Paris

Paris

Paris was probably founded by the Gauls, who built a small settlement on the left bank of the Seine. The city is mentioned, with the name of Lutetia, by Julius Caesar who came here in 53 BC.

As a result of the continual menace of barbarian invasions, the original settlement was moved to the Île de la Cité, and from there it ex... Read on

Paris

Paris was probably founded by the Gauls, who built a small settlement on the left bank of the Seine. The city is mentioned, with the name of Lutetia, by Julius Caesar who came here in 53 BC.

As a result of the continual menace of barbarian invasions, the original settlement was moved to the Île de la Cité, and from there it expanded along the banks of the river. The residence first of the Merovingian and then of the Carolingian kings, Paris became a true capital in 987, when Hugues Capet, the first Capetian king, founded a new and powerful dynasty. One of Paris’ moments of maximum splendor was between 1180 and 1223, when Philippe II Auguste came to the throne: construction of the Louvre was begun and the University was founded. During the reign of Louis IX “le Pieux” (Saint Louis, 1226-1270), the Sainte-Chapelle was built and work on the Notre-Dame cathedral continued. But the next dynasty, that of the Valois kings, brought wars and catastrophe, disorder and civil discord to Paris. Although Charles V briefly restored order, the fighting between the Armagnacs and Burgundians became more and more savage. England gained a foothold in France and in 1431 Henry VI was crowned king of France, in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Troyes, by the English. In 1437, Charles VII reconquered Paris, but the population was exhausted by bloody revolts alternating with epidemics of the plague. Although throughout the 16th century the kings preferred to live in the castles of the Loire rather than in the capital, this did not end the internecine struggles in Paris itself. The spread of the Protestant religion created discord which for a long time rent Paris and the whole of France, culminating in the massacre of the Huguenots on the infamous night of St. Bartholomew (24 August 1572). After Henry III was assassinated in 1589, the city was besieged for four long years until finally it opened its gates to Henry IV, who had converted to Catholicism.

By the early 17th century, Paris counted about 30,000 inhabitants. The city became more and more important under the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and during the new dynasty of the Bourbon kings: by the time of Louis XIV, the Sun King, it had half a million inhabitants. But Paris earned its real place in history after 1789, the year of the French Revolution that was to mark the birth of the modern world. The long years of terror, in which many lives were lost and irreparable damage was done to many works of art, were forgotten in the splendor of the Empire and the dazzling court created by Napoleon, crowned emperor in 1804. From 1804 to 1814, Paris was constantly being enriched: the Arch of Triumph was built, the Vendôme column erected, and the Louvre enlarged. After the fall of the monarchies of Charles X and Louis-Philippe Bourbon-Orléans, the Second Republic was born and then Napoleon III took the throne. He entrusted the task of replanning the city to Baron Haussmann: the markets of Les Halles were built, the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne laid out, the Opéra erected, and the great boulevards, typical expression of this historical era, were opened up. The year 1871 marked a new and sad page in the history of Paris with the Commune (18 March-28 May).

Many splendid historic buildings were lost in these days of rebellion and destruction by fire: among others, the Hôtel de la Ville and the Tuileries palace. But Paris had new moments of splendor at the beginning of the 20th century, with the World Exhibitions, the construction of the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, and the birth of important movements of art, painting and literature. Unfortunately the city had yet to suffer the bombardments and destruction of two long wars. During World War II it fell into the hands of the German Army in 1940 and was not liberated by the Allies until 1944. But from that moment until today, as a city finally alive and free, Paris has resumed its place in the history of culture and humanity.

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