Trier
Trier is the ancient city of the Treveri, an ancient people who made their home in the lower valley of the Moselle. From the very beginning, the Treveri had a specially relationship with the Moselle, and that relationship was maintained even as the region was conquered by the Romans and made into the city of Trier. Situated at the right bank of the Moselle, this once-bustling Roman city is now a shadow of its former self. It is home to several monasteries, including St. Maximinus, located just outsdie the northern wall. It exists on several Roman roads that keep it connected to other, more important cities in Francia, such as Metz. And perhaps most significantly of all, it remains the only human point of contact with the spirit of the Moselle.
Demographics
The ancient city of Trier is inhabited by a mixture of Franks and Gallo-Romans (who have intermixed themselves over the past four centuries), but unlike in other cities in Francia, a small subset of Gallo-Romans continues to preserve their historic identity. This can usually be seen in naming practices. While Frankish and Germanic names are most common, residents of Trier who trace their ancestry to the old Gallo-Roman families continue to use Roman names and a small subset of Gallo-Romans inhabiting the Thermae district of Trier continue to speak Romance in addition to the local Frankish language.
Districts
Trier is divided into multiple disticts both within and outside of the ancient city walls. Here are the descriptions of the districts that factor into Francia's stories so far:
The Cathedral District
The elites of the city inhabit the north end to the west of St. Peter's Cathedral. This neighborhood began to be redeveloped in the seventh century following the decline of extramural villas and the move of elites into the city walls. Around the same time, military leaders and skilled professionals who made their fortune in urban businesses began building residences in this district as well. Easy access to the Archbishop of Trier, easily the first citizen of the city going back at least three hundred years, made this area an attracted place to live for elites. The architecture is a mix of repurposed Roman buildings and newly-constructed homes made from stone reused from crumbling buildings. Houses are large but close to the rode and easily noticed on the main thoroughfare that leads to the Cathedral.
The Thermae (Baths) District
The area around the ancient imperial baths, which are no longer in use, is largely inhabited by a small number of ancient Gallo-Roman families who have inhabited the city for generations upon generations. They largely keep to themselves, even speaking a version of Romance alongside the Frankish dialect spoken locally. It is said that some of these ancient families maintain the secrets of the Moselle River, whose waters they can access through the baths themselves. No one outside of this insular group is entirely sure what that means, and as the baths themselves have been shuttered for over a century, no one can easily access the facility to see for themselves.
St. Maximinus Outside the Walls
The Abbey of St. Maximinus and outlying areas is technically a district of Trier, but due to its location outside the city walls it functions as a separate community. Residents of this area are the monks and nuns of St. Maximinus, including the abbot who occupies a separate residence on the grounds of the abbey, and small village of peasants who work the land outside of the abbey walls. These peasants often attend liturgies in the abbey's chapel rather than venture all the way into the city for feast days.
History
Founded in the second millenium BCE by the mythical Assyrian king Trebeta, Trier was home to the Treveri until their conquest by Julius Caesar. The Roman empire founded the city Augusta Treverorum in 58 BCE as a decent-sized walled city. Although on the northern reaches of the empire, Trier was a truly Roman city. It became an imperial residence during the later Roman centuries and it was then that its greatest landmarks, the Imperial Baths and the Cathedral of Saint Peter were built. After the fall of the Roman empire in the west, Trier fell into the hands of the Francia, but it retained its Roman identity into the middle ages. Frankish rulers established their authority in other, neighboring cities, leaving Trier to fade into insignificance. Meanwhile, Roman nobles such as the Nicetii (the family of Stephen's friend Lucius) maintained villas in the areas around the city into the early seventh century. These old Roman families, many of whom had been reduced to peasant status by the Carolingian period, were the sole keepers of the secrets of the mighty Moselle River, the source of power in the region. While Trier was not a politically significant city in Francia, it became a site of several monasteries, such as St. Maximinus, located outside the Roman walls. Without a member of the ruling family in residence at Trier, its most important resident became its Archbishop. These were church leaders who effectively oversaw the entire community from the Cathedral. The monasteries, though independent establishments, ultimately had to answer to the Archbishop.
Geography
Trier is situated on the right bank of the Moselle River and is located in the river's valley. Along with providing a source of water, the Moselle also links Trier to the larger (and in Francia more significant) city of Metz. The Moselle is also the ancieint protector of the Treveri, and ancient Roman families continue to guard the river's secrets even as they are unknown to the ruling powers of Francia.
This fantasy "Trier" is based upon the historical Trier (the site of the modern city), but a fair amount of details - especially the fantastical - are products of my imagination.
Founded By
Romans
Romans
Founding Date
16 BCE as Colonia Augusta Treverorum
Type
City
Population
7500 in the city and its hinterlands
Related Ethnicities
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