4000BC The Chaseens, the earliest inhabitants of Avignon, settle on the Rocher des Doms
2000BC The Chalcalithic and Campaniforme civilizations settle on the same site, leaving behind an anthropomorphic monolith (discovered in 1961 and now on display in the Calvet Museum)
500BC The city expands around the clifftop
oppidum, under the occupation of a Celto-Ligurian people – the Cavares
c. 2nd C BC Avignon gains its name – Avenio, ‘Lord of the River’ according to a translation from the Celtic, or ‘City of the Violent
Wind’ from the Ligurian translation
49BC Roman influence extends from the Alps to the Pyrenees; Avignon becomes a Latin city
Late 3rd & early 5th C AD Successive waves of Franks, Alemans, Goths and Burgundes (who make Avignon the southernmost fortification of their realm in AD474) reduce Avignon to a seventh of its former size
AD537 King Vitiges cedes Avignon and Provence to the Frankish king Clovis; the city becomes a part of the kingdom of Burgundy in 561 until the second half of the eighth century
734-35 The Saracens enter Arles and Avignon
737 Charles Martel frees Avignon from Saracen control
932 Provence is united with Burgundy, forming the kingdom of Arles, annexed to the empire in 1033
1129 William II, Count of Fovalquier, grants the bishops, knights and ombudsmen of Avignon ‘power, jurisdiction and seigneurship’; Avignon acquires the status of a commune
1177-85 Construction of Pont St-Bénézet
1226 Louis VIII lays seige to Avignon (10 Jun-12 Sep); his victory is the beginning of the end of the power of Avignon
1309-76 Six successive popes reside in Avignon (Clement V, Jean XXXII, Benoit XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI and Urban V). The Palais des Papes is begun in 1335. The population swells to 40,000, making Avignon one of Europe’s largest cities but, due to the plague and the departure of the pope, the population falls to some 15,000
1379-1409 The great schism: the warring Catholic church is divided between the supporters of Clement VII and Urban VI
1403 Benoit XIII escapes from the Palais des Papes
1580 The plague decimates Avignon
1680 The River Rhône destroys four arches of Pont St-Bénézet
1694 The River Rhône freezes over and can be crossed on foot
1721 Plague devastates the city
1722 The notorious Parfumeurs set the convent of the Augustins alight
1777 Oil lamps provide the first street lighting
18 Aug 1791 Annexation of the county of Avignon to France
19 Feb 1797 The treaty of Tolentino confirms the unification of Avignon and the County of Venaissin
25 Apr 1814 Napoleon I stops at Porte St-Lazare on his way to the Isle of Elba; the population force him to flee
1832 The public fountains pump out drinking water
1838 Gas lighting is installed
1854 Felibrige movement is born
1868 Installation of the sewage system
1873 Bus network is opened
11 Nov 1942 Avignon is occupied by the German army
25 Aug 1944 Avignon is liberated by French and American troops
1946 Jean Vilar initiates Avignon’s role as a cultural center, with the first Theater Festival
2000 Avignon is elected a European City of Culture
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