He is the founder of the Merovingian dynasty, who will rule the Frankish kingdom until 751. Clovis also ensures that the kingship will pass down to his heirs. By the early 500’s all of the Frankish tribes are under a single king instead of many tribes. Clovis takes over Northern Gaul in the vacuum that follows the fall. In 476 A.D., there is the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. Gaul was part of the Roman Empire for hundreds of years. The Alan soldiers integrate into the Merovingian military. Clovis becomes the king of the area of Gaul between the Seine and the Loire. However, the Alans, wanting cordial relations with the Christian Franks over the Visigoths and their Arian theology, strike an accord. Clovis, now kind of the Franks, attacks and loses. The Franks attack circa 466 and also lose. When the Huns under Attila attack in 451 and the Goths in 463, the Alans defeat both. The Alans do the job and keep part of the area for themselves as payment. Not only are the locals rebelling, but attacks by the Visigoths are increasing. In 442, the Roman commander hires the Alans, a mercenary tribe originally from Iran, to help bring order to Gaul. He later divides the empire into four sections and appoints two Ceasars (Galerius and Constantius.) Diocletian. The new Emperor Diocletian commands a reorganization and appoints his fellow officer Maximian as a co-emperor.
It becomes a major farming area, and by 100 A.D., it is already producing wine.īy 284 A.D., the Roman Empire was showing signs of strain. The fertile banks of the Loire do not go unnoticed by the Romans. They build a road system connecting the towns and Lyon (Lugdunum), the largest Roman city in Central France. The Romans also enlarge and strengthen Tours (Caesarodunum), Le Mans (Noviodunum), Angers (Juliomagus), Chartres (Autricum), and several more. Over the years, the name evolves into Orléans.ĭuring the reign of Emperor Augustus (circa 27 B.C.), the city begins to develop. In its place, they build C ivitas Aurelianorum and transplant Aurelian citizens from Rome. Julius Caesar.Ĭeasar’s troops destroy Cenabum, a stronghold of the Carnutes. They focus along rivers, which they use for transportation and communication. There is evidence of their presence dating to the third century B.C.Īfter the conquest by Julius Caesar circa 52 B.C., the Romans begin to develop the area. It reaches from France’s Atlantic coast and includes today’s Luxembourg and Switzerland. This is in the middle and largest region of Gaul, Gallia Celtica. The Carnutes are a powerful tribe living in today’s departments of Chartres, Orléans, and Blois. Its history goes back to the days of the Celts (or Gauls to the Romans). This will include Blois and Sully-sur-Mer. This section, Eastern Loire Valley, will use Orleans as the base. The Western Loire Valley will use Angers, as a base. The (Central) will use Tours as the base. So to make it easier, I am breaking this area into three sections. This is approximately 185 miles of river and, for our purposes, still a lot to cover. In defining its World Heritage Site of the Loire Valley, UNESCO limits it from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes.
Many refer to the Loire Valley as the area between Nevers in the east and Nantes to the west. It then twists and turns for more than 600 miles before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire.
The river begins in Southern France, about 40 miles west of where the Rhone and La Drome rivers meet. It seems it would be either side of the Loire river from its start to delta.ĭepending on who you ask, it doesn’t. The term Loire Valley is somewhat misleading.