Editing Bourges (section)

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Bourges}}
The name of the commune derives either from the [[Bituriges Cubi|Bituriges]], the name of the original inhabitants, or from the [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] word ''[[wikt:burg|Burg]]'' (French: ''bourg''; Spanish: ''burgo''; English, others: ''[[burgh]]'', ''[[wikt:berg|berg]]'', or ''[[borough]]''), for "hill" or "village". The [[Celt]]s called it ''Avaricon''; [[Latin]]-speakers: ''[[Avaricum]]''. In the fourth century BC, as in the time of [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], the area around it was the center of a Gallic (Celtic) confederacy.

In 52 BC, the sixth year of the [[Gallic Wars]], while the [[Gaul]]s implemented a [[scorched-earth]] policy to try to deny Caesar's forces supplies, the inhabitants of Avaricum convinced the council not to have their town burned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/siege_avaricum.html|title=Siege of Avaricum, 52 BC|publisher=historyofwar.org|access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref> It was temporarily spared due to its good defences provided by the surrounding marshes, by a river that nearly encircled it, and by a strong southern wall. Julius Caesar's forces, nevertheless, captured and destroyed the town, killing all but 800 of its inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Robert C. L. |date=2021-01-16 |title=The Gallic Wars: How Julius Caesar Conquered Gaul (Modern France) |url=https://www.thecollector.com/gallic-wars-how-julius-caesar-conquered-gaul/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Collector |language=en}}</ref>

Rome reconstructed Avaricum as a Roman town, with a monumental gate, [[Roman aqueduct|aqueducts]], ''[[thermae]]'' and an amphitheatre; it reached a greater size than it would attain during the Middle Ages. The massive walls surrounding the late-Roman town, enclosing 40 hectares, were built in part with stone re-used from earlier public buildings.

The third-century AD [[Ursinus of Bourges|Saint Ursinus]], also known as Saint Ursin, is considered{{by whom|date= November 2013}} the first bishop of the town. Bourges functions as the seat of an [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bourges|archbishopric]]. During the 8th century Bourges lay on the northern fringes of the [[Duchy of Aquitaine]] and was therefore the first town to come under Frankish attacks when the [[Franks]] crossed the Loire. The Frankish [[Charles Martel]] captured the town in 731, but Duke [[Odo the Great]] of Aquitaine immediately re-took it. It remained under the rule of counts who pledged allegiance to the Aquitanian dukes up to the destructive [[Siege of Bourges (762)|siege]] by the Frankish King [[Pepin the Short]] in 762, when [[Duchy of Vasconia|Basque]] troops are found defending the town along with its count.

[[File:Plan de la cathedrale Bourges 1820 Archives nationales France.jpg|thumb|center| Bourges in 1820]]
During the [[Middle Ages]], Bourges served as the capital of the [[Viscount]]y of Bourges until 1101. In the fourteenth century, it became the capital of the [[Duchy of Berry]] (established in 1360). The future king of France, [[Charles VII of France|Charles VII]] ({{reign | 1422 | 1461}}), sought refuge there in the 1420s during the [[Hundred Years' War (1415–1453)|Hundred Years' War]]. His son, [[Louis XI]], was born there in 1423. In 1438, Charles VII decreed the [[Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges]]. During this period, Bourges was a major centre of [[alchemy]].{{citation needed|date= November 2013}} In 1487, a third of Bourges was destroyed by fire, after which the economic decline of the city started.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bourges history |url=https://www.ville-bourges.fr/_en/site/introduction_bourges-history |publisher=City of Bourges}}</ref> 

The [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[Bourges Cathedral|Cathedral of Saint Étienne]], begun at the end of the twelfth century, ranks as a [[World Heritage Site]]. It is one of the earliest examples of the [[High Gothic]] style of the thirteenth century.<ref name="destination 360">
[http://www.destination360.com/europe/france/bourges] Destination 360 (Accessed 7 October 2016) Cathedral one of the earliest examples of High Gothic.
</ref>

Bourges has a long tradition of art and history. Apart from the cathedral, other sites of importance include the 15th-century [[Palais Jacques Cœur]] and a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and fine [[Townhouse (Great Britain)|town-houses]].

Bourges became an important center of artillery production from the 1860s, when Napoleon III decided to relocate the École de pyrotechnie militaire, at the time located in Metz, far away from the Prussian border.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/IA18000537 | website=Plateforme ouverte de patrimoine |publisher=Ministère de la culture |title=Ecole militaire de pyrotechnie, puis usine de produits explosifs (usine de munitions), actuellement usine d'armes Giat Industries |last=Lorieux |first=Clarisse |date=2020-05-13 |lang=fr}}</ref>