Our earliest named Metz ancestor is said to have been born ‘near Metz’ now in France. At the time our German Document was penned, probably in the mid 1800’s, Metz would have been under French government but by 1871 was annexed to Germany. Knowing those two facts piqued my interest in discovering the history of this important location in our family history.

Below find selected events from the history of Metz

The recorded history of Metz goes back over 3000 years. Metz was originally a location occupied by the Mediomatrici, a Gallic tribe. Metz became an important area for trading. The name of the city is derived from this tribe. Later, the Romans occupied the town and it was one of the principal towns in Gaul, and was in fact larger than what is today Paris. The city was rich, largely because of its wine exports. It had one of the largest amphitheaters in Gaul and a lengthy aqueduct to bring water to the baths. The Roman fortified town was also at the junction of several military roads.

In 69 CE Roman troops passing through on their way to Italy massacred some 4000 innocent civilians.

As the Roman empire began to wane, the barbarian Alemanni and Franks (Germanic Tribes) began to raid and Metz was destroyed by the Huns in the 5th century. Metz, however, was one of the last Roman fortifications to surrender to the Germanic tribes.

After the death of King Clovis in 511 Metz became the capital of the Austrasian Kingdom. Austrasia was a historical region which encompassed what is today most of western Europe. Metz also became an ecclesiastical center and for a time was the capital of Lorraine. By the late middle ages Metz became part of the Holy Roman Empire and was granted semi-independent status as the Bishops of Metz increased their political status.

The Gregorian Chant was created in Metz and is still the oldest form of music still in use in Western Europe. Metz was also an important center for illumination of manuscripts.

During the First Crusade in 1096, Metz was the scene of a massacre of Jews who refused to convert to Catholicism.

In 1189 Metz achieved status as a Free Imperial City, greatly curtailing the power of the Catholic bishops in the city, and they ultimately left for another area. Metz was then organized as the Republic of Metz with three legislatures and during this era became prosperous. The Republic of Metz ruled until the 15th century despite frequent wars with surrounding dukedoms and kingdoms.

In 1552, Metz passed into the hands of the Kings of France, but unsuccessful attempts were made by the Austrian Emperor to reconquer the city. However, the Republic of Metz ended in 1634 as the French king enforced his rule over the city. When the Thirty-years war ended in 1648, Metz was further fortified and became an regional capital.

The 1700s brought further importance as the population supported the ideals of the Enlightenment and later French revolution. High level meetings were held there to towards supporting the American Revolution and future revolutionary leaders were decorated by the National Academy of Metz for their writings supporting education of underprivileged people and religious tolerance.

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) Metz was headquarters of the French Army and was besieged at by the Prussians. The first airmail carrier was launched during the siege. The French ultimately surrendered Metz to the Germans, and Metz became a German garrison town. Metz was annexed into the newly crated German Empire and became part of the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine. The Germans built additional fortifications around the city.

Following the armistice with Germany ending World War I, Metz returned to France under the Treaty of Versailles.

After the Battle of France in 1940 during the Second World War, the city was annexed once more, by the German Third Reich. Hitler celebrated Christmas 1940 in Metz although the local residents largely reject German occupation and the French Resistance were highly active. General Patton and the US Army attacked the city in 1944 and faced heavy resistance from the defending Germans. The Battle of Metz lasted for several weeks and was finally captured by the Americans in 1944. Metz reverted back to France after the war ended.