History of Alsace

Prehistory

The first traces of human presences in Alsace are very rare. They are especially remainders of bones, flint, potteries. But Alsace does not present anything original corresponding to this period. The sites where prehistoric remainders were found locate at the neighborhoods of Ferrette, of Bollwiller, Eguisheim and in a cave of Oberlarg (Sundgau).

Antiquity

The Celtes appear in Alsace during thousand-year-old IIe front J. - C. Alsace is then a ground of transition for the Celts migrating towards the south from Europe. The Celts are established definitively during VIIIe century before our era. Alsace was divided between two Celtic tribes: the Séquanes and the Eduens. These two people are weakened by the installation of a Germanic tribe in the area, the Suèves, under the command of Arioviste. Those will dominate the totality of the plain in the year -63.

During the year -58, the Roman troops of Jules César penetrate in Alsace in order to subject the totality of the Gaulle and beat the Germains in the neighborhoods of Cernay. The Triboques, celto-Germanic tribe resulting from Suèves, settles in the north of Alsace around Brumath. The conquest of Alsace by the Romains is followed from one period of five centuries long peace. It is at this period that develop the first cities (Strasbourg is founded under the name of Argentorate), the first roads, and especially the vine growing. Latinization, then the christianization of Alsace proceed in a climate of peace.

The period of peace is stopped with the cruel invasions in the Roman Empire starting from Ve century. The Romans are driven out definitively in 378 of Alsace and Alamans will settle there to spread their culture and to build cities. Alamans import with them them language which will become the Alsatian dialect spoken nowadays in the area. They enter in conflict with the Francs, people Germanic being installed in the north of current France. The Francs beat Alamans with Tolbiac in 496. Alamans remain prevalent in Alsace, in spite of their incorporation in the Frank Royaume of Clovis. After the death of Clovis (511), Alsace belongs to the kingdom of Austrasie.

The Middle Ages

The time mérovingienne is marked by a certain social regression, and the multiplication of the wars protoféodales, encouraged by the Germanic habit of the division of the heritages. After the final episode of the lazy Kings, the dynasty Carolingienne returns to Alsace a certain prosperity. Christianization is started again with the construction of many monasteries, abbeys and convents: Marmoutier, Wissembourg, Murbach, Munster, Hohenbourg (or Mont Sainte-Odile) of which Holy Odile, holy owner of Alsace was the first abbess. The vine growing becomes one of the economic main activities of the area, whose central situation also benefits from the extension of the markets within the Empire.

After the death of Louis the Piles, successor of Charlemagne, his kingdom is divided between his sons. It is in Alsace that two of them, Charles II the Bald person and Louis Germanic the is combined against the third, Lothaire Ier at the time of the Serments of Strasbourg (842), first monument of the Romance language. In 870, after the death of Lothaire II (by being unaware of the rights of his/her brother Louis II the Young person), both divide the Lotharingie (Traité of Meerssen): the Alsatian area is then attached to the Eastern Francie, ancestor of the Germany.

During eight centuries, the fate of Alsace is indissociable German world. The possessions of its lords (in particular the Habsbourg and the Hanau-Lichtenberg) are deeply overlapping with the Palatinat and the Bade. XIIIe century sees developing a movement of emancipation of the cities: the temporal power of the bishops is supplanted by middle-class institutions. This rise of the municipal life is expressed in the prosperity of Strasbourg and in the formation of the league of the free cities of the Décapole, under the presidency of Haguenau. At the end of the Middle Ages, Alsace always does not have any political definition nor historical likely to cure its lack of territorial unit.

Rebirth and modern period

Artistic rebirth

At the 15th century, the Renaissance made feel its first effects in Alsace earlier than in France. Indeed, the area was with the variation of the Guerre One hundred Year old which devastated France at the beginning of the century. This period saw a cultural development with Strasbourg, town of humanistic, scientists, artists (Hans Baldung Grien), and with Colmar, with for example the painter Martin Schongauer, of the Flemish school. In architecture, one still finds constructions of style Gothic, known as blazing, like the Collégiale of Thann.

