According to legend, Strasbourg, originally known as Argentorate, traces its ancestors back to the mythical Trébéta who was the son of Sémiramis and the supposed father of the Trévires and Triboques (the Celts of Trève and lower Alsace). Archaeologists and historians have given justice to this myth by taking us through their excavation of the earliest traces of Strasbourg's history, which recount the civilization of Rhénanie 700,000 years ago.

Before the creation of Argentoratum by the Romans in 12 B.C., the origins of Strasbourg may be traced back to the existence of Argentorate. Argentorate was a large Celtic village with at least one permanent activity. This site had been previously occupied by a varied group of people who completed sporadic and successive activities.

Contrary to a persistant legend, the Romans did not arrive to find a virgin forest occupied by a few uncultivated barbarians who passed their time trying to painstakingly maintain the little light they had thus far shed on humanity. In reality, people had been present in this sector for already 700,000 years: Alsace had five thousand years of agricultural development and two thousand years of metallurgy. Different groups of people had come to Alsace from Central Europe and the occidental borders of Europe as far as the Atlantic and the English Channel, in addition to the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. Their presence is attested to by the fabulous collection of objects they left behind, including jewels and arms, which may be found in the Archaeological Museum of Strasbourg. Geography directs history: this site, from the outset, due to its geographical complexity and diversity paved the way for fascinating events. Ideally located at the centre of the Rhine "trench", this location offered a relatively easy south-north access. The two banks of the Rhine were endowed with land paths. As the preferred main route of the Roman penetration towards the north, the Rhine was the cultural and economic backbone from Northern Italy to Holland from the High Middle Ages to the Renaissance, from the 12th to the 13th centuries. To this day, this region continues to be the most industrial as well as the most populated of Europe.

Overall, this location was well balanced between the fertile land due to alluvium and the Rhine. The forests were cleared, the trees cut down and small villages would be established on this agricultural land. Fishermen, hunters, daring travellers and runaways would venture upon this place, which was not the most hospitable. However, Argentorate, the Celtic establishment, would give birth to Argentoratum, the Roman camp. Strasbourg's history had only just begun.

In fact, Strasbourg should have been named Drusenheim, as the Roman General Drusus, the brother of Tibère, founded it. General Drusus constructed more than fifty forts along the Rhine River. These forts, built from Switzerland to Holland, constituted a sort of Maginot line before its time. This development took place between 12-16 B.C. One may suppose that under Emperor Augustsus, Argentorate was composed of five or six thousand inhabitants, who for the most part were foreigners who had not set out to settle there. Thus, this small town had already taken on a very cosmopolitan character, which was also a bit unstable.

Different legions succeeded one another in what had become a legionary camp. An important period of growth and relative prosperity took over the military and civil agglomeration. This agglomeration would, little by little, take on the same proportions of an insular island. The Germanic tribe, which included the Suèves, submitted to a Roman peace. Henceforth, the Roman Empire's border would find itself projected towards the east, beyond the Black Forest. Argentoratum remained the most important logistical home front base for the Romans until 260 A.D.

In the new civilization that developed on the border of the Roman Empire's decadence, Strasbourg was an ardent melting pot in which the adverse elements of this new world dissolved. In 352, the Alamanni and the Franks totally destroyed about forty of the fortified towns along the Rhine, including Strasbourg. But Rome decided to reconquer Argentoratum and drive the Alamanni out. Caesar Julian , known as the "Apostate" who opposed Christianity, would defeat the Alamanii troups in 357 A.D. Thanks to this battle, the Roman Empire had a short respite. The city of Argentoratum was partially restored.

In 406 A.D. an ethnic downpour covered the city of Mayence or Mainz, on the German side of the Rhine. Under the Huns' pressure the Burgondes, Vandales and the Suèves pounced on Gaul, the region that is now known as France. It was Attila who definitively destroyed the city in 451 A.D. After the devastating passage of the Huns, the Alamanni established themselves as the rulers of the region. During the next several decades, history would lose all trace of Argentoratum.

The Huns destroyed everything in 451. Satisfied, they continued on their way. The Alamanni as the new rulers were somewhat brutal and not very cultivated. However, in their dislike of the city, they were advantageous to the development of the region. Like most Germans, they drank a liquid composed of barley or wheat, which would become similar to wine as it was matured. In short, the city of Argentorate did not interest them very much. Moreover, the Franks would destroy them in Tolbiac. In 496 A.D. Strasbourg was incorporated into the Franks' kingdom. It was under the combined influence of the Alamanni and the Franks that the city was slowly restored. Initially, the name would be changed progressively from Argentoratum to Strateburgo, to Stratisburgo and then to Stradeburg. The meaning of the name had changed from "the fortified town on the road" to "the city of roads".

