Editing Soissons

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|Subprefecture and commune in Hauts-de-France, France}}
{{for|the rump state of the Roman Empire|Kingdom of Soissons}}
{{Expand French|topic=geo|date=December 2008|Soissons}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Soissons
|commune status     = Subprefecture
|image              = Soissons-hotel-de-ville.jpg
|caption            = City hall
|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Soissons (Aisne).svg
|arrondissement     = Soissons
|canton             = [[Canton of Soissons-1|Soissons-1]] and [[Canton of Soissons-2|2]]
|INSEE              = 02722
|postal code        = 02200
|mayor              = Alain Crémont<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality   = [[GrandSoissons Agglomération]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|49.3817|3.3236|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        = 55
|elevation min m    = 38
|elevation max m    = 130
|area km2           = 12.32
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Soissons''' ({{IPA|fr|swasɔ̃|-|Fr-Paris--Soissons.ogg}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the northern French [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Aisne]], in the [[Regions of France|region]] of [[Hauts-de-France]]. Located on the river [[Aisne (river)|Aisne]], about {{convert|100|km|mi}} northeast of [[Paris]], it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the [[Suessiones]]. Soissons is also the see of an ancient Roman Catholic [[Diocese of Soissons|diocese]], whose establishment dates from about 300, and it was the location of a number of [[Catholic church|church]] [[synod]]s called "[[Council of Soissons]]".

==History==
Soissons enters [[recorded history|written history]] under its [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] name, later borrowed into [[Latin]], '''[[Noviodunum]]''', meaning "new hillfort", which was the capital of the [[Suessiones]]. At [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] contact, it was a town of the [[Suessiones]], mentioned by [[Julius Caesar]] (''B. G.'' ii. 12). Caesar (''B.C.'' 57), after leaving the Axona (modern [[Aisne]]), entered the territory of the Suessiones, and making one day's long march, reached Noviodunum, which was surrounded by a high wall and a broad ditch. The place surrendered to Caesar.

From 457 to 486, under [[Aegidius]] and his son [[Syagrius]], Noviodunum was the capital of the [[Kingdom of Soissons]],<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Soissons |volume=25 |page=352}}</ref> until it fell to the [[Franks|Frankish]] king [[Clovis I]] in 486 after the [[Battle of Soissons (486)|Battle of Soissons]].

Part of the Frankish territory of [[Neustria]], the Soissons region, and the [[Abbey of Saint-Médard de Soissons|Abbey of Saint-Médard]], founded in the sixth century, played an important political part during the rule of the [[Merovingian dynasty]] (447–751). After the death of [[Clovis I]] in 511, Soissons was made the capital of one of the four kingdoms into which his states were divided. Eventually, the kingdom of Soissons disappeared in 613 when the Frankish lands were amalgamated under [[Chlothar II]].

The 744 [[Council of Soissons]] met at the instigation of [[Pepin the Short]] and [[Saint Boniface]], the Pope's missionary to pagan Germany, secured the condemnation of the Frankish bishop [[Adalbert (mystic)|Adalbert]] and the missionary [[Clement of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dierkens|first=Alain|editor=Hervé Hasquin|title=Magie, sorcellerie, parapsychologie|year=1984|publisher=Éditions de l'Université de Bruxelles|location=Brussels|pages=9–26|chapter=Superstitions, christianisme et paganisma à la fin de l'epoque mérovingienne: A propos de l{{'}}''Indiculus superstitionem et paganiarum''}}</ref>

During the [[Hundred Years' War]], French forces committed a notorious massacre of English archers stationed at the town's garrison, in which many of the French townsfolk were themselves raped and killed.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.classicreader.com/book/1913/20/ |title=At Agincourt |chapter=Chapter XIX. Agincourt |author=G. A. Henty |via=Classic Reader  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100419/http://www.classicreader.com/book/1913/20/ |access-date=2010-06-07 |archive-date=1 January 2019 | year=1897}}</ref> The massacre of French citizens by French soldiers shocked Europe; Henry V of England, noting that the town of Soissons was dedicated to the saints [[Crispin and Crispinian]], claimed to avenge the honour of the saints when he met the French forces at the [[Battle of Agincourt]] on [[Saint Crispin's Day]] 1415. The town was liberated by French troops under the command of [[Joan of Arc]] on 23 July 1429.

Between June 1728 and July 1729 it hosted the [[Congress of Soissons]] an attempt to resolve a long-standing series of disputes between the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] and [[Spain]] which had spilled over into the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1727–1729)|Anglo-Spanish War of 1727–1729]]. The Congress was largely successful and led to the signing of the [[Treaty of Seville]] between them.

