Poitiers

Poitiers , city (1990 pop. 82,507), capital of Vienne dept., W central France, on the Clain River. The ancient capital of Poitou , it is now an industrial, agricultural, and communications center. Poitiers's industries include metallurgy, machine building, printing, and the manufacture of chemicals and electrical equipment. The city was the capital of the Pictons, a Gallic people, and under the Romans was called Limonum. Christianized early in Roman times, it was a stronghold of orthodoxy under its first bishop, St. Hilary of Poitiers (4th cent.), and, because of its important monasteries, was a great religious center of Gaul. A residence of Visigoth kings, the city was captured (507) by the Franks under Clovis I. In 732, Charles Martel turned the Muslim tide by defeating the Saracens between Poitiers and Tours. Poitiers was often sacked by the Normans in the 9th cent. It was twice under English rule (1152-1204, 1360-72) and was the location of the brilliant court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. At Poitiers in 1356, Edward the Black Prince defeated and captured John II of France and his son, Philip the Bold of Burgundy. Charles VII had his court in Poitiers from 1423 to 1436 and founded a university there in 1432. In the Wars of Religion (1562-98) the city was unsuccessfully besieged (1568) by the Huguenots ; in 1577 the Peace of Bergerac (also known as the Edict of Poitiers) was signed there granting religious freedom (see Religion, Wars of ). Architecturally, Poitiers is one of the most interesting cities in Europe. There are Roman amphitheaters and baths, the baptistery of St. John (4th-12th cent.), the Cathedral of St. Pierre (12th-14th cent.), the courthouse (12th-15th cent., formerly a royal residence), as well as numerous other churches and late medieval and Renaissance residences.

Poitiers City on the River Clain, w central France; capital of Vienne department and chief town of Poitou-Charentes region. Poitiers was the ancient capital of the Pictones (a Gallic tribe), and an important centre of early European monasticism. In the 5th century, the city fell to the Visigoths, who were in turn defeated by the Merovingian king Clovis I (507). In 732, the Franks halted the advance of the Muslim Saracens at Poitiers. The Battle of Poitiers (1356) was an important English victory in the Hundred Years' War. The modern city possesses many historical buildings. Industries: metallurgy, printing, chemicals, electrical equipment. Pop. (2000) 83,448.

Poitiers a city in west central France, capital of the former province of Poitou. It was the site in ad 507 of the defeat of the Visigoths by Clovis and in 732 of Charles Martel's victory over the invading Muslims. In 1356 the city fell to the English forces of Edward, the Black Prince, but was reclaimed by the French some thirteen years later.