The Dream of Scipio

CHRONOLOGY

Mid fourth century AD Roman Empire divided into an Eastern Empire, based on Constantinople, and a Western Empire, based on Rome.

380 Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire.

406-9 Bqrbqriqn invqsions of Gaul.

410 Sack of Rome by Goths under Alaric.

416 Visigoths arrive in Gaul.

455 Rise of Ricimer to take control of Italy.

457 Majorian becomes emperor in the West.

461 Majorian killed on the orders of Ricimer.

472 Death of Ricimer.

475 Fall of Clermont Ferrand in centtral France to Visigoths under King Euric; Burgundians annex cities in Rhône valley; Visigoths annex the rest of Provence.

476 Deposition of Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor in the West, effective end of the Western Empire.

1310 Clement V settles in Avignon to escape civil unrest in Rome.

1328 Philip VI ascends throne of France.

1334 Start of building work on papal palace in Avignon.

1337 Outbreak of Hundred Years’ War between France and England.

1342 Pierre Roger elected pope; take the name of Clement VI.

1346 Battle of Crécy; English army under Edward III defeats French forces; large numbers of hostages taken.

1348 Arrival of Black Death; Clement successfully negotiates to buy Avignon from Joanna, Countess of Provence. Plot to deliver Aigues-Mortes to English forces fails.

1350 Death of King Philip of France.

1352 Death of Clement VI; death of Cardinal Ceccani.

1378 Church splits, with one pope in Rome, another in Avignon.

1410 Schism healed, papacy reunited and once more permanently resident in Rome.

1928 Right-wing riots in Paris nearly topple the Third Republic.

1929 Start of Great Depression.

1936 Left-wing Popular Front government in France; outbreak of Spanish Civil War.

1940 Fall of France when German army invades through the Ardennes forest; collapse of the Third Republic, with France divided into the northern part, occupied by the Germany, and the southern part, controlled by a government in Vichy led by Philippe Pétain. Launching of a “national revolution” that includes a status des juifs to limit the number of Jews in certain occupations.

1941 Germany invades Russia; United States enters war.

1942 Deportations of Jews from France commences in summer.

1942 October 10: Pétain visits Avignon.

1942 November: Operation Anton. German army marches to take control of French southern coastline.

1944 August: Allied forces invade southern France, liberation of Provence.