paris

[wendy]

in which year did Paris become the capital of France

[mikewith]

The Parisii tribe first settled on what became the Ile de la Cite in the second Iron Age. It developed into Lutetia (as fans of Asterix & Obelix will remember) and prospered under Rome. In the fifth century it was the capital of the Frankish king Clovis - but capital of a relatively small area that no-one would describe as 'France'. Paris declined under the Carolingians (including Charlemagne, who moved his capital to Aix). In 987 Hugues Capet made Paris his capital...through "France" still wasn't quite complete that early.