From the origins to the 16th century

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Gaulois Soldier

Some discoveries in Troyes and the neighbourhoods testify to a significant occupation as early as in the prehistorical times. It is only with the first Celtic migrations that a more stable population settled on the site of Troyes ; the Tricasses. This local tribe, from which the name Troyes comes from, is mentioned in the writings of the Greek geographers of the 2nd century BC. Excavations highlighted the existence of habitation on the site of Saint-Nizier, and funerary objects were found in the locality of "la Charme", which can be seen in St Loup's museum.

In the 1st century BC, the Celtic city of Tricasses became Augustobona, a Gallo-Roman city named after the Roman emperor Auguste. It occupied a strategic situation; at the meeting point of several Roman ways, among which the Agrippa way which connects Milan to Boulogne. Remains of this time are kept at the St Loup's museum, and also exposed in the middle of recent constructions on the quay de abattoirs. Very quickly, Augustobona extended and was strengthened, with the construction of Ramparts and gates.

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Gaulois village


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Franc Soldier

In the 3rd century AD, during the start of the barbarian invasions, the city was renamed Tricassium, and then in 5th century Trecae. At that time, Troyes seems to have been quite prosperous, if one believes the treasure found on the Chaillouet site; an oil amphora which contained 102kg of coins. Fires devastated the city in the 4th century during the Germanic invasions. Evangelisation brought its first Bishop to Troyes, and it is Bishop Saint-Loup who in 451 saved the city from the invasion of Attila, by giving himself as a hostage to the great warrior. He returned to Troyes, died in 479 and was buried on the site of St Martin Es Aires.

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Attila and his troups


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Clovis being baptised

With the death of Clovis, in 511, the Kingdom of Francs was shared and Troyes was part of the Austrasie territory, directed by Thierry I, Clovis's son. One has to wait till the end of the 6th century for the reconciliation between the three great sons of Clovis, who reunited for the occasion near the tomb of Bishop Saint Loup, in Troyes. In 581, Gallomagne, Bishop of Troyes, brought back the relics of Saint Nizier from Lyon, to the small St Maur's church, later replaced by Saint Nizier's church. Many religious buildings in Troyes appeared during the 7th century; the Abbeys of Montier la Celle, Notre Dame aux Nonnains, Saint Quentin, and St Jean's and St Denis's churches.

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Charlemagne

After the short existence of a Champagne duchy of which Troyes, Reims and Chalons were part, the city was included in the new Kingdom of France, ruled by Charlemagne. Its Bishop Alcuin undertook to reform the rules of the religious life. In the middle of 9th century, France was again split, and Troyes ended up in the part ruled by Charles Le Chauve (the bald). In 878, King Louis Le Bègue (the Stammerer) was crowned in Troyes, in St Jean's church. The city was then devastated by Norman invasions towards 890, and in spite of that, continued its expansion; the first cathedral was erected, St Nicolas's hospital was founded in the vicinity, and buildings emerged outside the City walls. It was at that time that the first commercial activities developed.

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Lords' Wars

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A Lord in arms

The city belonged to the Duchy of Burgundy at the beginning of 10th century, and it was in 956 the first Count of Champagne, Robert, "the very glorious Count of Champagne" ruled over the City. He was replaced by Eudes "Le Grand" and Thibault Ist, who ruled the area during 52 years. The Counts allowed the expansion of the city and particularly the Champagne fairs, which would have attracted merchants from all over Europe. At that time, Saint Nizier's church was built, the suburbs extended to the north-east from the ramparts, which were increased (construction of the Holy Spirit gate/later Croncels). It was under Count Hugues "the father of the poor" that Hugues de Payns created the Order of the Knights of the Templars in 1118.

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A Belfry

Count Henri Ist "Le Liberal" succeeded his father Thibaut II "Le Grand", and became son-in-law of King Louis VII by marrying his daughter Marie de France. The first council of Troyes was created, managed by "bourgeois" and a mayor (towards 1190). Major construction work was undertaken; enlarging of the ramparts, creation of new canals and the construction of a new Palace for the Counts, on the current Place du Préau. The churches of Sainte Madeleine, Saint Nicolas and Saint Pantaléon were built at that time. New gates welcomed the European merchants; St Jacques and the Beffroy's gate in particular. The Count and the Countess favored a new artistic trend, with Chrestien de Troyes and other scholars, artists and theologists being received in their Court. With the death of Henri Ist, Marie became Regent of the County for 13 years, until her death in 1198.

