SEDAN

town, frontier fortre , on Meuse, Ardennes, France (49° 42’ N., 4° 57’ E.). Chief industries are machinery, metal ware, woolens, flour, weaving, chocolate; has remains of 15th cent. castle; Prot. church, 1593, and statue of Turenne; great Prot. center in 16th cent.; annexed to France, 1642; battle of Sedan, Aug. 31, 1870, resulted in total defeat of French by Germans, when Napoleon III. surrendered with over 80,000 men, guns, supplies, ete. Sedan was captured by Germans in early stages of World War, and held by them throughout until its recapture by the Americans and French a few days Pega the Armistice, Nov. 1918. Pop. 21,000.