Everything about Martigny totally explained
Martigny (
German Martinach,
Latin Octodurum, sometimes also
Octodure in
French) is the capital of the
French-speaking district of
Martigny in the
canton of
Valais in
Switzerland.
It lies at an elevation of 475 meters. Its population is of approximately 15000 inhabitants (
Martignerains or "Octoduriens"). Martigny is located at a crossroad between
Italy,
France and
Switzerland, one road linking this town over the
Great St. Bernard Pass to
Aosta (Italy), and the other one, over the
col de la Forclaz to
Chamonix (France). In winter, Martigny is appreciated for its nearby ski resorts like
Verbier.
History
In the
first century BCE, present-day Martigny was an
oppidum or
vicus of a
Celtic tribe, the
Veragri. It was then called
Octodurus or
Octodurum. When
Julius Caesar was in
Gaul (
57-
56 BCE), he sent
Servius Galba with the
twelfth legion and some cavalry into the country of the
Nantuates,
Veragri, and
Seduni. His purpose in sending this force was to open the pass over the
Alps, the pass of the
Great St. Bernard, by which road the
mercatores had been used to travel at great risk, and with the payment of great tolls. (
B. G. iii. 1.) The people of the Alps allowed the
Italian merchants to pass, because if they plundered them the merchants wouldn't come; but they got as much out of them as they could. Galba, after taking many strong places, and receiving the submission of the people, sent off two cohorts into the country of the Nantuates, and with the remaining cohorts determined to winter in Octodurus, which town being situated in a valley with no great extent of level ground near it, is confined on all sides by very lofty mountains. There is some level ground at Martigny, and the valley of the Rhone at this part isn't very narrow. Caesar says that the town of Octodurus was divided into parts by a river, but he doesn't mention the river's name. It is the
Dranse. Galba gave one part of the town to the
Galli to winter in, and assigned the other to his troops. He fortified himself with a ditch and rampart, and thought he was safe. He was, however, suddenly attacked by the Galli before his defences were complete or all his supplies were brought into the camp. Thus began the
Battle of Octodurus. The
Romans obstinately defended themselves in a six hours' fight; when, seeing that they could no longer keep the enemy out, they made a sortie, which was successful. The Romans estimated the Galli at more than 30,000, and Caesar says that more than a third part were destroyed. The slaughter of the enemy was prodigious, which has been made an objection to Caesar's veracity, or to Galba's, who made his report to the commander. It has also been objected that the valley isn't wide enough at Martigny to hold the 30,000 men. There may be error in the number that attacked, and also in the number who perished. After this escape Galba prudently withdrew his troops, and marching through the country of the Nantuates reached the land of the
Allobroges, where he wintered.
The region joined the
Roman Empire. In
47, Emperor
Claudius founded
Forum Claudii Augusti, later renamed
Forum Claudii Vallensium to avoid confusion with another city that was dear to him. Octodurus was the principal town of the area until the displacement of the episcopal see to
Sion in the
4th century.
Pliny (iii. c. 20) says that the Octodurenses received the
Latinitas (
Latio donati). The town appears in the
Antonine Itinerary and in the
Tabula Peutingeriana. In the
Notit. Prov., the place is called
Civitas Vallensium Octodurus. At a later period it was called
Forum Claudii Vallensium Octodurensium, as an inscription shows. One authority speaks of the remains of a Roman aqueduct at Martigny. Many coins, and other memorials of the Roman time, have been found about the place.
The name
Octodur is manifestly
Celtic. The second part of the name is
Dur, water. The first part, probably some corrupt form, isn't explained. The town sat on the Roman road from Augusta Praetoria (modern
Aosta) in Italy.
Present situation
The Romans left many archaeological remains. The city is known for its
amphitheatre, which was restored in 1978.
Cow fights are held in the amphitheatre during early autumn for the "Comptoir". The city is also famous for its museum, the
Pierre Gianadda Foundation, built on top of Roman ruins. The foundation hosts three painting exhibitions every year, with works by renowned masters. It also has permanent automobile and
Gallo-Roman exhibitions.
The area has some
apricot orchards, and vines on steep slopes which drain into the Dranse (a tributary of the
Rhône River) west of the city.
Notable Martignerain
Gallery
Image:IMG_0338.jpeg|Downtown Martigny
Image:HotelduParc.jpg|View from Hotel du Parc
Image:Cowfight1.jpg|Cow fight in the amphitheatre
Image:IMG 0341.jpeg|Bull Statue in Center of Martigny
Image:LaubenGaengeMartigny.jpg|Main square
Image:Fondation Gianadda.jpg|Fondation Gianadda
Further Information
Get more info on 'Martigny'.
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