Reims: History, Former Names & Timeline
City in Champagne where Clovis was baptised; most later kings of France were crowned in its cathedral.
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Former names of Reims
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 50 BC | Durocortorum | capital of the Remi |
| AD 500 | Reims |
Timeline of Reims
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| AD 496 | The Frankish king Clovis is baptised by St Remigius (about this date) |
| 1211 | Work begins on Reims Cathedral |
| 1429 | Joan of Arc brings Charles VII to Reims to be crowned |
| 1825 | Charles X is crowned, the last French coronation |
| 1914 | German shelling badly damages the cathedral |
| 1945 | Germany signs its surrender at Reims |
Who ruled Reims
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 400 BC–324 BC | Hallstatt culture |
| 323 BC–2 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1 BC–299 | Roman Empire |
| 300–399 | Rome (Constantinus) |
| 400–499 | Western Roman Empire |
| 500–599 | Franks |
| 600–799 | Frankish Kingdom |
| 800–899 | Carolingian Empire |
| 900–999 | West Francia |
| 1000–1299 | Kingdom of France |
| 1300–today | France |
Battles and sites near Reims
- Battle of the Catalaunian Plains · AD 451
- Battle of Sedan · 1870
- Battle of Verdun · 1916
- Battle of the Somme · 1916
- Versailles · 1919
Famous people of Reims
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1412 – 1431 | Joan of Arc | French national heroine |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Reims
What was Reims called in the past?
Reims has been known as Durocortorum (from 50 BC, capital of the Remi). Its present name dates from AD 500.
Which states have ruled Reims?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Reims lies within 10 different states: Hallstatt culture, Roman Empire, Rome (Constantinus), Western Roman Empire, Franks, Frankish Kingdom, Carolingian Empire, West Francia, Kingdom of France, France.
What are the key dates in the history of Reims?
AD 496: The Frankish king Clovis is baptised by St Remigius (about this date). 1211: Work begins on Reims Cathedral. 1429: Joan of Arc brings Charles VII to Reims to be crowned. 1825: Charles X is crowned, the last French coronation. 1914: German shelling badly damages the cathedral.
Which famous people are connected with Reims?
Joan of Arc (french national heroine, c. 1412 – 1431).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.