Editing Angers (section)

== Toponymy ==

=== Etymology ===

The city is first mentioned by [[Ptolemy]] around AD&nbsp;150 in his ''[[Geography (Ptolemy)|Geography]]''. It was then known as '''Juliomagus''' ({{langx|grc|Ἰουλιόμαγος}}, ''Iouliómagos''),<ref name="DauzatRostaing">{{Cite book |last1=Albert Dauzat |title=Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France |last2=Charles Rostaing |publisher=Librairie Guénégaud |year=1979 |isbn=2-85023-076-6 |location=Paris |page=18b |author1-link=Albert Dauzat |author2-link=Charles Rostaing }}</ref><ref>[[Ptolemy]], ''Geography'', II, 8, 8.</ref> a name by which it also appears in the {{Lang|la|[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]}}. The name is a compound of the Latin name [[Julius (nomen)|Julius]] (probably in reference to [[Julius Caesar]]) and the [[Proto-Celtic|Celtic]] ''magos'', "market". Similar town dedications were common in [[Roman Gaul]], and toponyms often kept a Gallic element.<ref>{{Cite book |last=[[Charles Rostaing]] |title=Les noms de lieux |year=1945 |isbn=2-13-038660-1 |editor-last=Presses universitaires de France |location=Paris |page=59}}</ref>

When the location needed to be distinguished from other Juliomagi, it was known as '''Juliomagus Andecavorum''' ("Juliomagus of the [[Andecavi]]"), in reference to the principal Gallic tribe in and around the city.<ref>Charles Rostaing, ''Op. cit.'', p. 47</ref>

Around AD&nbsp;400, the city came to be referred to as the '''civitas Andecavorum''' ("[[civitas|tribal capital]] of the Andecavi"). This was a common change in Gaul, also seen in the names of [[Paris]], [[Tours]] and [[Évreux]] around this time.<ref>Charles Rostaing, ''Op. cit.'', p. 46–47.</ref> During the Middle Ages, the late Latin name gradually developed into the modern one. It is successively mentioned as '''Andecava civitas''' (6th century), '''Andecavis''' (AD&nbsp;769),<ref name=DauzatRostaing/> '''Andegavis''' (861&nbsp;{{abbr|-|sometime between}}&nbsp;882), '''Angieus''' (in 1127) and '''Angeus''' (in 1205). The form '''Angiers''' appeared during the 12th century<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nègre |first=Ernest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsNpi7IVulEC&q=Angers&pg=PA151 |title=Toponymie générale de la France |date=9 July 1990 |publisher=Librairie Droz |isbn=9782600028837 |via=Google Books}}</ref> and was later corrupted to "Angers".

The Latin ''Andecavum'' also gave [[Duchy of Anjou|Anjou]] its name. This double formation is quite common in France and is also seen in [[Poitiers]] and [[Poitou]], and [[Bourges]] and [[Berry (province)|Berry]].

=== Nicknames ===

Angers was traditionally known as the "Black City" ({{lang|fr|la Ville Noire}}) because many roofs were built of [[slate]], due to the quarry in neighbouring [[Trélazé]]. These have become less common since the development of the city in the 19th century.{{sfnp|EB|1878}}
The city has also been known as:

* "The [[Athens]] of the West" ({{lang|fr|Athènes de l'Ouest}}), a name borne since the 19th century from the development of its university<ref>{{Cite web |title=City official website |url=http://www.angers.fr/decouvrir-angers/en-histoire/chroniques-historiques/pour-s-informer/le-grand-cercle-du-boulevard/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125014025/http://www.angers.fr/decouvrir-angers/en-histoire/chroniques-historiques/pour-s-informer/le-grand-cercle-du-boulevard/ |archive-date=25 November 2008}}</ref>
* "The City of Flowers" ({{lang|fr|Ville des fleurs}}), a name from the [[Second French Empire|Second Empire]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jacques Maillard |title=Angers, XXe siecle |year=2000 |isbn=2-85575-070-9 |editor-last=éd. Ville d'Angers |location=Angers |page=125}}</ref>
* "Green City" ({{lang|fr|Ville verte}}), in reference to its numerous parks and important horticultural industry
* "Angers the White" ({{lang|fr|Angers la Blanche}}), from its modern [[tufa]] façades and with ironic reference to its former name<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laissez-vous conter Angers |url=http://www.vpah.culture.fr/vpah/loire/angers-vi.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516213538/http://www.vpah.culture.fr/vpah/loire/angers-vi.htm |archive-date=16 May 2011 |access-date=1 August 2012 |website=vpah.culture}}</ref>

=== Heraldry ===

[[File:Blason d'Angers.svg|thumb|100px|Coat of arms of Angers]]
[[File:Blason ville fr Angers-Empire.svg|thumb|100px|Coat of arms under Napoleon's rule]]
The coat of arms of Angers bears the French royal [[fleur de lys]] of the [[Duchy of Anjou|dukes of Anjou]] (the first duke was the son of the king of France, [[John II of France|Jean II]]); the key evokes the stronghold position of the city close to the [[Brittany|Breton]] border. An [[acrostic]] from the Middle Ages calls it ''Antique clef de France'', which means "Ancient key to France":

* '''A'''ntique clef de France, (''antique key to France'')
* '''N'''eteté de souffrance, (''sharpness of displeasure'')
* '''G'''arant contre ennemis, (''protection against enemies'')
* '''E'''tappe d'assurance, (''step of assurance'')
* '''R'''ecours de secourance, (''help of relief'')
* '''S'''ecurité d'amis. (''security for friends'')

Under [[Napoleon I]]'s rule, Angers was one of the "Bonnes villes" and was therefore allowed to ask for a new coat of arms. The bees, symbol of the [[First French Empire]], then replaced the royal fleurs de lys.

In 1949, Angers received the [[1939–1945 War Cross (France)|1939–1945 War Cross]] and since then, the decoration is sometimes placed between the two fleurs de lys.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinctions : Angers.fr |url=http://www.angers.fr/decouvrir-angers/histoire-d-angers/aide-m%C3%A9moire/pour-s-informer/emblemes-et-devises/distinctions/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213092431/http://www.angers.fr/decouvrir-angers/histoire-d-angers/aide-m%C3%A9moire/pour-s-informer/emblemes-et-devises/distinctions/index.html |archive-date=13 February 2013 |access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>

Angers also had several mottos through its history:<ref>{{Cite web |title=City website |url=http://www.angers.fr/index.php?id=51132 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801122633/http://www.angers.fr/index.php?id=51132 |archive-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>

* During [[Classical antiquity|Antiquity]]: ''Assiuis conciliis'' (or ''consiliis'');
* From 1434 to 1480 (reign of [[René of Anjou]]): ''D'ardent désir'';
* In 1499: ''Antique clef de France'';
* Until June 1987: ''Angers, la qualité''.