Autun

Autun is a town in the Saône-et-Loire département in Burgundy, France. Population (1999): 16,419.

Related Topics:
Saône-et-Loire - Département - Burgundy - France

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The city boasts ancient Roman gates and other ruins dating to the time of Augustus (Augustodonum). It was an early center of Christianity, as attested by the 3rd century funeral inscription, in Greek, of a certain Pectorius, and during the Merovingian era it was a politically important see. Two sishops of Autun figured prominently in political affairs: St. Syagrius, bishop during the second half of the 6th century, a contemporary of St. Germanus, bishop of Paris, who was a native of Autun, and Leodegar (St Léger), bishop from 663 to 680, who came into conflict with Ebroin and put to death by order of Theoderic III. Much later, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, the future diplomat, was Bishop of Autun from 1788 to 1790, when he resigned. Autun has a major Romanesque cathedral.

Related Topics:
Roman - Augustus - Merovingian - Syagrius - Germanus, bishop of Paris - Leodegar - Ebroin - Theoderic III - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord - Romanesque cathedral

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