History of Nantes

This article treats history of Nantes .

Origins

After a first occupation by the Celtic , the antique populates Armorican Namnètes installs the capital of its city (its territory), close to the estuary of the the Loire. But it is impossible for the moment to determine if its ancient site were or not at the site of the current town of Nantes. The city, built with the site of the current district of the Bouffay, is conquered in 56 av. J. - C. by Jules César and is called Portus Namnetus . The alliance of Namnètes to the Romans and the construction of a fleet for those enabled them to reduce resistance vénète the same year.

With, like much regional metropolises, Condevicnum changes its name and takes that of the people of which it is the capital. These toponymic changes intervened at one time when the solidity of the Roman Empire crumbled. One observes then, inter alia significant elements, a rebirth of the antiques divinities Gaulois be local in the religious sculptures and the inscriptions dédicatoires. The name change of city undoubtedly raises a phenomenon of the same order, related to a resurgence of the old feelings of ethnic membership of the Gallic tribes.

Nantes is christianized during the 3rd century, and the cathedral becomes the seat of évêché whose territory corresponds roughly to that of current the Loire-Atlantique and of the Craonnais (south-western of the Mayenne). It is as at the end of the 3rd century like elsewhere as the aggressions of Pirates known as Saxons or Frisons, of bands of plunderers called bagaudes and the inefficiency of the administration and the Roman Armée S will force the inhabitants to be protected behind a line from walls whose several elements remain today and who, by reducing the city to 18 hectares, formed the framework of the city until the Moyen-âge.

Invasions

Nantes is successively invaded by the Saxons or Frisons (towards 275-285), the Francs (towards 500), the Alamans, the Viking S (in 843) with the martyr of Saint Gohard, bishop of Nantes, the Bretons (in 851), again the Normands (of 913 with 937 and in 960, and which durably intallent in the Island Bethia ) and later by Angevins (with), the French (in 1487-1491) then Germans (in 1940).

The Middle Ages

The Breton conquest

Lambert II of Nantes, count de Nantes, resulted from the franque family from the Widonides which had controlled for one half-century the steps of Brittany and the county from Nantes.

In 841: Lambert fights with the count Ricuin of Nantes to the Bataille of Fontenoy-in-Puisaye the June 25th 841. Ricuin having been killed the county of Nantes that Lambert regarded as its legitimate heritage is entrusted by the king of France Charles the Bald person to Renaud, count d' Herbauge. Lambert then gives up the party of the king and joined Nominoë.

In 843: Renaud of Nantes beats Lambert of Nantes combined with Breton of Nominoé and to the Vikings of Hasting to the Bataille of Messac (?) but a little later it is beaten and killed with Blain the May 24th 843. The Nantes ones refuse to recognize Lambert as count. This last is suspected of having guided the Norman ones which it June 24th put the city at bag and kill the bishop in his cathedral. After the departure of its Breton allies, Lambert is made finally main from Nantes. In 844: Lambert kills in a combat the count Bernard of Poitiers and the son and successor of Renaud: Herve count of Herbauges.

In 845: At the end of October at the beginning of November, Lambert gives up the party of Nominoë and makes its tender with the king who leaves him the county of Nantes.

In 849: Charles the Bald person points out Lambert and entrusts to him the Nantes country, the country of Rennes and the territory in the south of the the Loire.

In 851: Lambert accompanies Nominoë in its offensive in Neustrie. After the sudden death of the Breton chief with Vendôme the March 7th 851, Lambert takes the command of the Breton army in retirement. It takes part then in with dimensions of Erispoë wire of Nominoë and new chief of Breton in the Bataille of Jengland close to the Large-Fougeray .

With Jengland-Beslé (Large-Fougeray close to Redon), in August 851, the Breton troops of Erispoë beat those of Charles the Bald person and thus make sure of the control of the Nantes country. With the Treated of Angers the following year, Charles the Bald person recognizes in Erispoë the title of king, assure him the power formerly reserved for his father Nominoë and yields to him in more the Of Rennes one, the Nantes one and the Pays of Retz. Nantes only becomes Breton during about fifty years. Lambert loses any hope to be established in the area.

Alliance with the counts of Anjou

As of Xesiècle, the county of Nantes will be closely related on the Anjou and thereafter to the direct domination of the dynasty of the Plantagenêts until in 1203.

In 909, following the death of Alain Large the, Foulque Ier of Anjou receives the county of Nantes. It is charged to fight against the Normands and the Bretons.