During [[World War I]], the city came under heavy bombardment. There was mutiny after the disastrous ''[[Chemin des Dames]]'' offensive at the [[Second Battle of the Aisne]]. A statue erected with images of French soldiers killed in action in 1917 is behind the St Peter's Church, next to the Soissons Courthouse.
[[File:Soissons, France, 1919 panorama.jpg|centre|thumb|453x453px|Panorama of Soissons in ruins in 1919]]

==Sights==
Today, Soissons is a commercial and manufacturing centre with the 12th-century [[Soissons Cathedral]], the ruins of the [[Abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes]] and the crypt of the former [[Abbey of Saint-Médard]] as three of its most important historical sites. The nearby [[Espace Pierres Folles]] contains a museum, geological trail, and [[botanical garden]].

{{Clear}}

==Landmarks==

[[File:Soissons-cathedrale-pano.jpg|thumb|Panoramic view of the Cathedral]]
[[File:Abbey of St. Jean des Vignes 2, Soissons, Picardy, France - Diliff.jpg|thumb|right|The ruins of the [[Abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes]]]]
*Soissons Cathedral (''Cathédrale Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais de Soissons'') is constructed in the style of [[Gothic architecture]]. The building of the south transept was begun about 1177, and the lowest courses of the choir in 1182. The choir with its original three-storey elevation and extremely tall clerestory was completed in 1211. This was earlier than [[Chartres Cathedral]], on which the design was supposed to have been based. Work then continued into the nave until the late 13th century.<ref>{{cite book | last=James | first=John | title=The Template-makers of the Paris Basin: Toichological Techniques for Identifying the Pioneers of the Gothic Movement with an Examination of Art-historical Methodology | publisher=West Grinstead Pub. | year=1989 | isbn=978-0-7316-4520-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WhTu0W8fjzoC}}</ref>
{{Main|Soissons Cathedral}}

*Abbey of Notre-Dame – The former abbey of Notre Dame, former royal abbey, founded in the Merovingian era, known for its rich treasure of relics, including the "shoe of the Virgin." The abbey had prestigious abbesses, among them Gisèle, sister of Charlemagne, and Catherine de Bourbon, aunt of Henry IV.
*Abbey of Saint-Médard – The [[Abbey of St. Medard, Soissons|Abbey of Saint-Médard]] was a [[Benedictine]] monastery of Soissons whose foundation went back to the sixth century. Today, only the crypt remains.
*Hôtel de ville – Since 1833 the city hall has been housed in a château built by architect Jean-François Advyné between 1772 and 1775 at the request of the Intendant Pelletier Mortefontaine on the site of a previous one belonging to the [[counts of Soissons]].
*Arsenal – Exhibition space in the arsenal of the former [[Abbey of St. Jean des Vignes]]
*Passerelle des Anglais – The "Passerelle des Anglais" (literally: "Footbridge of the English") is a concrete footbridge over the Aisne in the center of the city. The original bridge was destroyed in 1914. It was rebuilt by British soldiers of [[9 Parachute Squadron RE|9th Field Company Royal Engineers]], after which it was known as the "Pont des Anglais" ("Bridge of the English"). Destroyed again during [[World War II]], it was rebuilt in 1950 as a  pedestrian bridge.
*The covered market – Built in 1908 by architect [[Albert-Désiré Guilbert]] (1866–1949)

==Personalities==
* The actress [[Aurore Clément]] was born in Soissons in 1945.
* The artist [[Emmanuel Fillion]] was born in Soissons in 1966.
* The rabbinic writer Shemaiah of Sossoines (11th century), one of the prime disciples of [[Rashi]]. 
* The saints [[Crispin and Crispinian]] were martyred c. 286 at Soissons for preaching Christianity to the local Gauls.
* The 6th century [[Kingdom of the Burgundians|Burgundian]] king [[Guntram]] was born in Soissons around 532.
* [[Jeanne Macherez]] (1852–1930), heroine during World War I; Mayor of Soissons

