratified by the Acts of ...
and
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
which had spilled over into the
Anglo-Spanish War of 1727–1729. The Congress was largely successful and led to the signing of the
Treaty of Seville
The Treaty of Seville was signed on 9 November, 1729 between Britain, France, and Spain, formally ending the 1727–1729 Anglo-Spanish War; the Dutch Republic joined the Treaty on 29 November.
However, the Treaty failed to resolve underlying te ...
between them.
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the city came under heavy bombardment. There was mutiny after the disastrous ''
Chemin des Dames
In France, the Chemin des Dames (; literally, the "ladies' path") is part of the route départementale (local road) D18 and runs east and west in the Aisne department, between in the west, the Route Nationale 2 (Laon to Soissons), and in the eas ...
'' offensive at the
Second Battle of the Aisne. A statue erected with images of French soldiers killed in action in 1917 is behind the St Peter's Church, next to the Soissons Courthouse.
Sights
Today, Soissons is a commercial and manufacturing centre with the 12th century
Soissons Cathedral
Soissons Cathedral (French: ''Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais'') is a Gothic basilica church in Soissons, France. It is the seat of the Bishop of Soissons, Laon, and Saint-Quentin. The construction of the south transept was begun about ...
and the ruins of
St. Jean des Vignes Abbey as two of its most important historical buildings. The nearby
Espace Pierres Folles contains a museum, geological trail, and
botanical garden
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...
.
Landmarks
![Soissons-cathedrale-pano](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Soissons-cathedrale-pano.jpg)
*Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons is constructed in the style of
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture (or pointed architecture) is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It e ...
. The building of the south transept was begun about 1177, and the lowest courses of the choir in 1182. The choir with its original three-storey elevation and extremely tall clerestory was completed in 1211. This was earlier than
Chartres, on which the design was supposed to have been based. Work then continued into the nave until the late 13th century.
[John James, The Template-makers of the Paris Basin, Leura, 1989.]
*Abbey of Notre Dame – The former abbey of Notre Dame, former royal abbey, founded in the Merovingian era, famous for its rich treasure of relics, including the "shoe of the Virgin." The abbey was prestigious abbesses like Gisèle, sister of Charlemagne, or Catherine de Bourbon, aunt of Henry IV.
*Saint-Médard Abbey – The
Saint-Médard Abbey was a
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monastery of Soissons whose foundation went back to the sixth century. Today, only the crypt remains.
*Hôtel de ville – Since 1833 the city hall has been housed in a chateau built by architect Jean-François Advyné between 1772 and 1775 at the request of the Intendant Pelletier Mortefontaine on the site of a previous one belonging to the
counts of Soissons This is a list of those who bore the title Count of Soissons (french: Comte de Soissons) and ruled Soissons and its '' civitas'' or diocese as a county in the Middle Ages. The title continued in use into modern times, but without ties to the actual ...
.
*Arsenal – Exhibition space in the arsenal of the former
Abbey of St. Jean des Vignes
*Passerelle des Anglais – The "Passerelle des Anglais" (literally: "Footbridge of the English") is a concrete footbridge over the Aisne in the center of the city. The original bridge was destroyed in 1914. It was rebuilt by British soldiers, after which it was known as the "Pont des Anglais" ("Bridge of the English"). Destroyed again during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, it was rebuilt in 1950 as a pedestrian bridge.
*The covered market – Built in 1908 by architect
Albert-Désiré Guilbert (1866–1949)
Personalities
* The actress
Aurore Clément
Aurore Clément (born 12 October 1945) is a French actress who has appeared in French and English language movies and television productions.
Early life
She was born Marie-Thérèse Aurore Louise Clément in Soissons. Following the death of her ...
was born in Soissons in 1945.
* The artist
Emmanuel Fillion was born in Soissons in 1966.
* The saints
Crispin and Crispinian
Saints Crispin and Crispinian are the Christian patron saints of cobblers, curriers, tanners, and leather workers. They were beheaded during the reign of Diocletian; the date of their execution is given as 25 October 285 or 286.
History
Bor ...
were martyred c. 286 at Soissons for preaching Christianity to the local Gauls.
* The 6th century
Burgundian king
Guntram
Saint Gontrand (c. 532 in Soissons – 28 March 592 in Chalon-sur-Saône), also called Gontran, Gontram, Guntram, Gunthram, Gunthchramn, and Guntramnus, was the king of the Kingdom of Orléans from AD 561 to AD 592. He was the third eldest and ...
was born in Soissons around 532.
*
Jeanne Macherez
Jeanne Macherez (12 April 1852 – 9 December 1930) was a French heroine during the World War I. In 1914, she proclaimed herself Mayor of Soissons.Jouve, Franck et Michèle, "la vraie histoire des femmes de 14-18", éditions ''Chronique'', 2013, p. ...
(1852–1930), heroine during World War I; Mayor of Soissons
Population
See also
*
Battle of Soissons
*
Communes of Aisne
*
Franks
The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...
*
List of Frankish kings
The Franks, Germanic-speaking peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dukes and reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Merovingians, who co ...
*
Merovingian
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...
s
*
Suessiones
*
Vase of Soissons
*
Wolf of Soissons
The Wolf of Soissons was a man-eating wolf which terrorized the commune of Soissons northeast of Paris over a period of two days in 1765, attacking eighteen people, four of whom died from their wounds.
The first victim of the wolf was a pregnant ...
*
Sessions (surname) Sessions is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin, ultimately from the French Soissons. Notable people with the surname include:
* Almira Sessions (1888–1974), American actress
* Clarence W. Sessions (1859–1931), American judge
* Jeff Sessions (born ...
References
*
External links
Official website
Discovering Soissons
Local Bus Routes
{{Authority control
Communes of Aisne
Capitals of former nations
Subprefectures in France
Suessiones
Gallia Belgica
Aisne communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia