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Early Indo-European people settled near the Seine River where we now call Paris.
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The roman tribe Gallic, lead by Julius Caesar take over Paris and renamed the city Lutetia. Soon after Caesar leaves, The Parisii revolt against the Romans. Labienus, Caesar’s lieutenant, defeats them.
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In 250 the city was named Montmartre but later destroyed by Barbarians.
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Paris is given the name we all know and love.
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Attila the Hun heads toward Paris. A young nun named Geneviève encourages the Parisians to pray and stand firm. Attila and his legions of Huns avoid Paris and are defeated at Châlons. Geneviève is hailed as the city’s savior and is later named the patron saint of Paris. (dies 511)
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Invading Vikings force the Parisians to construct a fortress on the Île de la Cité.
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The Vikings sack Paris. They collect a large ransom in exchange for leaving.
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Hugh Capet, count of Paris, is crowned King of France and becomes the first of the Capetian line of kings. But Dies in 996 and the role is taken over by his son, Robert II.
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The University of Paris is founded.
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King Philippe-Auguste builds a square château-fort to protect the western side of the city. This château is developed and expanded by subsequent kings over the next 600 years and later becomes the Louvre.
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The Black Death strikes the city. Later in 1337 the Hundred Years War begins.
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Urban revolts drive the royal court to abandon the city for almost 100 years.
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Construction is begun on the section of the Louvre known as the Tuileries Palace.
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King Louis XIV, the Sun King, begins his reign. He moves the royal residence from Paris to Versailles but dies in 1715
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After a battle between french people and Bastille surrenders and the French Revolution has begun.
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The monarchy falls and the First Republic is proclaimed.
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Napoléon’s army is defeated by Wellington at Waterloo.
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Proclamation of the Second Republic. France has its first legislative assembly. Prince Louis Napoléon Bonaparte wins the presidency by 5 million votes.
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The Franco-Prussian war ends with a siege of Paris. In 1871, the Paris Commune, a revolutionary Socialist government, takes over the city. They burn The Tuileries Palace and pull down Napoleon’s column. The French Army under General MacMahon suppresses the Commune and 20,000 people die.
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The Eiffel Tower is completed is third and final stage.
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Paris hosted the world summer olympics and the first parisian metro line opens.
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WWI brings 2 million American soldiers to France. Paris is saved from the Germans by the Battle of the Marne.
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General von Choltitz surrenders and Paris is finally free from the Germans.
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French voters reject the European Union’s proposed constitution.
