Editing Dinant (section)

===Origins to the 10th century===
The name Dinant comes from the [[Celtic Languages|Celtic]] ''Divo-Nanto'', meaning "Sacred Valley" or "Divine Valley"; it can also be translated as "Celestial Gorge" or "Luminous Gorge" (as in modern [[Welsh Language|Welsh]] ''Nant Dwyfol'').

The Dinant area was already populated in [[Neolithic]], [[Celt]]ic, and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times. The first mention of Dinant as a settlement dates from the 7th century, when Perpète of Maastricht, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tongeren|Bishop of Tongeren]], moved his principal residence from [[Maastricht]] to Dinant and founded the church of Saint Vincent.

Dinant was a part of the [[Francia|Frankish]] kingdom of [[Middle Francia]] from its creation in 843 by the [[Treaty of Verdun]] until its dissolution in 855 with the [[Treaty of Prüm]]. Like most of Middle Francia, Dinant then became part of the newly formed [[Lotharingia|Kingdom of Lotharingia]] within the [[Carolingian Empire]]. The Kingdom of Lotharingia was abolished in 869-870 and was divided by the [[Treaty of Meerssen]] in 870. With this, Dinant passed to [[West Francia]],  ruled by king [[Charles the Bald]]. With this passing of territory, he gave part of Dinant to be administered by the [[Count of Namur]], with the rest as a part of the [[Bishopric of Tongeren]], which was by that time based in [[Liège]]. West Francia eventually lost significant territory and no longer contained Dinant [[West Francia#Rise of dukes|by the 10th century]].

In the 11th century, the emperor [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]] granted several rights over Dinant to the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]], including market and justice rights.  From that time on, the city became one of the 23 ‘‘bonnes villes’’ (or principal cities) of the Prince-Bishopric.  The first stone bridge on the [[Meuse]] and major repair to the castle, which had been built earlier, also date from the end of the 11th century.  Throughout this period, and until the end of the 18th century, Dinant shared its history with its overlord Liège, sometimes rising in revolt against it, sometimes partaking in its victories and defeats, mostly against the neighbouring County of Namur.