Editing Autun (section)

===Early history===
[[Image:Théâtre romain Autun.JPG|thumb|left|Roman theatre]]
[[File:Temple Janus angle.jpg|thumb|left|Janus Temple]]
Augustodunum was founded during the reign of the first [[Roman emperor]], [[Augustus]], after whom it was named. It was the [[civitas]] "tribal capital" of the Aedui, Continental [[Celts]] who had been allies and "brothers" (''{{lang|la|fratres}}'') of Rome since before [[Julius Caesar]]'s [[Gallic Wars]]. Augustodunum was a planned foundation replacing the original [[oppidum]] [[Bibracte]], located some {{cvt|25|km}} away. Several elements of Roman architecture such as walls, gates, and a Roman theater are still visible in the town.

In AD&nbsp;356, a force of [[Alemanni]] brought the [[siege of Autun]]. The disrepair of the walls left the city in danger of falling. Autun was saved by the arrival of the [[Julian (emperor)|Emperor Julian]] in one of his early military successes. In [[Late Antiquity]], Autun became famous for its schools of [[rhetoric]]. A world map based on the [[Geography (Ptolemy)|''Geography'']] of [[Ptolemy]] was famous for its size and was displayed in the [[portico]] of one of the schools. It may have survived until early modern times.<ref>John Brian Harley, David Woodward, ''The History of Cartography Vol I'' p. 290.</ref>

In 532, the [[Merovingian dynasty|Merovingian]] kings [[Childebert I]] and [[Chlothar I]] in [[Battle of Autun (532)|Battle of Autun]] defeated the [[Burgundians]] led by king [[Godomar]] and took over the [[Kingdom of the Burgundians|country of Burgundy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stefánik |title=Historical Atlas of the World |isbn=9781781866153 |pages=92–93}}</ref> In 642 or 643, [[Battle of Autun (640s)|another battle]] was fought near Autun between feuding Frankish noblemen.

Leger (born circa 616- died 678), was bishop of Autun. He was tortured in [[Lucheux]] (Somme) on the orders of the mayor of the [[Ebroin]] Palace, who then murdered him. Around 670 he had presided over the second council of Autun (after that of 599, which was convened by Bishop [[Syagre d'Autun|Syagre]]).<ref>« Les conciles d'Autun », article de Lucien Taupenot paru dans la revue ''Images de Saône-et-Loire'' No.&nbsp;143 de septembre 2005 (p. 14-15).</ref>

In 880, Count Richard of Autun was made the [[Richard, Duke of Burgundy|first Duke of Burgundy]].

In 1506, [[Barthélemy de Chasseneuz]] made his reputation as an attorney, defending the rats of Autun against the charge of eating the barley crop.<ref>Edward Payson Evans, ''The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals'' (1906), p. 18.</ref>