Charleville-Mézières
[key], town, capital of Ardennes dept., NE France, on the Meuse River, in
Champagne. It was formed in 1966 when the twin cities of Charleville and
Mézières were merged, along with three small communities. It
is a commercial center and railway hub with a variety of heavy and light
manufactures. Mézières was an old fortified town, founded in
the 9th cent.; Charleville was founded (1606) by, and named for, Charles de
Gonzague, duke of Rethel. The area has often been captured by the Germans
(1815, 1870, 1914, 1940), and Mézières in particular suffered
heavy damage in both World Wars. Its recovery (1918) by the Allies marked
the last major battle of World War I.
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