Place de la République

You’ve reached the Place de la République, a charming central square buzzing with cafés and restaurants. The statue right in the middle depicts a knight in chainmail; it’s Raimbaud II of Orange, not to be confused with Arthur Raimbaud, our national poet! The name probably doesn’t ring a bell, so allow me to introduce you to the first Count of Orange. He’s also known as Raimbaud III or Raimbaud of Nice, because at the time he was also Viscount of Nice. He was born here, around 1066, and died on the Crusades, in Jerusalem, around 1100 AD. He was among the first to set foot in Jerusalem, and is considered one of the heroes of the siege. The siege of Jerusalem was a major event, as it marked the end of the First Crusade and the creation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem by the Christians. They took the city from the Fatimid Arabs, who in turn had taken it from the Seljuk Turks, who in turn had taken it from those who had come before them. So there you have it – Raimbaud II or III or of Nice, first Count of Orange, at your service.