Périgueux

A town of France, capital of the department of Dordogne, 296 miles south-southwest from Paris. Périgueux occupies the site of the ancient Vesunna, which was at the time of the Roman invasion the capital of the Petrocorii. Under the empire, it was a place of no small importance, as it stood at the junction of five roads, and was strongly fortified. It was ceded, along with Aquitaine, to the English by Louis IX. After having been recovered by the French, the town was again lost; but it was finally taken from the English by Charles V. During the civil wars of the Reformation, it was a stronghold of the Protestants till the year 1581; and it was not till 1653 that it came into the power of the crown.