In 919, imposing a armada Viking, composed of Danes, come from their new stronghold of the Rock-Bernard goes up the the Loire. Nantes is taken by the Vikings in spite of the resistance of the Nantes guard and of the angevine escort of Foulque the Ist city is plundered and the burnt cathedral. The notable Nantes ones as well as the clergy of Nantes and the clerks flee towards Angers. In 920, the Vikings attack Angers which they plunder, then Tours and threatens Orleans which offers a strong ransom to avoid plundering. The Nantes ones and Angevins will find refuge in Burgundy. The Vikings go down again the large river until their Nantes stronghold. Foulque reconstitutes, in Angers, a troop the Nantes one and of Angevins to release the city of Nantes. In spite of the assistance of the franques troops of Robert Ier de France, the counter-attack in 921, is a failure. Nevertheless, the count of Anjou, Foulque Ier will preserve the title of count de Nantes, but this title was definitively recognized only in 930, when its suzerain Hugues Large the qualified it like such in one of his charters. Foulque Ier passed the remainder of its life to fight the Vikings. It loses one of its sons, Ingelger, during a confrontation against the Norman ones. The Vikings invade the Brittany. In front of their military successes, the Breton lords and the notable ones flee and embark to take refuge in England. Among the runaways, an young man, named Alain barbetorte who will prepare his revenge.

Its strategic position at the borders and on a large river makes it choose like “ capitale ” by the first duke Alain Barbetorte who has just driven out the Norman ones in 937, he was the guard and the renovating one of the city. In 952, Alain Barbetorte dies and will be buried in Nantes. His/her Drogon son succeeds to him.

Drogon of Brittany count de Nantes and duke of Brittany of 952 with 958. Drogon (or Dreux), wire of Alain Barbetorte and Roscille of Blois, sister of Thibaut Ier of Blois, succeeds his/her father at the two years age. Its supervision was ensured by his/her uncle Thibaut Ier of Blois, which remarie very quickly his/her sister (widowed of Alain Barbetorte) with the count Foulque II of Anjou. The capacity on Brittany is then shared: Foulque II of Anjou receives the county of Nantes and the guard of the young duke Drogon, Thibaut preserving the suzerainty of the House of Blois on the north of Brittany. In 958, Drogon dies suddenly in Angers, perhaps poisoned by its guard Foulque II. An assembly was held bringing together the counts of Anjou and Blois as well as the Breton barons and lords. Foulque II, become count de Nantes, is indicated Duc of Brittany until his death which has occurred in 960.

Drogon of Brittany count de Nantes and duke of Brittany of 952 with 958. Drogon (or Dreux), wire of Alain Barbetorte and Roscille of Blois (sister of Thibaud Ier of Blois, succeeds his/her father at the two years age. Its supervision was ensured by his/her uncle Thibaut Ier of Blois, which remarie very quickly his/her sister (widowed of Alain Barbetorte) with the count Foulque II of Anjou. The capacity on Brittany is then shared: Foulque II receives the county of Nantes and the guard of the young duke Drogon, Thibaut preserving suzerainty on the north of Brittany. In 958, Drogon dies suddenly in Angers, perhaps poisoned by its guard Foulque II. The same year, at the time of an assembly gathering the counts of Anjou, Blois and the barons Breton, Foulque II becomes Count de Nantes and even duke of Brittany of 958 to its death in 960. Hoël Ier of Brittany count de Nantes and duke of Brittany of 960 with 981. Wire illegitimate of Alain II of Brittany and a noble named lady Judith, Hoel, is set up at the head of the county of Nantes by Foulque II the Good. Vis-a-vis the attacks Vikings, the successor of Foulque II of Anjou, Geoffroy Ier of Anjou cannot save Nantes of the hand put of the Norman ones. Hoël joins with them following the incapacity of Geoffroy to come to his help. Nantes places essential for the life of Anjou is found thus in enemy hands.

In 971, In order to restore a new line of defense in the west, Geoffroy Grisegonelle with the support of Thibaut Ier of Blois is combined with Conan the new Count de Rennes while making him marry his/her Hermengarde daughter (their son Geoffroy Beranger was born towards 975). For all this period Hoël Ier is in quasi permanent war with the count de Rennes Conan the Wrong, vassal of Thibaut Ier of Blois and its Geoffroy ally of Anjou.