Popular revolts

From the end of the 15th century, and in first half of the 16th century, Alsace is the theater of popular revolts. A first movement of revolt, Bundschuh, bursts in Sélestat. It begins in 1493, and spreads with all the areas of the higher Rhine in 1517.

Measures taken against the preachers Lutherans caused in 1525 a general rising against the laic and ecclesiastical lords, who spread themselves very quickly in all the area. This rising, known under the name of Revolt of the peasants, was severely repressed by the duke Antoine of Lorraine.

Reform

The Réforme began with Strasbourg before 1520, by the diffusion of the writings of Luther and other reformers. It extended in most of the Alsace. The principle Cujus regio, ejus religio, carried it, especially after the Paix of Augsburg (1555).

War Thirty Year old

This war was particularly destroying in Alsace.

It began in 1621, with the invasion of the north of the area (Wissembourg, Haguenau) country by the troops of Ernst de Mansfeld, one of the generals of Frederic V.

This war continued with the arrival of the Swedish troops in Alsace, where they plundered the area (1632 - 1634).

The French troops of the cardinal of Richelieu occupied then the area. The places occupied by the Swedes passed to France by a treaty signed to Strasbourg (1634).

The hardest years, between 1635 and 1648, transfer several armies to break: Imperial, Croatian, Polish, Lorraine, French, Swedish, Spanish. Plunderings and destruction of villages, then the famine and the plague finished devastating the area which lost an important part of the population.

With the Treated of Westphalia (1648), the area was finally attached to the France, except for ten cities which remained imperial cities (Décapole).

Repopulation and French administration

The France set up the sovereign Council of Alsace to sit its presence (1658).

Mortality at the time of the years of war was such as Louis XIV invited foreigners to come in the area to repopulate it, by an edict of 1662. Thus of many villages took names with French, and nonGermanic consonance: for example, Diedolshausen became Bonhomme, Urbeis became Orbey, etc

France continued the annexations: the Maréchal of Turenne beat the Imperial ones with the Bataille of Turckheim (1675), and France annexed the last cities (Strasbourg in 1681).

However, of many territories still belonged to lords, generally of the Empire, who recognized the suzerainty of king de France. This characteristic of the possessionnés Princes was one of the causes of the declaration of war against Austria in 1792.

Improvement of the situation at the XVIIIe century

The 18th century was marked by one long period of peace and prosperity, whose architecture testifies to the many villages of the Alsatian vineyard.

The spirit of Tolérance gained ground, and the fights against the Protestantisme were assagirent.

There was in Alsace a relatively important community of Juif S, whose situation was better than in the remainder of the Kingdom. However, the Jews were not loved by the population, often because of the wear, the loan with Intérêt being in theory prohibited at that time. In 1780, the Jewish population in Alsace was of 20.000 people.

After 1870

History detailed towards Alsace-Lorraine. After the French defeat at the time of the Franco-German War of 1870, Alsace (except the district become Territory of Belfort) is attached to Germany with the current department of the the Moselle. This unit becomes a province with the particular status within the Germanic Empire between 1871 and 1918.

In November 1918, Alsace becomes independent and in the tread of the German Révolution, the Alsatian ones proclaim the Alsatian Soviet republic, Alsace becomes for the independent first fos but French enters to Alsace a few days later and annex the area.

The return to France is suspended during the Second world war where the area is again under German administation.

Demography

The first census goes back to 1697, carried out by the intendant the Barn. It deducts: 257200 inhabitants of which: 171800 catholics: 81700 Protestants and: 3700 Jews.

The census of 1707, one of most carefully carried out, and which tiend account of the transfer by France of Brisach and other territories, counts: 238000 inhabitants of which: 156000 catholics and: 78000 Lutherans and calvinists.

In 1750 one deducts: 445000 inhabitants: 600000 in 1780. In 1795: : 702000 inhabitants.

In 1797 a census indicates: 722693 inhabitants: 428239 in the the Low-Rhine and: 294454 in the Haut-Rhin.

Catalog of films

Random links:Tinder Toumani Touré | Sylvanus Olympio | The Community of communes of the Country of Cruseilles | Ventana trasera | Amioun | Mikumo clan | Holalkere