The name of Carpentras appears in ancient forms (Carbantorate, Carpentoracte, Carpentoratensium, etc.) during the first century of our era. It comes from the Celtic carbanto (chariot) and rate (fortress), suggesting that the city was originally destined to be a fortress watching over the passage of chariots on the ford of the Auzon river at the foot of the historical center's hill. The site of a large market and a place of exchange on the road between Italy and the north of Gaul, Carpentras hosted an episcopal seat during Christianization. Later the capital of Comtat Venaissin, the city was attached to France on September 14, 1791. Initially integrated into the Drôme department, it became the sub-prefecture of Vaucluse following the creation of the new department on August 12, 1793.