In 981, Hoël is assassinated on the order of Conan. As soon as prevented, his/her brother, Guérech leave his load of future bishop of Turns, before his dedication, and are made elect count de Nantes. Guérech continues the combat initiated by his/her brother against the count de Rennes Conan the Wrong. Guérech signs a treaty with the count Guillaume IV of Poitiers who confirms the Nantes possessions in the south of the Loire - the pagi of Herbauges, of Tiffauges and of Mauges - obtained by his father Alain II of Brittany in 942.

In 982, Guerech, the successor of Hoel, then calls upon Geoffroy of Anjou by recognizing it like its Suzerain. Conan, which is in fact vassal of Eudes Ier of Blois, is found then in opposition with Geoffroy. They meet in arranged battle with Conquereuil. The armies Nantes supported by the troops of Geoffroy I {{er}} of Anjou and of Rennes supported by the House of Blois, meet on the battle fields with Conquereuil; and Geoffroy Ier beats the troops of Conan. This victory angevine does not regulate the conflict.

In 983, Guérech goes to the court of the king of Francie Occidentale Lothaire to lend homage to him, and stops, on the way of the return, in the count Geoffroy Ier of Anjou. Guérech, vis-a-vis the threats of its rival Conan the Wrong, seeks nevertheless to be freed from the supervision angevine by making allegiance directly with king de France, but Geoffroy captures Guérech when this last goes back to Nantes. Geoffroy benefits from it to strengthen the possessions angevines in the South of Nantes, in particular by the construction of the keep of the Pallet. Indeed, Geoffroy Grisegonelle makes build a forterress with the Pallet (of which there remains a large keep nowadays). Geoffroy Ier extends the angevin field until the Nantes Sèvre. This powerful fort made it possible Geoffroy to control the Nantes valley of Sèvre as well as the access roads between the Poitou and the Comté of Nantes. The garrison angevine based with the castle of the Metal disc made safe the region and supported colonization angevine. The possession of this bastion devoted the hegemony of the Anjou in the South the Loire until the limit of the Pays of Retz and of Sèvre Nantes. The power angevine benefitted from the construction of the keep of the Metal disc to allow the foundation of a very important monastery Vertou.

Guérech will be released only in 985 by recognizing the suzerainty of Geoffroy on the County of Nantes. This last then gives the military support of Anjou to him vis-a-vis its Conan rival. In 990, after the dispariton of the count Guérech of Nantes, Conan Ier of Brittany tries to put to the hand on the county of Nantes after the untimely death of its young heir the count Alain.

New the count d' Anjou (Foulques Nerra) worrying about the claims of Conan and its political ascendance, proclaims the defender of the interests of the house of Nantes and it delivers combat to him. Conan Ier is killed in the defeat, at the time of the second Bataille of Conquereuil on June 27th 992.

Judicaël of Nantes count of Nantes of 992 with 1004. Supported by Foulque III of Anjou, takes possession of the county of Nantes after the defeat and the death of Conan Ier of Brittany at the second Bataille of Conquereuil. Taking into account his young age the count of Anjou places it under the supervision of his vassal Viscount Aimery III of Thouars which will carry the title of count de Nantes of 992 to 994. Judicaël dies prematurely in 1004 assassinated by treason.

Budic of Nantes count de Nantes, wire of the count Judicaël of Nantes, succeeded his/her father and reigned until worms 1010. Budic made profitable a pilgrimage of the bishop of Rennes in Holy Land to seize the episcopal goods and to destroy the castle of the prelate in Nantes. Of return of Palestine, the bishop asked for the intervention of the count de Rennes and Budic had to require the assistant of the count Foulque III of Anjou what involved the loss of part of the Nantes territories, in particular of the south of the Loire. In the fight with the House of Rennes, the Maison of Nantes acquires supremacy by the accession of Hoël of Cornwall, count de Nantes, with the ducal throne in 1066.

Another Hoël, wire disinherited of Conan III takes the county of Nantes in 1148, fault of being able to take all Brittany which passes to his/her brother-in-law Éon II of Porhoët. In 1156, Conan IV is proclaimed duke of Brittany. This same year, the Nantes ones drive out his/her uncle Hoël and choose for count the younger brother of Henri II Plantagenêt, Geoffroy Plantagenêt, already count of Maine and Anjou. The county of Nantes leaves the duchy to be annexed with the Anjou. In died of Geoffroy, in 1158, Conan believes capacity to take again the County of Nantes, but must restore it in Henri II Plantagenêt.

