Consider a pathway dedicated to a figure largely forgotten by time Allée Jean Biguet. Who was Jean Biguet and why does Paris remember him with this small allée?
The Allée Jean Biguet is named to honor a person. It highlights Paris’ complex history. This history stretches from ancient settlements to a modern metropolis.
Paris began as a humble settlement. Celtic fishermen called the Parisii tribe settled around the Île de la Cité around 259 BC. They discovered the fertile banks of the River Seine. They named their new home Lutetia. Julius Caesar’s Roman army took the city in 52 BC. It became part of the Roman Empire. Later the Franks and Normans invaded. Lutetia became known as Lutetia Paris.
Around 1200 Medieval times saw work begin on city fortifications. The Louvre was included. It was to surround the medieval city. Paris was engulfed by the plague in the late 1300s. It was known as the Black Death. This killed almost half of its population. Joan of Arc led the French army in 1449. She defeated the English at Orléans. This ended almost ten years of Norman-English control. They were finally driven from France in 1453.
Paris became a thriving center of science art and architecture during the Renaissance in the late 15th century. Rifts developed between the Protestant and Catholic communities a century later. This led to the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Over 3000 Protestant Huguenots were slaughtered in one day.
Louis XIV was crowned King of France in 1643 at age 5. He enjoyed the longest reign of any European monarch. Louis XVI began his fateful rule in 1774. He was married to Marie Antoinette. She was the young daughter of the powerful Austrian Empress Maria Theresa. The couple became known for their decadence. Their political ineptitude and indifference to their people’s suffering led to revolt. The Bastille prison was stormed by an angry crowd on July 14th 1789. It was burnt to the ground. This marked the start of the French Revolution. The royal couple were sent to the guillotine in 1793. The first Republic of France was founded.
Chaos ensued. The Revolutionaries continued their reign of terror. Thousands of people were executed. Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor in 1804. He was a revolutionary General. He led a period of military success. He conquered much of North Africa. He was defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
The third Republic of France was declared in 1870. The institutions of democracy were first put in place. The Belle Époque began. This was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement. Movements like Impressionism spread. Paris became known as a cultural and artistic capital.
Nazi Germany invaded Paris in 1940. The Nazis occupied it for four years. The Allies liberated it in 1944.
So as we stand here on Allée Jean Biguet remember that every street in Paris has a story. Paris is a city of many layers. Each contributes to its unique charm. This allée is a small reminder. It speaks of the city’s long and ever-evolving story. A story of Celts Romans Kings Revolution and so much more.