Clairmont

A short history

Clairmont was the name which took in 848 - in reference to the strong Château of Clarus Mons - the auvergnate city of Arvernis , which had succeeded itself the 3rd century at the old Gallo-Roman city of Augustonemetum (Latinization of the Gallic name Nemossos formed by addition of the name of the emperor Auguste), by taking the name - as that had been practiced much in other towns of Gaulle at that time - of the people which his walls sheltered, Augustonemetum having taken itself the continuation in the current of the 1st century old capital of the Arvernes, known in the Antiquity under the name of Nemossos (Gallic term indicating a “crowned wood”).

Nemossos was to be at the beginning a Gallic small village, which one locates on the hillock where was built current the cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand, which took importance, at the point to be qualified by Strabon, at the beginning of the 1st century of “metropolis” of the Arvernes. It was located not far from the plate of Gergovie, where, during the Guerre of Gaules, Vercingétorix - some time before capitulating with Alésia - had pushed back the attacks of the Roman legions of Jules César, at the time of the Siège of Gergovie, in 52 av. J. - C..

During the Gallo-Roman time , the city developed, and it is estimated that it counted at the 2nd century 15 000 with 30 000 inhabitants, which did of it one of the most populated cities Gaulle Roman.

The city is episcopal since the 5th century, time to which the bishop Namatius ( Saint Namace ) made build a Romance cathedral lengthily described by Gregoire de Tours. Another character emblematic of this period is Sidoine Apollinaire, which, with the head of the Diocèse of 468 with 486, organized resistance to the invader Visigoth, but could not prevent the takeover of the city and its integration with the Royaume Visigoth until in 507.

The November 8th 535, opens in Arvernis ( Clermont ) the first Concile of Clermont, with the participation of fifteen bishops, of which Césaire of Arles, Saint Nizier, bishop of Trier and Saint Hilaire, bishop of Mende. Sixteen decrees were taken there, in particular the second gun who points out that the episcopal dignity, the fact of becoming bishop , must be granted according to the merits and not following intrigues.

Clermont knew after disappearance of the Roman Empire and during all the Early middle ages one period dark, marked by plunderings of which it was the object on behalf of the people which invaded the Gaulle and by the Viking S during the weakening of the Carolingian Empire was not saved. It was devastated by the Normands first once in 864, and whereas the bishop Sigon undertook his rebuilding, it is it again in 898 (or 910, according to certain sources).

The bishop Etienne II made build a news Romance Cathédrale with the site of the current cathedral. It was devoted in 946 but was destroyed during the construction of the current cathedral gothiqu E except for the turns (which will be replaced at the 19th century by the current towers) and certain elements of the Crypte (always visible).

In 1095, at the time of the second council of Clermont, the pope Urbain II sermon the First crusade.

In 1120, following the successive crises which opposed the counts d' Auvergne to the bishops, which reigned without division on the town of Clermont, and to thwart their capacity, the count d' Auvergne “Guillaume VI decided to build, on a close hillock favourable with the Fortification S, a rival city. Thus the city of Montferrand was born, on the model of the country houses of South-west, these new cities of the South, built between the XIIe and the 13th centuries. During all the the Middle Ages and until the modern time, Clermont and the current district of Montferrand will remain two distinct cities: Clermont was the episcopal city , Montferrand the city comtale.

Clairmont

A short history

See also