Common Name: | Ancient Rome |
Native Name: | Condate Riedonum |
Alt Map: | Excavation of a temple in the Jacobin Convent's northern courtyard. |
Year End: | 4th century AD |
Year Start: | 1st century AD |
Today: | |
Era: | Ancient history |
Condate Riedonum is the Gallo-Roman name for the city of Rennes in France. It was the main city and capital of the civitas Riedonum in Roman Gaul.
Condate is a toponym of Gaulish origin which refers to a river confluence.[1] Riedonum comes from the tribe of the Riedones, of which Condate was the capital. This epithet was only used after the Roman conquest of the region.[2]
After the Roman conquest of Gaul, Condate Riedonum became the main city of its civitas. Its name is mentioned on both the Antonine Itinerary and Tabula Peutingeriana.[3]
During the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, Pax Romana allowed the city to develop. But tensions within the Roman Empire between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD had repercussions on the economy and expansion of the city, now reduced to a core. Around this core, the medieval city was organized under the influence of Christianity. The city became Christian during the 6th and 7th centuries AD. The creation of a bishopric in Rennes led to new monastic settlements. Necropolises in the city were Christianized and new places of worship were built, including the and .[4]