Autun
Autun is a town in the
Saône-et-Loire département in
Burgundy,
France, and has a history which dates back to
Roman times.
Autun was founded during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus (Autun derives from its Latin name
Augustodunum), and was famous for having schools of
rhetoric. Several elements of Roman architecture such as walls, gates, and a Roman theatre are still visible in the town. The area also lies in the area of Burgundy, and in the middle ages, it was a Count of Autun who became the first
Duke of Burgundy.
The city boasts ancient
Roman gates and other ruins dating to the time of
Augustus (
Augustodonum).
Autun has a major
Romanesque cathedral dating from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which was formerly the chapel of the Dukes of Burgundy; their palace was the actual episcopal residence. [Cathedral:[
1],[
2]]
*
Honorius of Autun (died c. 1151)
* Nivelon I (d. 768) was known as Count of Autun
* In the late 8th century,
Charles Martel's daughter (name listed as Auda, Alane, or Aldana) married Thierry IV (also called Theoderich or Theoderic), Count of Autun and Toulouse. According to the controversial book
Holy Blood Holy Grail (which may merely be repeating local legend), Theoderic was declared a King by the
Carolingians, and his son was Saint
William of Gellone. (
For more details on this topic, see Septimania#References in popular culture.)
* In the late 9th century, the countship was vacant after the death of
Robert the Strong, but was returned to
Bernard Plantilosa, son of
Bernard of Septimania, and then later to
Bernat of Gothia, Count of Barcelona after Bernard fell out of favor.
* In 878, King
Louis the Younger took the countship away and gave it to his chamberlain, Theodoric.
*
Richard of Autun (c.867-921), also Count of Autun, was also the first
Duke of Burgundy, whose ducal principality amalagmated several countships including Autun
*
Napolean I's foreign minister
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was a sometime bishop of Autun.
Autun has sister city relationships with:
*
Ingelheim am Rhein,
Germany*
Stevenage,
England*
Kawagoë,
Japan*
Aravelo,
Spain*
Bishopric of Autun*
Visiting Autun (tourist map and photos)*Westermann,
Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte (in German)