Alain IV Fergent or Fergant, duke of Brittany of 1084 with 1112. In 1084, it names his/her faithful brother Mathias to the head of the county of Nantes and will personally take again the title with dead of this one in 1103. In 1093, Alain IV marries in second wedding, Ermengarde of Anjou, girl of Foulque IV Réchin and back-small-girl of Foulque Nerra.

Annexation in Anjou

In XIIesiècle, the Comté of Nantes is detached, during one period of internal divisions of Brittany, and is annexed to the Anjou. Indeed, whereas Conan IV is proclaimed duke of Brittany, the Nantes ones drive out his/her uncle Hoël count de Nantes and choose for count the younger brother of Henri II, Geoffroy Plantagenêt, already count of Maine and Anjou since 1156. The county of Nantes leaves the duchy. In died of Geoffroy, in 1158, Conan believes capacity to take again the Nantes country, but must restore it with Henri II Plantagenêt which will preserve it in its hand during more than 30 years (1156-1189).

Conan IV must abdicate in 1166 and Henri II is recognized guard duchy by the Breton barons while waiting for that his/her son Geoffroy II Plantagenêt, been engaged to the grand-daughter of Conan III, Constance of Brittany, reaches the majority.

As husband of Constancy, Geoffroy Plantagenêt is proclaimed duke of Brittany under the name of Geoffroy II of Brittany in 1181. Of this first marriage, Constance has two children, in particular Arthur, which will succeed to him.

Return of the County of Nantes in Brittany of Plantagenêts

In 1196, it makes recognize his/her son Arthur Plantagenêts, only eight years old, like duke of Brittany by a general meeting of the Breton aristocracy, under the name of Arthur Ierde Brittany. Arthur was high with the court of Philippe Auguste, which protected it from covetousnesses of Richard Lion-hearted. With died of this last, Arthur, being the only son of Geoffroy Plantagenêt, puîné brother of Richard Lion-hearted, the heritage of " asserted; the Empire Plantagenêt " (England, Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Poitou, Aquitaine) which was to him raid by his/her uncle Jean without Ground (the youngest brother of Richard) with the support of his/her grandmother, the old queen Aliénor of Aquitaine. He became the nominal chief of the Breton barons who tended to independence. Overcome, him and his/her sister is made prisoners in 1202 with Mirebeau (close to Loudun) by Guillaume de Broase, lord Norman with the pay of Jean without Ground. He dies In 1203 in prison with Rouen, perhaps at the request of his uncle

War of succession of Brittany

At the time of the War of succession of Brittany, Nantes accommodated Jean de Montfort which is established in May 1341 asserting there the succession of Jean III of Brittany. It is made prisoner by Charles of Blois and the Norman ones, which takes Nantes the November 21st 1341 after a 2 week old seat. Then Nantes will remain side of the part of Blois.

Capital Nantes of Brittany

Under the dukes capétiens Nantes takes a prevalent role on Rennes, Nantes sees to set up, to replace the Château of Bouffay, the Château of the New Tower to the Bouffay at the 13th century thanks to Pierre Ier of Brittany. The city develops particularly under the reign of Jean V which with a skilful policy of neutrality at the time of the Guerre One hundred Year old ensures peace and prosperity all Brittany, the construction of the current cathedral begins the April 14th 1434 with the duke Jean V and Jean de Malestroit. To announce the October 25th 1440, the execution of Gilles de Rais known as Bore-blue in Nantes.

Nantes continues its development under the impulse of the Duke François II of Brittany and of its government directed by the chancellor of Brittany, Guillaume Chauvin and the treasurer of Brittany, Pierre Landais which encouraged the trade, founded the Université of Brittany in 1460. The first printing works is created in 1493. The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, remade and increased by François II starting from 1466, receives the ducal Cour. It is the most beautiful expression of the rebirth in this Nantaise capital of a prosperous and modern state Brittany, but which went to the front of war with France and problem of succession owing to the fact that François II did not have wire legitimates to succeed to him. Her death succeeds to him earlier his/her daughter, born 11 years in 1477 in Nantes and which, because of the Traité Orchard of 1488, cannot marry without the assent of king de France.