Contrary to the pagan Alamanni, the Franks were conscious of their Christian fiber. Under the urging of two remarkable bishops, Saint Arbogast and Saint Florent, Strateburgo became a dynamic diocesean seat. An initial cathedral was erected in the actual place of the current cathedral and a basilica was built. The question as to whether the city would follow and become an important capital was posed. There was not much belief that the city could get beyond its defensive calling as strategic and military stronghold; this fact which had been contested as early as the Romans and continues to hold true through modern times. As for their residences, the Franks preferred to live in their palace at Koenigshoffen or in the countryside at Kircheim-Marlenheim.

Under the Merovingians, Strasbourg did not constitute much more than the average small town consisting of tribes of farmers and fishermen. Even with the creation of a Duchy around 640 A.D., Strasbourg was still far from being a capital. With the accession of the Carolingiens in 751, a new dynamism became apparent.

The Church contributed powerfully to the material and intellectual expansion of the city. Certain prosperity was established in the city, which was hardly troubled by the fraternal war of the Charlemagne's grandsons.

The 14th of February 842 A.D., Louis and Charles united in Strasbourg against their brother, Lothaire and took the historic "Oath of Strasbourg" by using the common languages of their people. The soldiers of Louis took their oath in Tudesque, a predecessor to the German language, and Charles' soldiers in Roman, old French. These oaths would constitute the most ancient written monuments to both the French and German languages.

After this important historical episode, the city's significance as a political, economical and linguistic crossroads would be established. Strasbourg became part of the Lotharingia, which extended from the North Sea to the Adriatic. Through the Treaty of Meersen in 870, Strasbourg would also be attached to Louis' kingdom, the oriental France or Germania. Turned upside down by the Hungarians in 913 A.D., it was reconstructed by the Saxon dynasty of the Ottoniens, principally by Otton the First, who was crowned emperor the second of February in 962 A.D.

This coronation consecrated the union between the throne and the alter, an alliance whose efficacy would be revealed over the next three centuries. The city also benefited from the following dynamic factors: the quality of the ruling bishops, the efficacy of the Episcopal administration and the introduction of a wealthy working middle class which was eager to demonstrate its influence. The city spread out further and further as its population grew rapidly. The enclosures were pushed back and the fortifications were augmented. As circulation towards the south grew more important (the Saint Gothard passage was opened in 1239), the city found itself at the centre of very busy crossroads whose circulation north-south and east-west was intense. In the 13th century the city's economic situation grew considerably, partly due to the development of canal transport on the Rhine.

The Strasbourgeois of the 13th century constituted the beginning of a long religious effervescence, which would culminate in the Reformation of the 16th century, baptised the "Golden Century". The thirst for spirituality took hold of every level of the population, from the city parishes to the religious movements that were considered heretical at the time. Particularly, these orders included the Fransiscans and Dominicans. They were able to constitute a regular clergy of a high spiritual and intellectual quality, which brought respect and consideration. The Dominicans erected first a church and then a convent in the centre of the city. Both were finished in 1260. Meister Eckhart would teach his mystical theology (which was already strongly Evangelica) here.

The religious strongly dominated the intellectual activity. Schools were only mediocre: Latin was rudimentary and the focus of education was on the reproduction of manuscripts. The evolutionary religious orders of the Fransiscans and the Dominicans were responsible for breaking the iron collar and unleashing creative literature, philosophy, theology and a real consideration for the common language. Strasbourg's creativity was condensed, but distinguished by Gottfried of Strasbourg. His work entitled "Tristan und Isolde" is a poem of 2000 verses which is unique but unachieved Although Gottfried of Strasbourg is the author of one of the masterpieces of German literature from the Middle Ages, he was inspired by the narrative of Thomas of Brittany, an anglo-normand poet who wrote in French. This is a prime example of how the Strasbourgeois could already switch between languages.

With the accession of Napoléon Bonaparte, Strasbourg would return to the foreground as a European centre, as it had been before the Revolution. The relative peace under the Directory Period and until the beginning of the Empire Period favourites the repair of the roads and the Rhine which were in a deplorable shape. The construction of a new bridge over the Rhine was begun. The structure was to be 400 meters long and 12 meters wide. The postal relations were developed and included the following: daily service between Strasbourg and Paris and 16 postal routes towards Eastern Europe. But the most important innovation was the optical telegraph of Abraham Chappe. Completed in 1798, this system, a revolution in and of itself, allowed exchanges with the capital; it took only 90 minutes to send a message and the same to have a return message. Thanks to the Continental Blockade, which was instituted by the Allies against Napoléon, Strasbourg would begin a great economic growth as early as 1809.

Under Napoléonic order, this prosperity would contribute to the replacement of the arts and the sciences. The general atmosphere was one of relaxation and enjoyment of life. As far as architecture was concerned, a new style was developed to celebrate the glory of Napoléon. This style linked certain romanticism with a neo-classical style. The Pavillion Josephine and the Theatre are good examples.

But soon enough, there was the arrival of the black years of defeats, recessions and strain... The fires of history would again concentrate its flames over Strasbourg and this time for a long period. The military defeats of Napoléon Bonaparte would lead them to a blockade on the 5th of January 1814. The coalition enclosed the city and introduced typhus, which killed 3,000 soldiers and 600 civilians. There was much desolation with the announcement of the abdication of the Emperor. The white flag hoisted up on the Cathedral would reinstall peace without the sympathy of Strasbourgeois, among who was Schulmeister, who was known as "the Emperor's Spy", for the new regime of Louis XVIII.

