Aachen

Aachen (French Aix-la-Chapelle, Dutch Aken, Latin Aquisgranum, Ripuarian Oche) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands, 65 km to the west of Cologne, and the westernmost city in Germany, at {{coor dm|50|46|N|6|6|E|}}. Population: 256,605 (2003).

History

The Romans named the hot sulphur springs there Aquis-Granum. For the origin of the Granus several theories were developed, but it is now widely accepted that it derives from the celtic God of water and health. And since Roman times, the hot springs have been channeled into baths (which are still in use). âh- is an Old German cognate with Latin aqua, both meaning "water". In French-speaking areas of the former Empire the word aquas was turned into aix, hence Aix-en-Provence is an old Roman spa in Provence.

Related Topics:
Romans - Hot sulphur springs - Old German - Latin - Aix-en-Provence - Provence

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After Roman times the place was abandoned until the 8th century, when it was mentioned under the name Aquis villa. In the year 768 Charlemagne came to Aachen for the first time. He liked the place and began to build a palace twenty years later. The magnificent chapel of the palace later became the Aachen Cathedral. Charlemagne spent most winters between 800 and his death in 814 in Aachen in order to enjoy the hot springs. Afterwards the king was buried in the chapel, where his tomb can still be found.

Related Topics:
8th century - 768 - Charlemagne - Aachen Cathedral - 800 - 814

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In 936 Otto I was crowned king in the cathedral. From then on the kings of the Holy Roman Empire were crowned in Aachen for the next 600 years. The last king to be crowned here was Ferdinand I in 1531. During the Middle Ages Aachen was one of the largest cities of the empire. Aachen remained a free city within the Holy Roman Empire. In the Imperial Circle Estates of the Reichsreform (Imperial Reform) concluded at Worms in 1495, Aachen was represented in the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian circle.

Related Topics:
936 - Otto I - Holy Roman Empire - Ferdinand I - 1531 - Middle Ages - Imperial Circle Estates - Reichsreform - Worms - 1495

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After the Thirty Years War it had regional importance only. Though, the city became the site of several important congresses and peace treaties: the first congress of Aachen (often referred to as congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in english) in 1668, leading to the First Treaty of Aachen in the same year which ended the War of Devolution. The second congress ended with the second treaty in 1748, finishing the War of the Austrian Succession. The third congress took place in 1818 to decide the fate of occupied France.

Related Topics:
Thirty Years War - First congress of Aachen - 1668 - First Treaty of Aachen - War of Devolution - Second congress - Second treaty - 1748 - War of the Austrian Succession - Third congress - 1818

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By 1880, the population was 80,000. Several important railways met there. Aachen became a site for the manufacturing of railroad iron, pins, needles, buttons, tobacco, woolen goods and silk goods.

Related Topics:
1880 - Railway - Iron - Pin - Needle - Button - Tobacco - Wool - Silk

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Badly damaged in World War II, on October 21, 1944 Aachen was the first German city to be overrun by Allied troops, the U.S. Ninth Army.

Related Topics:
World War II - October 21 - 1944 - Allied - U.S. Ninth Army

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While Charlemagne's palace does not exist anymore, the cathedral is still the main attraction of the city. After its construction it was the largest church north of the Alps for 400 years. The tombs of Charlemagne and Otto III are in the church. The cathedral of Aachen is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage.

Related Topics:
Alps - Otto III - UNESCO - World Heritage

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