POITIERS

POITIERS , capital of Vienne department, W. France. The history of the Jewish community of Poitiers is almost entirely interwoven with that of *Poitou. During the 13^th century, Nathan b. Joseph *Official was involved in a religious disputation with the bishop of Poitiers. An expulsion order against the Jews of Poitiers had already been issued in 1291 but it was canceled in exchange for a large sum of money. The community ceased to exist in 1306. The Rue de la Juiverie, the modern Rue Arsène-Orillard, was closed off by ogival gates which still existed during the 19^th century. The cemetery was situated in the present suburb of Montbernage. According to local tradition, treasures buried by the Jews lay hidden there. On the eve of World War ii, there were a few hundred Jews in Poitiers. Their numbers increased with the arrival of Jewish refugees from Alsace and Lorraine and later with the internees detained in several camps within the vicinity of the town. In 1970 the community consisted of about 100 persons.

bibliography:

Gross, Gal Jud, 452f.; Intermédiaire des chercheurs et curieux, 39 (1899), 20; 40 (1899), 1104; J. Guerinière, Essai sur l'ancien Poitou, i (1836), 491; R. Brothier de Rolliere, Poitiers – Histoire des rues (1930), 293; Z. Szajkowski, Analytical Franco-Jewish Gazetteer (1966), 284.

[Bernhard Blumenkranz]

Poitiers City on the River Clain, w central France; capital of Vienne department and chief town of Poitou-Charentes region. Poitiers was the ancient capital of the Pictones (a Gallic tribe), and an important centre of early European monasticism. In the 5th century, the city fell to the Visigoths, who were in turn defeated by the Merovingian king Clovis I (507). In 732, the Franks halted the advance of the Muslim Saracens at Poitiers. The Battle of Poitiers (1356) was an important English victory in the Hundred Years' War. The modern city possesses many historical buildings. Industries: metallurgy, printing, chemicals, electrical equipment. Pop. (2000) 83,448.

Poitiers a city in west central France, capital of the former province of Poitou. It was the site in ad 507 of the defeat of the Visigoths by Clovis and in 732 of Charles Martel's victory over the invading Muslims. In 1356 the city fell to the English forces of Edward, the Black Prince, but was reclaimed by the French some thirteen years later.