Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-05-30

! III ' 80 @A40AAA .ANAA - hAAN va INV
most interesting cities OF west
ern Europe. Built on a high hill at the
junction of the Moselle and OF the
Seille, Metz, when Caesar undertook
his invasion OF Gaul. was already an
almost impregnable position. on which
the Mediomatrics, one OF the most
formidable tribes that Caesar under
took TO conquer, proceeded TO establish
their capital. which they called Duo
dorum Medlomatricorum. says the
Christian Science Monitor.
The humble huts OF these warriors
were later replaced by gorgeous Ro-
man temples and by the palaces Of the
kings Of Austrasia For in spite of their
strength and courage, the Mathematics
were unable to resist the Romans.
who transformed Duodorum into one
Of the most important strategical
points of their empire.
Great roads crossed the city In d.
verse directions, leading to Reims,
Toul, Treyes. and Strasbourg. In the
year 45l Attlla and his hordes did not
spare Mettls. as the city was then
called, and their example was followed
by the Vandals. During the Merovin-
gian dynasty It became the capital Of
the kings OF Austrasia; Charlemagne
granted to the bishops Of Metz-for
the city ever since the third century
had been the seat Of bishoprlc-sucn
extensive privileges that they soon be-
came the real lords of the town, al
though they humbly professed to be
the vassals of the emperors. At that
period Metz was self-governing, being
ruled by an alderman and council
OF thirteen, as well as by great coun-
ell Of elders.
Regained Its Independence.
In the tenth century the German en-
perors appropriated Metz, which was
ruled by Henry the Fowler in 94j. but
the Independent old city soon took ad.
vantage Of the internal dssensions
raging in the Holy empire to recover
the prerogatives II enjoyed as a free
city. Henry II Of France and his
troops occupied Metz in 1862 and de-
Tended 1t VIGOROUSLY against Charles
V, who could not resign himself to the
loss of so important stronghold |
Metz was consequently invested by an
army of 10000 men, and Ia cannon
fired 1900 shots on the city, which |
was record In bombardments at that |
period. After two months OF extraor- |
binary and untlring efforts, having lost |
a third Of his troops, the emperor
rather, the duke Of Alba who directed |
the siege-was obliged to retire. much
to the satisfaction of the French, who,
numbering only 5000 men, we're COM
manded by the Duke Francois de
Guise. Charles V then ceded Toul and
verdun to France.
The Messins had never sought to
dissimulate the love they felt for
France; later, the inhabitants OF the
valiant city declared that they would
never take up arms against the
French king Charles VIII. In 1857
the ambitious cardinal of Lorraine
was obliged to take inferior rank,
owing to the forced cession which
granted the king of France pretended
rights to the sovereignty of Metz. And
although the latter modestly assumed
the title of protector, he was, in fact.
master Of the city. 1t was only In
1858 that Henry VII officially took the
tile of sovereign lord Of Metz. In 1913
Louis Nil endowed Metz with par-
and in 1913 the treaty Of
WestphaIia definitely Incorporated
Metz. Toul, and yerdun with France