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| Home - City Guide - Avignon - History | ||
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History 4000BC The Chaseens, the earliest inhabitants of Avignon, settle on the Rocher des Doms 2000BC The Chalcalithic and Campaniforme civilisations settle on the same site, leaving behind an anthropomorphic monolith (discovered in 1961 and now on display in the Calvet Museum) 500BC The city expands around the clifftop oppidum, under the occupation of a Celto-Ligurian people - the Cavares c. 2nd C BC Avignon gains its name - Avenio, 'Lord of the River' according to a translation from the Celtic, or 'City of the Violent Wind' from the Ligurian translation 49BC Roman influence extends from the Alps to the Pyrenees; Avignon becomes a Latin city Late 3rd & early 5th C AD Successive waves of Franks, Alemans, Goths and Burgundes (who make Avignon the southernmost fortification of their realm in AD474) reduce Avignon to a seventh of its former size AD537 King Vitiges cedes Avignon and Provence to the Frankish king Clovis; the city becomes a part of the kingdom of Burgundy in 561 until the second half of the eighth century 734-35 The Saracens enter Arles and Avignon 737 Charles Martel frees Avignon from Saracen control 932 Provence is united with Burgundy, forming the kingdom of Arles, annexed to the empire in 1033 1129 William II, Count of Fovalquier, grants the bishops, knights and ombudsmen of Avignon 'power, jurisdiction and seigneurship'; Avignon acquires the status of a commune 1177-85 Construction of Pont St-BÉnÉzet 1226 Louis VIII lays seige to Avignon (10 Jun-12 Sep); his victory is the beginning of the end of the power of Avignon 1309-76 Six successive popes reside in Avignon (Clement V, Jean XXXII, Benoit XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI and Urban V). The Palais des Papes is begun in 1335. The population swells to 40,000, making Avignon one of Europe's largest cities but, due to the plague and the departure of the pope, the population falls to some 15,000 1379-1409 The great schism: the warring Catholic church is divided between the supporters of Clement VII and Urban VI 1403 Benoit XIII escapes from the Palais des Papes 1580 The plague decimates Avignon 1680 The River Rhône destroys four arches of Pont St-BÉnÉzet 1694 The River Rhône freezes over and can be crossed on foot 1721 Plague devastates the city 1722 The notorious Parfumeurs set the convent of the Augustins alight 1777 Oil lamps provide the first street lighting 18 Aug 1791 Annexation of the county of Avignon to France 19 Feb 1797 The treaty of Tolentino confirms the unification of Avignon and the County of Venaissin 25 Apr 1814 Napoleon I stops at Porte St-Lazare on his way to the Isle of Elba; the population force him to flee 1832 The public fountains pump out drinking water 1838 Gas lighting is installed 1854 Felibrige movement is born 1868 Installation of the sewage system 1873 Bus network is opened 11 Nov 1942 Avignon is occupied by the German army 25 Aug 1944 Avignon is liberated by French and American troops 1946 Jean Vilar initiates Avignon's role as a cultural centre, with the first Theatre Festival 2000 Avignon is elected a European City of Culture |
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