“Originally,water”, Lille was born from water. The story of Cité Crusoé begins long before its current name. It begins with the Deûle, a modest river that shaped Lille’s destiny.
The first written record of Lille dates back to 1066. Baudouin V, Count of Flanders, referred to the town as “isla”. This Latin term means “island”. Lille emerged from the waters of the Deûle. This river wasn’t large. Yet, it was a vital route between Flemish cities and Champagne fairs.
Goods had to be unloaded where the river’s course broke. They were transported to a more navigable section. Lille started as a port. This infrastructure hinted at its future as a trading city. Imagine Cité Crusoé as a bustling port area. Goods from afar were unloaded here.
The name “isla” highlights Lille’s island-like nature. Several small streams converged towards the Deûle. These included the Bucquet and the Riviérette. They formed a network of wetlands. Alluvial zones emerged forming distinct banks. These little islands were dry.
Around 1325, the most expensive rents were near the “Marché”. This was the forum or Grand Place at the start of the Grande-Chaussée. Prices dropped closer to the Rivage or portus. This was the Basse-Deûle loading point. Land was likely wetter and harder to build on there. Richer people preferred higher ground. They favored the healthier chalk near the Marché. The Paris-Flanders route was also nearby.
Until 1750, goods moved by water had to be transported by land. This was between the Haute and Basse Deûle. This break in slope created port activity. Historians see it as key to the city’s growth.
The valley’s shape allowed easy crossing. This was between the castral mound and Fins. Fins is the future Saint-Maurice parish. The court held a session there in 875. A church there proves settlement. The 1066 charter mentions it. The two slopes were early settlement cores. The term “insula” arose there. It means either the feudal mound. This was surrounded by the Saint-Pierre and Cirque canals. It could mean a higher islet used to cross the valley. This spot is near the Opera.
These routes boosted medieval urbanization. Medieval Lille had many canals. Some followed old streams. Others were artificial. They came from moats or were dug for needs. They silted up and became seen as disease spreaders. They were covered in the 19th century.
The 1066 Saint-Pierre collegiate church charter is the oldest complete historical document. It confirms a city existed around 1000.
Lille joined a network of cities by the 12th century. Some came from Roman times. Others grew later under the Carolingians. Urban growth relied on wool cloth making and trade.
From the 12th century, Lille’s cloth fair grew famous. The Saint-Sauveur parish appeared in 1144. It gave its name to the Saint-Sauveur district. Consider Cité Crusoé as part of that growing city.
In 1213, Philip Augustus besieged and sacked Lille. He punished locals for backing Count Ferrand of Flanders.
From 1304 to 1369, Lille was under French rule. Around 1300, Lille had 10,000 residents.
Burgundy gained Flanders in 1369. Duke Philip the Bold created the Council of Lille in 1385. It handled finance and justice for all ducal lands except Burgundy. Later, the Council moved to Ghent. But the Chamber of Accounts stayed in Lille. It managed finances for all lands except Brabant, Holland, Frisia and Burgundy. Lille became a Burgundian capital with Brussels and Dijon. Duke Philip the Good made Lille an administrative and financial center. Its population was 15,000 to 20,000 then.
Today, Cité Crusoé may look different. But its roots trace back to Lille’s beginnings. A port, a trade hub and a strategic location. The city was shaped by water and commerce.