History of Beauvais and its surroundings

During Antiquity, Beauvais contained a fortified fortress whose name Caesaromagus is translated to Caesar’s market. Beauvais, the Gallic capital of the Bellovaques, was destroyed in 275. It was rebuilt in 328 and became a center of Roman Christianity, especially during the Middle Age, when the bishopric of Beauvais was simultaneously managing the ecclesiastical and political functions. In the Carolingian period, Beauvais saw its economic activities revolve around the textile industry. Among the oldest French communes, this increasingly prosperous city gradually acquires rights to promote its industry. Textile is a major financial power for the city. The cloth of Beauvais spread the fame of the city as far as the east. The textile industry here brings to life dyers, finishers, shearers, dressers, etc. A group of 80 families look over the workers who run these activities 24 hours a day. At the dawn of the industrial revolution, Beauvais remained faithful to its textile activities. The local leaders are mostly drawn from the narrow circle of these traders, constituting a bourgeoisie that will take control of the politics. Workshops are multiplying. The Beaujais artisans work all kinds of wool coming from different corners of the world, especially from London. Corporations are enriched by hierarchical trades. During this period, the king received the workers to put an end to the social quarrels. These times of nascent flourishing economy developed within a framework of religious omnipresence are conducive to constructions, notably the setting up of churches and cathedrals. Indeed, an artistic life developed and inspired the creation of monuments such as the church dedicated to Saint-Étienne, located near the Grand-Place, was completed around 1220. At the end of the 18th century, the decline of such an active city began. Its economic activities are undergoing the industrial revolution, leading to a delay in urbanization. Beauvais is served by a railway line only belatedly, compared to the neighboring towns of Lille and Rouen. At the beginning of the 20th century, Beauvais was counting 20,000 inhabitants. Its population has doubled within 50 years. From one war to the next, this martyr city suffered exceptional prejudice with severe difficulties of supply. During this war, the headquarters of command of the Allied armies is in this city of the Oise, by decision of the Allied troops. There were 8 bombings.