La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a city or commune of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean (population 76,584 in 1999). It is the préfecture (capital) of the Charente-Maritime département(17).

History

La Rochelle was founded during the 10th century, and became an important harbour from the 12th century. In 1137, Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine essentially made La Rochelle a free port. Fifty years later, and for the first time in France, a city mayor was named for La Rochelle, Guillaume de Montmirail. Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was to be the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine and salt.

Related Topics:
10th century - 12th century - 1137 - Guillaume X, Duke of Aquitaine - Guillaume de Montmirail - 15th century

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During the Renaissance, La Rochelle adopted reformist ideas, and from 1568 became a center for the Huguenots, initiating a period of freedom and prosperity until the 1620s. The city finally entered in conflict with the central authority of the King Louis XIII, when cannon shots were exchanged on September 10th 1627 with Royal troops. This resulted into the Siege of La Rochelle in which Cardinal Richelieu blockaded the city for 14 months, until the city surrendered and lost its mayor and its privileges. The growing persecution of the Huguenots culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. Many Huguenots emigrated, founding such cities as New Rochelle in the vicinity of today's New York in 1689.

Related Topics:
Renaissance - Reformist - Huguenots - Louis XIII - Siege of La Rochelle - Cardinal Richelieu - Edict of Nantes - Louis XIV - New Rochelle - New York - 1689

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The following period was a prosperous one, marked by intense exchanges with the New World (Nouvelle France in Canada, and the Antilles). La Rochelle became very active in triangular trade with the New World, dealing in the slave trade with Africa, sugar trade with plantations of the Antilles, and fur trade with Canada. This was a period of high artistical, cultural and architectural achievements for the city.

Related Topics:
Nouvelle France - Canada - Antilles - Triangular trade - Slave trade - Sugar trade - Plantations - Fur trade

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The city eventually lost its trade and prominence during the decades spanning the Seven Years War, the French revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. During that period France lost many of the territorial possessions it had in the new World, and also saw a strong decrease in its sea power in the continuing conflicts with Britain, ultimately diminishing the role of such harbours as La Rochelle.

Related Topics:
Seven Years War - French revolution - Napoleonic Wars - Sea power - Britain

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During the Second World War, Germany established a submarine naval base at La Rochelle, which became the setting for the movie Das Boot. A German stronghold, La Rochelle was the last French city to be freed at the end of the War.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Germany - Das Boot

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