Ancient history and Roman Empire
The Celtic Mediomatrici tribe was ruler of the city from 450 BC until the Roman conquest, making the town its principal oppidum. The city became an important centre of trading for metal and terracotta. With the conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, Metz came under Roman rule and was integrated into the Roman Empire.
As a well-fortified town at the junction of several military roads, Metz became one of the principal towns of Gaul, more populous than Lutetia (ancestor of present-day Paris), and rich thanks to its wine exports. The city had one of the largest amphitheatres in Gaul, and an aqueduct of 23 km (14.29 mi) and 118 arches, extending from Gorze to Metz, was constructed in the 2nd century AD to supply the thermae with water.
The first barbarian depredations into the city by the Alemanni and Franks started during the 3rd century AD.] The city was sacked by the Huns of Attila in 451. One of the last Roman strongholds to surrender to the Germanic tribes, Metz passed into the hands of the Franks about the end of the 5th century.
The capital of the Austrasia and Lotharingia kingdoms
Since King Sigibert I, Metz was frequently the residence of the Merovingian kings of Austrasia.When the Carolingians acceded to the Frankish throne, the town preserved the good-will of the rulers as it had long been a base of their family and their primal ancestors; Saint Arnuff and Chlodulf had been bishops of Metz. So, Emperor Charlemagne considered making Metz his imperial capital, before he finally decided in favor of Aachen. His sons, King Louis the Pious and Bishop Drogo of Metz, were buried in the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains in 840 and 855, respectively.
.Consecutively to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, Metz became the capital of the kingdom of Lotharingia ruled by Emperor Lothair I. After the death of his son, King Lothair II, Lotharingia and
