The New Student's Reference Work/Sedan

Sedan (sē̇-dăn′), a town and frontier fortress of France, stands on the Meuse, 64 miles northeast of Rheims. The citadel surrendered to the Germans in 1815; but Sedan is chiefly noted for the surrender, Sept. 2, 1870, of Napoleon III and 86,000 men to the Germans in the Franco-Prussian War. The Germans, under the command of King William of Prussia, began the battle on September 1. By manœuvers and hard fighting the French under Marshal MacMahon were driven from all sides to the fortress, where, defeated, surrounded and without provisions, they were forced to surrender. The emperor was sent a prisoner to Wilhelmshöhe, and two days later Gambetta proclaimed the republic at Paris. Colbert founded at Sedan cloth-mills, which now employ 10,000 men. Sedan-chairs were named from this town, where they are said to have been invented. Population 19,350.