Rebirth

The town of Nantes at the end of the century counts nearly 40.000 inhabitants but is touched by his first great epidemic of plague in 1501 which makes approximately 4.000 victims. New epidemics are listed in 1522, 1523 and 1529. The Pit (future Quay of the Pit) starts to be built in 1517. Jean de Brosse becomes governor of Brittany in 1543. In exchange, it gives up its ducal claims.

The fastening of Brittany in France

Following the wars of 1487-1491 (whose insane War), overcome Brittany is attached to France by the edict of union of 1532. The ground was prepared by the two successive marriages of Anne of Brittany to kings de France and final by that of his/her daughter the Claude duchess with the king François Ier.

During the free-Breton war, Nantes is besieged on several occasions by the French, in particular in 1487 (seat which sees the death of the quimpérois Michel Marion at the time of a raid to relieve the city) and in 1491 (where finally the Seigneur of Albret delivers the castle to Trémoille).

Parliament of Brittany

The Parliament, under various names, had sat at Vannes since its origin. At the conclusion of a long arm wrestling between Rennes and Nantes of 1553 with 1561 during which the Parliament of Brittany alternatively holds its sessions in each of the two cities, the king of France and last duke of Brittany in title Henri II decides in 1557 which the Parliament would not meet any more but downtown of Nantes. In front of the protests of Of Rennes, the regent and last duchess titrate of it Catherine de Médicis allots the seat of the Parliament to the town of Rennes by edict of March 15th, 1560 of the young king Charles IX. Nantes remains however until in 1790 the seat of the Room of the accounts of Brittany which had been transferred from Valves between 1492 and 1499. Its palate became the prefecture of Loire-Atlantique. Nantes preserves also the university - the only one of Brittany - which had been created by the duke François II.

Wars of religion

Charles IX passes in the city at the time of royal sound Tour de France (1564 - 1566), accompanied by the Cour and Large by the kingdom: his/her brother the duke of Anjou, Henri de Navarre, cardinal of Bourbon and Lorraine.

The league of the duke of Mercœur

Philippe-Emmanuel of Lorraine, duke of Mercœur becomes governor of Brittany on September 5th, 1582 with as attaches Nantes and its Castle where it often remains. His wife is the heiress of the family of Penthièvre which thus had claims with the throne of Brittany it asserts at the time of the League the independence of Brittany. The Duke of Mercœur is opposed to reformed and takes part in the Ligue as from 1584 against reformed and against the king Henry IV legitimates. They will be the last member of a league to resist to the king. He strengthens himself in Nantes after assassinated Duc of Own way to continue the fight in 1588. Finally after the conversion of the king, it gave up the fight in 1597 by negotiating peace and its own conditions. The town of Nantes will have to pay very expensive this conflict, will follow from there one period less gilded until the middle of the 16th century. Owing to the fact that Brittany was the last province to have to continue the League, and especially, Nantes to have been the last city of the League was chooses by Henry IV to proclaim celebrates it edict of Nantes in 1598 and thus to put an end to the religious conflict. In 1608, Henri IV will request 12.000 book from the city for his marriage with Marie de Médicis.

Execution in 1626, place of Bouffay of the count de Challais, Henri de Talleyrand to have plotted against Richelieu which was governor of Brittany. In the years 1640, the Gloriette Island is urbanized (hospital,…).

The arrest of Nicolas Fouquet

Nantes, the September 5th 1661. Louis XIV festival this day its 23 years. The sumptuous festival given the August 17th by Nicolas Fouquet in his Château of Be worth-the-Viscount is still in all the spirits, especially that of the king. Mazarin is deceased a few months earlier, and the young monarch with the will to affirm his capacity. The Council, joining together inter alia Colbert, Fouquet and Tellier, has been just held with the castle from Nantes. At exit of meeting, the sovereign currency with his superintendent of finances, in order to retain it. D' Artagnan received the precise instruction day before in order to conclude its arrest. But a cloud of beggars attacks Fouquet, which disappears in crowd…

Louis XIV is furious. It orders to the captain-lieutenant of the company Musketeers to excavate all the city so necessary. It is finally on the level of the cathedral, Saint-Pierre place, that of Artagnan the sedan-chair of Nicolas Fouquet catches up with. It then presents the Lettre de cachet to the superintendent, incrédule. This last was imprisoned initially with the Château of Angers, cradle of its family, with the Bastille, then, at the end of an animated lawsuit, with the fortress of Pignerol where he died the March 23rd 1680.

