<sod>  ==History==
 
 In the [[3rd century]] AD, the area was the site of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] ''[[castrum]]'', named ''Lapurdum''. It was a military place, but not a port.
In 840, the Vikings appeared in front of Lapurdum. In 842, they launched a huge offensive very deeply inland and settle outside the city on the river bank. Lapurdum is an oppidum and they need a port. Their leader Björn gave his name to this port. Björhamn became "Baionam" and finally "Baiona". Björnhamn is a key place on the route between river Adour et river Ebro, between, Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean sea. This commercial route was the main goal of danish invaders in France. They could esasily reach Tortosa in Spain which was the main market place in Europe dealing with slaves. 
 
 
 By the [[12th century]], the city, now known as Bayonne, was an important port, with a mixed [[Basque people|Basque]] and [[Gascon]] population. As part of [[Aquitaine]], it was ruled by [[England]] between [[1151]] to [[1452]] and was a key commercial centre at the southern end of the English kingdom.
 <eod> <sod> ==History==
 
 In the [[3rd century]] AD, the area was the site of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] ''[[castrum]]'', named ''Lapurdum''. It was a military place, but not a port.
In 840, the Vikings appeared in front of Lapurdum. In 842, they launched a huge offensive very deeply inland and settled outside the city on the river bank. Lapurdum is an oppidum and they needed a port. Their leader Björn gave his name to this port. Björhamn became "Baionam" and finally "Baiona". Björnhamn is a key place on the route between river Adour et river Ebro, between, Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean sea. This commercial route was the main goal of danish invaders in France. They could esasily reach Tortosa in Spain which was the main market place in Europe dealing with slaves. 
 
 
 By the [[12th century]], the city, now known as Bayonne, was an important port, with a mixed [[Basque people|Basque]] and [[Gascon]] population. As part of [[Aquitaine]], it was ruled by [[England]] between [[1151]] to [[1452]] and was a key commercial centre at the southern end of the English kingdom.
 <eod>