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centuries of history - Toulouse has known many a conflict and upheaval.
For many a year the name of Toulouse was associated with Albigenses
heretics, today, this name relates to aeronautics and space ventures.
Toulouse appeared in the 4th century B.C.
Originally populated by a Celtic tribe - the Volques Tectosages - its
good climate and geographical position makes it a natural ally of Rome
in the 2nd and 3rd centuries (at this time Toulouse ranks 4th city of
the Western Roman Empire), in 5th century ; Centre of the Wisigoth
kingdom, and in the 6th century Clovis reigns over Toulouse.
It's during the 9th century that Toulouse becomes glorious. Ruled by the
Raimonds, hereditary Counts who give Toulouse one of the most famous
institutions : the Capitouls - an administration chapter made up of 12
representatives elected by the corporations as early as 1141.
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Hotel
de Bernuy |
During
the 11th century the Albigenses beliefs spreads through the Languedoc
region, a large number of Toulouse's nobles are conquered by this new
religious doctrine. The Church endeavours to extinguish this heresy -
two crusades are launched against them, one of which led by Simon IV de
Montfort (father to Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester).
The Church succeeds in eliminating the Albigenses at the end of the 13th
century. It is during this period that the University is founded ; its
mission : to constitute an instructed clergy capable of rivalling with
the Paris clergy.
The 15th century opens the door of Toulouse's golden century :
Pastel, a plant giving a blue dye, is commercialised all over the world,
the rich traders construct the famous red-brick mansions.
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Hotel
Assezat (XVI) housing
the Bemberg Foundation |
With the
arrival of Indigo, a violet-blue dye, Toulouse's decline draws nigh at
the same time as the commencement of a long period of religious quarrels
between the Huguenots (Calvinist French Protestants) and the Catholics.
The Capitouls, suspected of being Protestant, are banished, and the
Church ; with its numerous religious establishments (21 priories, 8
seminaries), dominates the town.
As of the 13th century, Toulouse is the first University outside of
Paris !
Intellectual Capital, Toulouse inaugurates the 2nd University in France
in the year 1229. In 1323, seven rich nobles set up the Academie des
Jeux Floraux, (Floral Games academy), the oldest academy in Europe.
In the 17th century, Pierre Paul Riquet, an Engineer from Béziers
accomplishes an engineering feat - the Canal du Midi - linking the
Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and so developing South-west
France's trading possibilities.
1919 : Airmail ! An outcome of the First World War was Toulouse
attracted the first aeronautic companies who had to be far from the
enemy lines : Toulouse so found the industry that was to become it
future !
The rest of the story concerning the extra-ordinary development of this
sector which contributed to make Toulouse the Capital of aeronautics and
space, is know today by all.
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