Troyes

Troyes is a town and commune, the préfecture (capital) of the northeastern Aube département in France and is located on the Seine river.

History

For the ecclesiastical history, see bishopric of Troyes

Troyes has been in existence since the Roman era, and through the centuries gained great importance as a medieval centre of commerce.

Louis the Stammerer in 878 received at Troyes the imperial crown from the hands of Pope John VIII. At the end of the ninth century, the counts of Champagne chose Troyes as their capital. In 1285, when Philip the Fair united Champagne to the royal domain, the town kept a number of privileges. John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and ally of the English, aimed in 1417 at making Troyes the capital of France, and he came to an understanding with Isabeau of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI of France, that a court, council, and parliament with comptroller's offices should be established at Troyes. It was at Troyes, then in the hands of the Burgundians, that on 21 May, 1420, the treaty was signed by which Henry VI of England was betrothed to Catherine, daughter of Charles VI, and was to succeed him to the detriment of the dauphin. The dauphin, afterwards Charles VII, and Joan of Arc recovered the town of Troyes in 1429.

The 1420 Treaty of Troyes, which attempted to settle the Hundred Years' War, was signed here. During the Middle Ages, it was an important trading town, and gave its name to troy weight.

Economy

Troyes is home to the Lacoste company production headquarters, one of the most popular brands in the Western World.

Miscellaneous

Troyes is the home of association football club Troyes AC, or ESTAC.

The seven cantons of Troyes are arranged in the shape of a champagne cork.

Births

Troyes was the birthplace of:

Rashi (1040-1105), biblical and Talmudic commentator
Hughes de Payens (1070-1136), Knight of the First Crusade and founder of the Knights Templar
Pierre Pithou (1539-1596), Calvinist jurisconsult and scholar, co-editor of the "Satire Ménippée",
Pierre Mignard (1610-1695), painter,
François Girardon (1628-1715), sculptor,
Édouard Herriot (1872-1957), Radical politician of the Third Republic who served three times as Prime Minister of France.

Twinning

Chesterfield, UK

Sources and external links

Troyes city council website (in French)
Lacoste Official Website
Pictures of Troyes Cathedral: ^*

Communes of Aube | Préfectures