The Thirty Years War, as throughout the Holy Roman Empire, marked the 17th century in Strasbourg. This religious war opposed the Protestant German princes against the Catholic Empire sovereigns, the Habsburgs. The war began in 1618 and ended in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia. Under the impetus of Cardinal Richelieu, France fought the Imperials of the Holy Roman Empire and particularly the Spanish (in the city of Rocroi in 1643). The German Empire had been weakened and broken up in order to benefit the princes. The population lost several million people. Although less damaged than some of the other important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, Strasbourg was shook by a severe economic crisis that would lead to its weakening and eventually prepare the city for its incorporation into the Kingdom of France.

Throughout the last quarter of the 17th century, the King of France, Louis XIV, patiently pursued his work towards the "Reunion" of Higher and Lower Alsace to the crown. He had only to take under his protection Strasbourg that represented a genuine bastion on the Rhine. Although this bastion was certainly well armed it was also isolated. Thirty thousand of the King's soldiers converged at Strasbourg and attacked on the 27th of September 1681. The city was placed under the protection of Louis XIV and ordered to welcome his royal garrison. Under this surrender to a triumphant Marquis de Louvois the following famous message was sent to Louis XIV: "Sire, Strasbourg is yours." The city ended its term as a free city of the Empire in order to become a capital of the French province of Alsace.

The 18th century for Strasbourg was one of "transition" in many ways: from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, from a Germanic sensitivity to a French flavour, from a free city to a royal city. Every sector would be profoundly changed, particularly on religious and economic levels. The Revolution would cause at the end of the century even more violent changes.

Strasbourg was improved aesthetically during the 18th century. A combination of conditions would be put in place for this to happen: the Kingdom of France would manage to guarantee an era of peace which lasted several decades, there was a period of wealth which had been thus far unknown, the French creativity teamed up with the local know-how created marvels, Strasbourg's situation at a crossroads invited a wide range of creators and trends which were often complimentary.

1789 surprised Strasbourg without too much shock. The minds of the people were prepared for, if not already strongly in favour of, the changes. While the Bastille was being overtaken on July 18th, a crowd gathered on what is today's Place Kléber to simply cry out "Long lives the King!" They then went home. Things really started heating up on July 20th on what is today's Place Gutenberg. The town hall was ransacked. Strasbourg, the royal free city, would become just another county town in the department. The man who would emerge from this troubled period was a reformist who was opposed to the conservative trends. Frédéric de Dietrich was elected mayor of Strasbourg.

At the same time the Catholic nobles; with the Cardinal of Rohan at the head, were ferociously opposed to the Revolution that would reduce their privileges, the priests and the grass root militants would be favourable. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790, forced the priests to swear their allegiance to the State. The mayor was kept very busy, particularly calming the Catholic women who were not at all happy with the fact that their bishops were to be elected by the all citizens who among them included Jews, Protestants and non-believers.

The mayor Dietrich was very adroit in governing and avoiding any stumbling blocks that he encountered. He would be appointed commissioner to the organization of the Bas-Rhine Department. His notoriety would continue to grow, particularly when a young officer from his department named Rouget de L'Isle created "The War Song of the Rhine Army" which would be adopted by the Marseillais revolutionaries and turned into "La Marseillaise". However, during this very same year, 1792 that gave birth to the eventual French National Anthem the Jacobins unleashed their anger against Dietrich who was wrongly accused of delivering the city to the enemy. The Reign of Terror would rage over Strasbourg for two years, bringing great misery.

As Strasbourg was so close to Germany, the Revolution had to deal with the very difficult combat of exterior enemies. In response, the Revolution sent two very pure and hard representatives named Saint-Just and Lebas who gave the city a tough time. Under their impetus the army was galvanized into action. Hoche beat the Austrians at Froeshwiller and at Geisberg. In 1794, Alsace was totally freed of its invaders. However, poor harvests, the depreciation of bank notes and the black market created a serious crisis for which de Dietrich would pay dearly. He was condemned to death and guillotined in Paris on the 29th of December 1793.

Not knowing whom to devour next, the Revolution destroyed its own offspring. The execution of Robespierre was celebrated in Strasbourg with a general elation. There was a sigh of relief in the overcrowded prisons. De Dietrich's partisans returned and with them a sense of calm.

At the end of the Reign of Terror, under the Directory Period, Strasbourg was in a very poor state. The Revolution had caused great destruction, literally as well as figuratively. Although the Strasbourgeois had been originally lively with great hope, they could not overlook the damages: an economy at its knees, pillages, the defacement of monuments, churches used as pigpens...

The Cathedral was returned to the Catholic religion. The enormous red bonnet, symbol of the Revolution, which had covered the spire, was removed. Thanks to this studious covering the spire had been protected from the Jacobin's desire to destroy it.

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