Last modified: 2004-10-02 by ivan sache
Keywords: pas-de-calais | boulogne-sur-mer | cross (white) | swan (white) | discs: 3 (red) |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
![[Flag of Boulogne]](../images/f/fr-62-bm.gif)
by Arnaud Leroy
See also:
Boulogne-sur-Mer (50,000 inhabitants; 100,000 inhabitants with outskirts), is a sous-préfecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. The city is located on the mouth of the river Liane on the Pas de Calais, the narrow bottleneck which separates the Channel from the North Sea and France from Britain. Being one of the closest cities to Britain, Boulogne was involved in several reciprocal attempts of invasions.
When Julius Caesar attempted to invade Britain (55-54 BP), a port named Portus Iltius was built near the present city of Boulogne. In 63, Emperor Claudius conquered Britain and set up the Classis Brittanica, the Britton Fleet, based in a port which was later protected by a castrum. In the IInd century, the lower city built around the port was known as Gesoriacum, whereas the upper city built around the castrum was known as Bononia.
Boulogne became a countal city in the IXth century. The counts of Boulogne were powerfeul lords. Eustache II helped William the Conqueror during the invasion of Britain. His wife founded in Boulogne the St. Wulmer's abbey and the church Notre-Dame. One of their son