Triangular trade

At the 18th century, Nantes knows an important economic advancement thanks to the triangular Commerce which makes the fortune of the Armateur S Nantes. The ships slave traders based in Nantes leave towards the west coasts the Africa; there, the captains buy men and women with the chiefs of the villages against objects of low value and take them along to the the Antilles to work like slaves in the plantations. The boats return then to the port of Nantes charged with spices and sugar. To avoid speaking directly about the nature of this trade, one speaks then about the “ Road of the Wood of Ébène ”.

Wars of the Vendée

During the Wars of the Vendée, the city, acquired with the revolutionary ideas, is attacked by the Vendean army on June 29th, 1793, without success. It is the Bataille of Nantes. Between 1793 and 1794, Jean-Baptiste Carrier, representing Convention on mission in Nantes, orders a great number of summary executions (the court was chaired by Bignon): at the end of December 1793 at the end of February 1794, Carrier makes shoot 2600 prisoners. He organizes also Noyades in Nantes in the river since boats provided with trap doors: condemned, attached both by two (a man, a woman), drown mutually; Jean-Baptiste Carrier had baptized these executions the “ deportation verticale ”, they remained famous under the name of “ republican Marriages ”. The various epidemics for this period also took a heavy tribute.

Embellishments of the 19th century

Thanks to this accumulation of richnesses, the Nantes middle-class men acquire the capacity, which enables them to start and embellishment alterations of their city. These operations as enable them to invest their richnesses in another activity as the trade, because the draft of the slaves starts to decline starting from middle of the 18th century, because of the currents of thought of the Lumières then of the Abolition of slavery in 1848. Several plans of embellishments are carried out, but it is only with that of Ceineray that the things are concretized. The neo-classicism is the master word within the framework of architecture, and of the men like Marc-Antoine Laugier and Jacques-François Blondel are their source of inspiration.

It is in 1826 that the first bus service is inaugurated. It is the first service of public transport in the world, imitated soon by Paris, London and New York. The first line of Railroad is built in 1851 and contributes to support the development of industry.

Lefèvre-useful

A prosperous cookie factory develops in the city, whose two companies remain famous: Lefèvre-Useful, which invents the Petit Butter LU , and the Nantes Cookie factory. Today LU belongs to the group Danone, which only manufactures these cookies to preserve its brand image; indeed, this product does not make really any more receipt.

The cookie factory LU was recycled in an arts center, the Single Lieu (one finds initial the LU ), where are a coffee, a restaurant, a space of exposures, spectacles as well as a bookstore.

Fillings of the arms of the Loire and Erdre

Nantes is crossed by the the Loire and four of its affluents. This situation, Nantes inherited a nickname: Venice of the West . Gradually, the filling of the rivers was made to facilitate displacements in the city.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the majority of the small arms of the Loire are filled, attaching the majority of the islands to the grounds. Space thus made up is today called Île of Nantes , in reference to the renovation project urban currently in hand.

It is as at this period as the last 500 meters of the Erdre, affluent of the the Loire, are deviated and filled, allowing the creation of the Cours of the 50-Hostages, and the river tunnel between Erdre and the Saint-Felix channel, with the junction with the Loire.

Two world wars

Following the Armistice of 1940, the city is occupied by the German troops . Nantes is bombarded with twenty-eight recoveries between on July 27th, 1940 and on August 2nd, 1944. The 16 and September 23rd, 1943, of the bombardments of the 8th Air Force American destroy the downtown area, making a total of 1 463 died, and 2 500 wounded. Nearly 700 buildings and individual dwellings are destroyed, and 3 000 residences become inhabitables.
Nantes is an important center of the Résistance. Following the assassination, on October 20th, 1941, of Feldkommandant of the city, the lieutenant-colonel Hotz by three resistant young people communist from Paris, 48 hostages is shot with Nantes, Châteaubriant and with the Mont Valérien. The November 11th according to, the general De Gaulle decrees the cross of the Release at the city, first of the five French cities to being thus decorated. The city is finally released on August 12th, 1944.

Modern history

The Université of Nantes reopens in 1960 and the cathedral is touched by a terrible fire in 1972. In 1986 is built the last ship in Nantes, and the Shipyards firm Dubigeons on the Île of Nantes in 1987. While in same time the trams was reintroduced in the center town.

See too

External bonds

HistoNantes Site - History of the City of the Dukes
Terresceltes.net Site - History of Nantes
Site Nantes.fr section history

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