and French name of the city
Ancient and medieval history Scarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of the
Gaulish people of the
Lemovices, who lived in the area, was probably either near
Villejoubert, some kilometres south-east of
Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, or St Gence, just west of Limoges. The city proper was founded as
Augustoritum by the
Romans, around 10 BC: "rito-" is
Gaulish for "
ford". The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor
Augustus, hence the new name. The Roman city included an
amphitheatre measuring 136 x 115 metres, a theatre, a
forum, baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated to
Venus,
Diana,
Minerva and
Jupiter was located near the modern cathedral. The city was on the typical Roman square plan, with two main streets crossing in the centre. It had a Senate and a currency of its own, a sign of its importance in the imperial age. Later, like many towns and cities in Gaul, it was renamed after the tribe (here the
Lemovices) whose chief town it was; "Lemovices" subsequently evolved into "Limoges", and "Lemovicinus" for the area around changed into "
Limousin". Limoges was evangelized by
Saint Martial, who came to the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was increasingly abandoned, due to unsafe conditions created by the invasions of various Germanic tribes. The population was concentrated instead in a more easily fortifiable site, the modern Puy Saint-Étienne, which is the centre of the modern Limoges. Starting with the construction of the
Abbey of St. Martial (9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of the
viscount (the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the 10th century. Starting from the 11th century, thanks to the presence of the Abbey of St. Martial and its large library, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. It was home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called the
St. Martial School; its most famous member was the 13th-century
troubadour Bertran de Born.
ciborium with
champlevé enamel, and center rim in
pseudo-Kufic script, In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two fortified settlements. • The town proper, with a new line of walls encompassing the
Vienne River, inhabited mainly by clerks and workers. It has a bridge on the Vienne river named after Saint-Étienne, built by the bishops, and a developed port. Sacked in 1370, it never recovered entirely. • The castle, with 12 metre high walls, including the abbey controlled by the abbot, sometimes in contrast with the bishop-ruled town ("la Cité"). Traces of the walls can still be seen in the city centre. Outside the lines of walls were the popular quarters. In 1370, Limoges was occupied by
Edward, the Black Prince, who
massacred some 300 residents, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population", with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.
Modern history stationed at the Limoges factory, Christmas, 1917 The porcelain industry started to develop, favoured by the presence of
kaolinite which was discovered near Limoges in 1768 In the 19th century Limoges saw strong construction activity, which included the destruction and rebuilding of much of the city centre. The unsafe conditions of the poorer population is highlighted by the outbreak of several riots, including
that of July–November 1830 and April 1848. The first French confederation of workers, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) (
General Confederation of Labour), was created in Limoges in 1895. In early 1905, strikes began in another local industry, shoe factories soon followed in the porcelain factories. Barricades were built, the army intervened. There would be two casualties: a horse and a young porcelain worker, Camille Vardelle. During
World War II, many
Jews from Alsace were evacuated to Limoges and the surrounding area. == Climate ==