Editing Limoges (section)

=== Ancient and medieval history ===
Scarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of the [[Gaul]]ish people of the [[Lemovices]], who lived in the area, was probably either near [[Villejoubert]], some kilometres south-east of [[Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat]], or St Gence, just west of Limoges.

The city proper was founded as '''Augustoritum''' by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], around 10&nbsp;BC: "rito-" is [[Gaulish]] for "[[Ford (crossing)|ford]]". The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor [[Augustus]], hence the new name. The Roman city included an [[amphitheatre]] measuring 136 x 115&nbsp;metres, a theatre, a [[Forum (Roman)|forum]], baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated to [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]], [[Minerva]] and [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]] was located near the modern cathedral. The city was on the typical Roman square plan, with two main streets crossing in the centre. It had a Senate and a currency of its own, a sign of its importance in the imperial age. Later, like many towns and cities in Gaul, it was renamed after the tribe (here the [[Lemovices]]) whose chief town it was; "Lemovices" subsequently evolved into "Limoges", and "Lemovicinus" for the area around changed into "[[Limousin]]".{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Limoges was evangelized by [[Saint Martial]], who came to the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was increasingly abandoned, due to unsafe conditions created by the invasions of various Germanic tribes. The population was concentrated instead in a more easily fortifiable site, the modern Puy Saint-Étienne, which is the centre of the modern Limoges. Starting from the construction of the [[Abbey of St. Martial]] (9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of the [[Viscounty of Limoges|viscount]] (the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the 10th century.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Starting from the 11th century, thanks to the presence of the Abbey of St. Martial and its large library, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. It was home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called the [[St. Martial School]]; its most famous member was the 13th-century [[troubadour]] [[Bertran de Born]].{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

[[File:Limoges ciborium circa 1200.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Limoges enamel]] [[Ciborium (container)|ciborium]] with [[champlevé]] enamel, and center rim in [[pseudo-Kufic]] 
script, {{circa|1200}}<ref name="Louvre">{{cite web |url=http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226036&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226036&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500778&bmLocale=en |title=Louvre museum notice |publisher=Louvre.fr |access-date=14 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615183547/http://www.louvre.fr/llv/oeuvres/detail_notice.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226036&CURRENT_LLV_NOTICE%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673226036&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=9852723696500778&bmLocale=en |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref>]]

In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two fortified settlements.
* The town proper, with a new line of walls encompassing the [[Vienne River]], inhabited mainly by clerks and workers. It has a bridge on the Vienne river named after Saint-Étienne, built by the bishops, and a developed port. Sacked in 1370, it never recovered entirely.
* The castle, with 12&nbsp;metre high walls, including the abbey and controlled by the abbot, sometimes in contrast with the bishop-ruled town ("la Cité"). Traces of the walls can still be seen in the city centre.  Outside the lines of walls were the popular quarters.

In 1370, Limoges was occupied by [[Edward, the Black Prince]], who [[Massacre of Limoges|massacred]] some 300 residents, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population", with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.<ref>Sumption, Jonathan. 2009. ''The Hundred Years War III: Divided Houses''. 82–83</ref>