History of Lyon Timeline

In the late fifteenth century, the two most heavily populated areas were the right bank of the Saône and along the old Via Mercatoria running from the bridge over the Saône to the Guillotière bridge over the Rhone, home to an urban middle class.

During the reign of Louis XI four annual Lyon fairs were established, which drew merchants from all over Europe, especially Italy and Florence in particular.

Image source: Louis XI

By 1473, the new technology of the printing press had reached Lyon and the workshops were concentrated on rue Mercière on the peninsula between the two rivers.

Image source: Rue Mercière

Lyon was caught up in the religious wars and in 1562 was seized by Protestant troops.

Image source: French Wars of Religion

The Treaty of Lyon concluded a war and resulted in large parts of the Dukedom of Savoy being added to the French kingdom.

Image source: Treaty of Lyon (1601)

During the 17th and 18th centuries Lyon's preeminence in silk production was unchallenged, with inventors like Vaucanson and Jacquard making far-reaching contributions to this industry.

Image source: Silk industry in Lyon

During the 18th century the expansion resulting from increased prosperity indicated the need for a measure of systematic town planning, carried out by planners and architects such as de Cotte, Soufflot, Morand, and Antoine-Michel Perrache.

As in all the then French Kingdom, the French Revolution in 1789 brought a brutal halt to expansion in Lyon.

Image source: French Revolution

During the French Revolution, 2000 people were shot or decapitated in Lyon.

Image source: Reign of Terror

In 1793, Lyon chose to support the Girondists against the Convention, in what became known as the revolt of Lyon against the National Convention and was considered too royalist.

Image source: Revolt of Lyon against the National Convention

Though the Canut revolts – the revolt of silk weavers – tarnished the era, Lyon enjoyed an undeniable power which it carried into the 20th century.

Image source: Canut revolts

The end of the 19th century was marked by a strong anarchist presence in the city, to the point that the city was considered one of the movement's capitals during that era.

Image source: Anarchism in France

On 23 October 1882, the Assommoir restaurant was targeted by Fanny Madignier and other anarchists. The bombing was carried out as vengeance against the Lyonnese bourgeoisie for the ongoing repression of the anarchist movement, accused of being linked to the Montceau-les-Mines troubles and the Black Band.

Image source: Assommoir bombing

The Assommoir attack served as the pretext for the Trial of the 66 in January 1883.

In 1894, French president Sadi Carnot, who had attracted the ire of anarchists, was assassinated on his way to the Exposition universelle, internationale et coloniale at the Parc de la Tête d'or.

Image source: Assassination of Sadi Carnot

Under the long-standing leadership of Édouard Herriott (1905–1957), postwar elections represented a significant political moment. In the first municipal elections after the war, held in 1945, a broad alliance formed around Herriot, bringing together the MRP, the CGT, and the PCF.

Image source: Édouard Herriot

By the constituent elections for the Fourth Republic in October 1945, the Radical Party experienced a substantial decline, finishing fourth in most districts.

Image source: Radical Party (France)

Édouard Herriot was elected mayor in 1947 and again in 1953, although in both cases without an absolute majority.

The PCF's relative isolation contributed to the dominance of the Rally of the French People (RPF) in Lyon, particularly in the municipal elections of 1947 and the legislative elections of 1951, surpassing both the SFIO and the Radical Party.

Image source: Rally of the French People

By 1947, in line with the national political climate shaped by the early Cold War, the French Communist Party withdrew from alliances and positioned itself in opposition to other major political forces.

Image source: French Communist Party

Local branches of the PCF supported the strikes that occurred in November 1947.

A large crowd attended Édouard Herriot's funeral in March 1957, marking the end of an era in Lyonnais politics.

Candidates from the Union for the New Republic won most available seats in the 1958 and 1962 elections, and General de Gaulle's proposals received broad support.

In the 1965 presidential election, the left-wing candidate François Mitterrand outperformed de Gaulle in the eastern and southern suburbs of Lyon.

Image source: 1965 French presidential election

In 1968, Lyon and the surrounding communes were incorporated into a new intercommunal structure, initially called Courly and later renamed Grand Lyon.

Image source: Metropolis of Lyon

In the 1971 and 1973 elections, moderate right-wing forces, organized around the mayor, won, but with a narrower margin than in the previous decade.

Following the death of Louis Pradel in 1976, his designated successor, Francisque Collomb, established his position and won the 1977 municipal elections, with lists still associated with the P.R.A.D.E.L.

Image source: Francisque Collomb

Between 1946 and 1968, the city's population increased from 442,000 to 527,000 inhabitants, representing a 20% rise. Modernization led to several major infrastructure projects, including the creation of the La Part-Dieu business district, the construction of the Fourvière highway tunnel, and the inauguration of the metro system in 1978.

Image source: Lyon Metro

This trend culminated in 1981, when Lyon largely followed the national pattern by supporting the left-wing presidential candidate and electing six Socialist deputies out of ten constituencies.

Image source: 1981 French presidential election

Census data indicate that the population of Lyon increased from 415,500 in 1990 to 445,400 in 1999, and then to 479,800 in 2009.

In June 2000, the airport was renamed Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport.

Image source: Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport