he Renaming of Lutetia to Paris (360 CE)

In 360 CE, Lutetia, the Roman city on the Île de la Cité, was officially renamed Paris, adopting the name of the Gallic Parisii tribe that had once inhabited the region.

1. The Origins of the Name "Paris"

• The Parisii were a Gallic tribe that had settled along the Seine River before the Roman conquest of Gaul in the 1st century BCE.
• While the Romans named their city Lutetia, the local population continued to use "Parisii" as an ethnic and regional identifier.
• The term "Parisiacus" had already been used for centuries as an adjective, referring to things related to the Parisii or Lutetia.

2. Julian and the Renaming of the City

• The renaming of Lutetia to Paris occurred during the reign of Julian, who was serving as Caesar in Gaul at the time.
• Julian had used Lutetia as his winter quarters in 357 CE, after securing a major victory over the Alamanni at the Battle of Strasbourg.
• By 360 CE, he had been proclaimed Augustus by his troops while in Lutetia, further elevating the city’s status.

3. The Significance of the Name Change

• The name change from Lutetia to Paris reflected the enduring influence of Gallic heritage in the region.
• It marked a shift from the older Roman designation to one more closely tied to local identity.
• This renaming foreshadowed the later importance of Paris as a medieval and modern capital, becoming the heart of the Frankish and later French kingdoms.

4. Conclusion: The Birth of Paris as a Lasting Identity

• The transition from Lutetia to Paris in 360 CE signaled the city's growing regional prominence.
• Although still a Roman city, Paris retained its Gallic roots, a blend of Roman and indigenous traditions that would shape its future identity.
• Over time, Paris would rise to become one of the most significant cities in European history, a transformation that began with its renaming in the late Roman period.