==Population==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|36448|Soissons}}</ref> and INSEE (1968-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-02722#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |7675
|1800 |7229
|1806 |8126
|1821 |7765
|1831 |8149
|1836 |8424
|1841 |9152
|1846 |10143
|1851 |9477
|1856 |7875
|1861 |10208
|1866 |11099
|1872 |10404
|1876 |11089
|1881 |11112
|1886 |11850
|1891 |12074
|1896 |12373
|1901 |13240
|1906 |14334
|1911 |14458
|1921 |14391
|1926 |17865
|1931 |18705
|1936 |20090
|1946 |18174
|1954 |20484
|1962 |23150
|1968 |25890
|1975 |30009
|1982 |30213
|1990 |29829
|1999 |29453
|2007 |28471
|2012 |28309
|2017 |28530
}}

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Soissons ([[Braine, Aisne|Braine]]) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1988–present)
|Jan record high C = 16.3
|Feb record high C = 20.2
|Mar record high C = 25.0
|Apr record high C = 29.1
|May record high C = 32.5
|Jun record high C = 36.6
|Jul record high C = 42.1
|Aug record high C = 40.2
|Sep record high C = 35.0
|Oct record high C = 28.9
|Nov record high C = 21.3
|Dec record high C = 17.1
|Jan record low C = -15.7
|Feb record low C = -15.3
|Mar record low C = -10.7
|Apr record low C = -5.0
|May record low C = -1.8
|Jun record low C = 0.5
|Jul record low C = 4.4
|Aug record low C = 3.2
|Sep record low C = -0.7
|Oct record low C = -5.3
|Nov record low C = -12.6
|Dec record low C = -12.3
|Jan high C = 6.7
|Feb high C = 8.0
|Mar high C = 12.2
|Apr high C = 16.0
|May high C = 19.6
|Jun high C = 22.8
|Jul high C = 25.4
|Aug high C = 25.2
|Sep high C = 21.2
|Oct high C = 16.1
|Nov high C = 10.4
|Dec high C = 7.2
| year high C = 15.9
|Jan mean C = 4.0
|Feb mean C = 4.6
|Mar mean C = 7.6
|Apr mean C = 10.3
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 17.0
|Jul mean C = 19.3
|Aug mean C = 19.0
|Sep mean C = 15.6
|Oct mean C = 11.9
|Nov mean C = 7.4
|Dec mean C = 4.6
| year mean C = 11.3
|Jan low C = 1.4
|Feb low C = 1.3
|Mar low C = 2.9
|Apr low C = 4.6
|May low C = 8.2
|Jun low C = 11.1
|Jul low C = 13.1
|Aug low C = 12.8
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 7.7
|Nov low C = 4.4
|Dec low C = 2.1
| year low C = 6.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 58.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 46.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 49.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 42.8
|May precipitation mm = 59.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 55.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 61.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 60.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 46.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 56.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 53.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 72.1
|year precipitation mm = 662.7
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.1
| Feb precipitation days = 10.4
| Mar precipitation days = 9.9
| Apr precipitation days = 9.0
| May precipitation days = 9.6
| Jun precipitation days = 8.9
| Jul precipitation days = 9.0
| Aug precipitation days = 8.8
| Sep precipitation days = 8.2
| Oct precipitation days = 10.0
| Nov precipitation days = 10.7
| Dec precipitation days = 12.6
| year precipitation days =119.1
|source 1 = Meteociel<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=2110002
|title=Normales et records pour Braine (02) 
|publisher=Meteociel
|access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>}}

==See also==
* [[Battle of Soissons (disambiguation)|Battle of Soissons]]
* [[Communes of the Aisne department|Communes of Aisne]]
* [[Franks]]
* [[List of Frankish kings]]
* [[Merovingian]]s
* [[Suessiones]]
* [[Vase of Soissons]]
* [[Wolf of Soissons]]
* [[Sessions (surname)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{SmithDGRG}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Soissons}}
* [http://www.ville-soissons.fr/ Official website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14130c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Soissons]
* [http://philippe.sezille.free.fr/webcamxp.htm A live view of the port of Soissons]
* [http://soissons.envole.net/soissons Discovering Soissons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306230404/http://soissons.envole.net/soissons/ |date=2009-03-06 }}
* [http://www.club150kg-dc.fr/ACS_Soissons/ACS_Frameset(uk).htm Soissons Powerlifting club (English)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113190812/http://club150kg-dc.fr/ACS_Soissons/ACS_Frameset(uk).htm |date=2008-11-13 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720204823/http://www.cita.asso.fr/Plan_reseaux_et_lignes/plantus_08_09.pdf Local Bus Routes]

{{Aisne communes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Aisne]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:Subprefectures in France]]
[[Category:Suessiones]]
[[Category:Gallia Belgica]]
[[Category:Aisne communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia]]