History of Rennes

Although the tribe's name - from the Celtic root red cognate with ride suggesting the Riedones were known for their horsemanship - would eventually default to their chief township ultimately yielding the name of the modern city of Rennes, the chief township of the Riedones was contemporaneously referred to as Condate a Celtic term for confluence which was utilised to designate numerous towns in ancient Gaul.

[citation needed] Early in the 1st century BC, the Riedones adopted the Greek and Roman practice of issuing coinage,[1] adapting the widely imitated gold staters of Philip II of Macedon, in the characteristic Celtic coin metal alloy called billon.

One of the earliest bishops of Rennes, Melaine - who would become the city's patron saint - played an important role in the peace treaty between the Franks and the Armoricans in 497.

From the 5th century, Bretons occupied the western part of the Armorican peninsula, which was resultantly known as Brittany (i.e. Little Britain), while the Franks took the rest of Armorica.

During the Breton War of Succession (1356–57), Henry of Grosmont (duke of Lancaster), cousin of the English king, laid siege to Rennes, but Bertrand du Guesclin penetrated the city and commandeered the resistance with ultimate victory.

In 1491, the French army of Charles VIII, led by General Louis II de la Trémoille, unsuccessfully attacked Rennes.

The resulting treaty of Rennes of 15 November 1491 dictated her marriage to Charles VIII and brought Brittany into the French kingdom.

Anne zealously guarded Brittany's autonomy and the treaty promised that justice would continue to be dispensed according to practices, usages and customs maintained and observed heretofore.

Later, Rennes endured heavy bombing by the US and Royal Air Forces in March and May 1943, and again in June 1944, causing hundreds of deaths.

Patton's army freed the capital of Brittany on 4 August, as retreating German troops blew up the bridges behind them, adding further damage.