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Vervins : Verbinium is 2,000 years old

Caesar’s legions settled here in the year 52 BC, building amongst other things an open air theatre to seat 5,000 spectators.
Christianity arrived in the 5th century with Irish and Scottish monks. Norman invasions in 9th century.
In the 11th century became the property of the Lords of Coucy.
“Roy ne suis, ne Prince, ne Duc, je suis le Sire de Coucy qui pendait haut et court à la Tour”
(I am neither King, nor Prince nor Duke but Lord of Coucy who hangs people high from the tower).

  1163 Ramparts built that withstood eight sieges
1552 Town burned to the ground by the army of Mary of Austria, sister and ally of Charles the Fifth (of Spain)
1565 In church that still stands today exorcism performed against Nicole Aubry, called Nicole of Vervins who was possessed by the devil.
1598 Henri IV and Phillip II of Spain sign the peace agreement to end the Wars of Religion on May 2nd.
1636-1659 Region laid waste by Spanish and Imperial troops.
1640 Town partially destroyed by fire.
1653 Town freed by the French.
1712 Pillages and burned by the Batavians (who’d have thought it?)
1815 Napoleon stops at the staging post run by Cordelle, known as Pandour, on his way to Waterloo.
1870-1945 The Prussians used the château as their head-quarters during these three wars
1914-1918 as their head-quarters
1940-1945 during these three wars
1956 Charles de Gaulle, President stay at "La Tour du Roy"
1983 François Miterrand, President stay at “la Tour du Roy”

 

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