| France is a country that is steeped in history and | | | | by virtue of his decent, but the French barons |
| wherever you turn, you can see the magnificent | | | | rejected this, and hence the Hundred Years war |
| buildings and monuments that have been | | | | began and the history of Paris in the 14th century |
| constructed throughout the centuries. | | | | was dictated by outbreaks of plague, political |
| The first signs of civilisation around the Paris | | | | violence and uprisings. |
| region of France date back to around the fourth | | | | The English captured Paris in 1420, but Henry V |
| millennium BC where dug out canoes have been | | | | of England died at the Chateau de Vincennes, just |
| found. And even as long ago at the time of 250 | | | | outside Paris city in 1422 and despite the |
| BC there was a fishing village along the River | | | | assistance of Joan of Arc, Charles VII of France |
| Seine in what we now know as Paris and because | | | | tried but failed to retake the city in 1429. |
| of the strategic position of the area for controlling | | | | Of any Valois monarch, Francois I probably had |
| river shipping, it was always under a different rule. | | | | the greatest impact on Paris, transforming the |
| The Romans took over after the revolt of 52 BC. | | | | Louvre and establishing a glittering court including |
| After Attila the Hun invaded the region in 451, it | | | | people such as Leonardo da Vinci. |
| was thought that Paris was to be attacked, but | | | | King Henri IV made Paris his place of residence |
| according to legend Sainte Genevieve, who is still | | | | and he undertook a number of major public |
| the patron saint of Paris today, saved it. | | | | works in the city. This included construction of the |
| Clovis l commissioned the first cathedral and the | | | | Pont Neuf, Saint-Louis Hospital, Place des Vosges |
| first abbey, which was dedicated to Sainte | | | | and Place Dauphine. He also made extensions to |
| Genevieve and he was buried in Paris on his death | | | | the Louvre. |
| in 511, alongside St Genevieve. | | | | Paris became the intellectual and cultural capital of |
| It became under the rule of the Franks, but the | | | | the Western world during the latter half of the |
| city was neglected by the Empire and suffered | | | | 18th century, as it became a centre of the |
| grievously from Viking raiders who repeatedly | | | | enlightenment and new thinking, which was |
| sailed upriver to attack it. In 885 the city was | | | | encouraged by the state, with King Louis's |
| faced with a massive Viking invasion force, | | | | mistress, Madame de Pompadour, supporting the |
| believed to have numbered 700 ships and 30,000 | | | | city's intellectuals and prompting the king to |
| men! | | | | construct striking new monuments. |
| The Grand-nephew of Count Odo, was elected | | | | Paris became the capital of an empire and a great |
| King of France in 987 and he again made Paris his | | | | military power and in a ceremony held in the |
| capital and founded the Capetian dynasty, which | | | | Notre-Dame Cathedral in May 1804, Napoleon |
| still exists today. | | | | crowned himself Emperor. |
| It is as early as the 12th century that the | | | | Russian and Austrian armies invaded France in |
| distinctive character of the Paris districts started | | | | 1814 and on 31 March 1814, Paris fell to the |
| emerging and the Cathedral of Notre Dame de | | | | Russians, which was the first time in around 400 |
| Paris was built in 1163 in the Ile de la Cite area of | | | | years that the city had been conquered by a |
| Paris, which was the centre of government and | | | | foreign power. |
| religious life. | | | | Paris was again retaken back by the French and |
| Philippe Auguste became the king in 1180, and | | | | this city continued to grow and expand with more |
| under his rule there were a number of major | | | | famous monuments being built and just with this |
| building works, which were carried out in Paris. He | | | | very brief history focusing on Paris, the History of |
| built a new city wall and began the construction of | | | | France is fascinating and there are numerous sites |
| the Palais du Louvre, as well as paving streets and | | | | that you can still marvel at the architecture from |
| establishing a covered market at Les Halles. | | | | years gone by. |
| Edward III of England claimed the French throne | | | | |