Poitiers

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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.

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