The distric of Verdun acts both as a geographic and river crossroads, and it has been occupied since time immemorial (there are also many historic and prehistoric  site e.g. Charnay, Bragny, Chauvort, Allerey, Gergy, Verjux etc.). Many people believe that that the "Treaty of Verdun", (signed in 843 AD) which divided up the empire of Charlemagne between  his three grandchildren, could actually have been signed at "Verdun sur le Doubs", instead of "Verdun sur Meuse" as it was originally thought, ... but...

What we are certain of, is that Verdun's position at the crossroads between the East and the West, the North and the South, and also being on the border between the Germanic countries and the Kingdom of France, made it the theatre of more or less murderous invasions.

To give a few examples:

• 1478: Verdun remained faithful to Marie of Bourgogne (the only daugter of "Charles the Reckless"). Charles d'Amboise, on the orders of King Louis XI, fook an army and killed all the inhabitants. He also burnt down both the hospital and the Church.
• 1522: The town was pillaged by Italian adventurers.
• 1583: German Mercenaries, in the service of France brought the plague.
• Over the next few years during the wars of the League, Verdun was captured, liberated and then taken again seveval time.
• 1590: Verdun submitted to King Henri IV.
• 1592: The viscount of Tavannes, at the head of an army of The League again tried to capture Verdun but was repulsed by Heliodore de Thiard.
• 1636: The invasion of the "Francs Comtois" with the Austrian "Imperials". On the 17th August, Glas entered Verdun and burned it to the ground. This was followed by another epidemic of the plague which decimated the population of the town.                                           
• Then closer to the present:
• 1944: On the 13th June, Verdun escaped the fate that befell "Oradour sur Glane". German soldiers surrounded the town and executed a search for eleven of their companions, who had entered the town, the day before, to mine the bridge at Bragny. These 11 men had been killed by the Resistance in Sermess. The German authorities threatened th shoot all the men, and to burn the town if thezy did not obtain the information they wanted. The population was assembled near the church. The Commandant, an Austrian, argued endlessly with Marcel Claverie, the acting mayor, who brought forth witnesses who maintained that they had seen the truck in question take the road to Sermesse before midday on the previous day. The germans left without carrying out their threats. Only two persons from Verdun were arrested because of thes events. The "Place du 13 Juin 1944" commemorates them.