Editing Metz (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of Metz|Timeline of Metz}}
[[File:Henri2entranceMetz.jpg|thumb|[[Henry II of France]] entering Metz in 1552, putting an end to the Republic of Metz.]]
Metz has a recorded history dating back over 2,000 years. Before the [[Gallic Wars|conquest of Gaul]] by [[Julius Caesar]] in 52 BC, it was the [[oppidum]] of the [[Celt]]ic Mediomatrici tribe.<ref name="history" /> Integrated into the Roman Empire, Metz became quickly one of the principal towns of [[Gaul]] with a population of 40,000,<ref name="Divodurum" /> until the [[migration period|barbarian]] [[raid (military)|depredations]] and its transfer to the [[Franks]] about the end of the 5th century.<ref name="history" /><ref>Di Rocco A. (2009) Année 451 : la bataille qui sauva l'Occident. Eds. Thélès. {{ISBN|978-2-303-00228-8}} pp.&nbsp;156–158 {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Gibbon E (1788) ''History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire''. 4:35</ref> Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the city was the residence of the [[Merovingian]] kings of [[Austrasia]].<ref name="Austrasia" /> After the [[Treaty of Verdun]] in 843, Metz became the capital of the [[Kingdom of Lotharingia]] and was ultimately integrated into the [[Holy Roman Empire]], being granted semi-independent status.<ref name="history" /> During the 12th century, Metz became a [[republic]] and the [[Republic of Metz]] stood until the 15th century.<ref name="republic" />

With the signature of the [[Treaty of Chambord]] in 1552, Metz passed into the hands of the [[Kingdom of France|Kings of France]].<ref name="history" /><ref>Brasme P. (2011) Quand Metz reçoit la France. Eds. des Paraiges. {{ISBN|979-10-90185-03-6}} pp.&nbsp;17–34 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> As the German Protestant Princes who traded Metz (alongside Toul and Verdun) for the promise of French military assistance, had no authority to cede territory of the Holy Roman Empire, the change of jurisdiction was not recognised by the Holy Roman Empire until the [[Treaty of Westphalia]] in 1648. Under French rule, Metz was selected as capital of the [[Three Bishoprics]] and became a strategic fortified town.<ref name="history" /><ref name="republic2">Vigneron B. (2010) Le dernier siècle de la république de Metz. Eds. du Panthéon. {{ISBN|978-2-7547-0356-7}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> With creation of the [[Departments of France|departments]] by the [[Estates-General of 1789]], Metz was chosen as capital of the [[Moselle (département)|Department of Moselle]].<ref name="history" />

Although largely French-speaking, after the [[Franco-Prussian War]] and under the [[Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)|Treaty of Frankfurt of 1871]] the city became part of the [[German Empire]], being part of the Imperial Territory of [[Alsace-Lorraine]] and serving as capital of the [[Bezirk Lothringen]].<ref>Roth F. (2011) La Lorraine Annexée – version 2011, nouvelle édition. Eds. Serpenoise. {{ISBN|978-2-87692-866-4}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Metz remained German until the end of the [[First World War]], when it reverted to France.<ref name="return">Berrar J.C. (2009) Metz, retour à la France. Eds. Serpenoise. {{ISBN|978-2-87692-784-1}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> However, after the [[Battle of France]] during the [[Second World War]], the city was annexed by [[Nazi Germany]].<ref name="history" /> In 1944, the [[Battle of Metz|attack on the city]] by the [[United States Army Central|U.S. Third Army]] removed the city from German rule and Metz reverted one more time to France after [[World War II]].<ref>Przybylski S. (2009) La Campagne de Lorraine de 1944, Panther contre Sherman. Eds. Serpenoise. {{ISBN|978-2-87692-820-6}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref><ref>Denis P. (2008) La Libération de la Lorraine, 1940–1945. Eds. Serpenoise. {{ISBN|978-2-87692-764-3}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

During the 1950s, Metz was chosen to be the capital of the newly created [[Lorraine (region)|Lorraine]] [[Regions of France|region]].<ref name="politic50">Roth F. (2012) Histoire politique de la Lorraine, de 1900 à nos jours. Eds. Serpenoise. {{ISBN|978-2-87692-881-7}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> With the creation of the [[European Community]] and the later [[European Union]], the city has become central to the [[Greater Region]] and the [[SaarLorLux]] [[Euroregion]].<ref name="politic50" />