Soissons

Soissons (anciently Noviodunum or Civitas Suessionum) a town of France in the department of Aisne and on the right bank of the river Aisne. A flourishing tribal centre in Cresar's time, it played an important part under the early Frankish sovereigns, and after the death of Clovis gave its name for a century to a small kingdom, which was merged in Neustria about 613. The Counts of Soissons remained powerful vassals until the 17th century, and from them sprang, in female descent, the house of Savoy-Carignan. The town is well built and chiefly modern, but the cathedral (12th to 13th century), the abbey-church of St. Leger, the remains of the ancient foundations of St. Medard, and St. Jean des Vignes, are among the most interesting monuments in France. A bishop has his seat here. Soissons has stood half a dozen sieges, resisting the Allies in 1814 and the Prussians in 1870, and has been the scene of several councils and congresses.