| Soissons | |
|---|---|
| Country | [image] France |
| Région | Picardie |
| Département | Aisne |
| Arrondissement | Soissons |
| Canton | Chief town of 2 cantons |
| INSEE Code | 02722 |
| Postal code | 02200 |
| Mayor Term of office | Édith Errasti 2001-2007 |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Soissonnais |
| Longitude | 03° 19' 25" E |
| Latitude | 49° 22' 54" N |
| Altitude | average: 55 m minimum: 38 m maximum: 130 m |
| Area | 12.32 km² |
| Population without double-counting | 29,453 (1999) |
| Population density | 2,390 pers/km² |
Soissons is a town and commune in the Aisne département, Picardie, France, located on the Aisne River, about 60 miles northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones.
Part of the Frankish territory of Neustria, the Soissons region, and the Abbey of Saint-Médard, built in the 8th century, played an important political part during the rule of the Merovingian kings (A.D. 447-751). After the death of Clovis I in 511, Soissons was made the capital of one of the four kingdoms into which his states were divided. Eventually, the kingdom of Soissons disappeared in 613 when the Frankish lands were amalgamated under Clotaire II.
In 744 the Synod of Soissons met at the instigation of Pippin III, and Saint Boniface, the Pope's missionary to pagan Germany, secured the condemnation of the Frankish bishop Adalbert and the Irish missionary Clement.