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Saint Louis

Countess Blanche, wife of Henri's son Thibaut III who died in 1201, took the regency until her son Thibaut IV came of age, in 1222. This Count, a poet, a singer and a musician, finished building the ramparts which gave to Troyes its final shape of a champagne cork and protected the city against the enemies that his political errors attracted. It was at that time that the cathedral started to be rebuilt, after the fire of 1188. Reforms modified both the management of the city, which was partially delegated to thirteen "jurors", and the taxes, which became less arbitrary.

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Death of Saint Louis near Tunis


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Soldier under Philippe le Bel

After the short reigns of Thibaut V, who died in a crusade, and of Henri III his brother, it was again a Countess who managed the County, Blanche of Artois. It was by the marriage of her daughter Jeanne with the future King Philippe le Bel (The beautiful) that Champagne finally became part of the Kingdom of France. The first four decades of the XIVth century saw no less than five Kings following one another upon the throne of France, and privileges held by the citizens of Troyes, granted at the time of the Counts, were gradually reduced, for the city to completely integrate into the Kingdom.

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Persecutions against  templars under   Philippe Le Bel


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Archers

At the beginning of the Hundred Year's war, the city strengthened its ramparts, and prepared to receive the English invaders. New taxes appeared in order to arm the city. In 1359, the army of Troyes liberated Aix-en-Othe, Beaufort and Pont Sur Seine from the English army, led by a young Bishop-soldier, Henri de Poitiers. The city finished the century very impoverished by the war expenditure; riots even flared up in 1381 against the Bourgeois.

On top of the Franco-English hostilities a new fight arose; bringing Jean Sans Peur (without fear), Duke of Burgundy, against King Charles VI "le Fol" (mad) who soon had to concede his crown and palace. King Henri V of England seized the opportunity, that those internal quarrels produced, to advance his army. In 1420, the treaty of Troyes was signed, sworn upon by Charles VI and Henri V, in Troyes cathedral. The treaty designated Henri V as the legitimate heir to the crown of France, at the expense of the 'Dauphin', Charles VII.

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Joan of Arc in action

In spite of everything he declared himself King of France in 1522 and was joined by Joan of Arc on 23 February 1429. In July 1429, their troops reached the ramparts of Troyes; Joan held up her flag and directed the preparations for the assault, under the frightened eyes of citizens. The city eventually opened its gates before the battle; Joan and Charles VII entered Troyes on July 10, and heard the mass at the cathedral.

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Louis XI

The hostilities with the Burgundians placed the city in a state of war until the treaty of Arras in 1435. At this time Troyes resumed its commercial activities, strengthened by new privileges and rights granted by King Charles VII, in gratitude for the peaceful surrender of the city. During the reign of Louis XI from 1461, these privileges were soon cancelled and the royal control on the city was reinforced until 1483, year of the King's death. This same year, Jean de Marisy became the first mayor of the city.

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King François 1st made a Knight  by Bayard

The peaceful first years of the century enabled Troyes to recover its past prosperity; trade and craft industry developed (textile, tannery, paper mill), the fortifications were renovated. There were now three doctors to look after the growing population, which placed the city fifth in the Kingdom under the reign of François Ist. The number of fairs also increased, those in January and August were added in 1510 and the May and October ones in 1521. Arts were not forgotten in this renaissance of the city, and it was the great period for the Troyes' school of sculpture. 

On 24 May 1524, a gigantic fire destroyed 1,500 dwellings in the district of Beffroy and Croncels. Very quickly, the devastated areas were rebuilt, and it was an opportunity for the town to adopt a more modern approach to town planning with straighter and wider streets.


Some information contained in this page were found in "Histoire de Troyes" by Françoise Bibolet, "Histoire Populaire de Troyes", by Gustave Carré, and articles from the magazine "La Vie en Champagne". Illustrations were found in the following books ; "Histoire de France - Cours Moyen", Désiré Blanchet, 1894, Ed. Belin Frères & "Histoire de France - Cours Moyen", Ernest Lavisse, 1921, Armand Colin.

 

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