History
Toul was known to the Romans as Tullum Leucorum, and was the capital of the Gaulish tribe of the Leuci.
In 612, King Theudebert II of Austrasia was defeated by King Theuderic II of Burgundy near Toul. By the Treaty of Meerssen of 870, Toul became part of East Francia, the later Holy Roman Empire. During the High Middle Ages, it became a Free Imperial City. Toul was annexed to France by King Henry II in 1552; this was recognized by the Holy Roman Empire in the Peace of Westphalia of 1648. It then was a part of the French province of the Three Bishoprics.
During the siege of 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, the last time that Toul's defenses were used as a classic fortress, 64 guns opened fire at 6:00 a.m. on 23 September, and the fortress surrendered at 3:00 p.m. after 2,433 shells had been fired.
Toul was the seat of the bishops of Toul; the diocese was founded around 365 and existed until 1807.
The city was also the primary base of the United States Air Service - predecessor to the United States Air Force - during World War I. As such, it was a base for many of the 45 war time squadrons including the squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group, 1st Observation Group and others. The Americans referred to the area around Toul as the Toul Sector. Two large operations were launched from this area: the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive, both in September.
| Imperial City of Toul | |||||
| Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire | |||||
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| Capital | Toul | ||||
| Government | Republic | ||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||
| - | Gained Reichsfreiheit | Uncertain Enter start year | |||
| - | Three Bishoprics annexed by France |
1552 1552 |
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| - | Treaty of Westphalia recognises annexation |
1648 |
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