Harfleur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 49°30′26″N 0°11′56″E / 49.5072222222°N 0.198888888889°E
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Commune of Harfleur |
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| Location | |
  Harfleur
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Haute-Normandie  |
| Department | Seine-Maritime  |
| Arrondissement | Le Havre |
| Canton | Gonfreville-l'Orcher |
| Intercommunality | Le Havre |
| Mayor | François Guégan (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0–89 m (0–290 ft) (avg. 6 m/20 ft) |
| Land area1 | 4.21 km2 (1.63 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 5,297 (2006) |
| - Density | 1,258 /km² (3,260 /sq mi) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 76341/ 76700 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Harfleur is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.
It was the principal seaport in northwestern France for six centuries, until Le Havre was built about five kilometres (three miles) downstream in the sixteenth century to take advantage of anchorages less prone to siltation. Harfleur is now on the eastern edge of Le Havre's urban area.
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[edit] Geography
A light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux by the banks of the Seine and Lézarde rivers, some 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Le Havre, at the junction of the N282, D231 and D9015 roads. SNCF railways have a station here.
[edit] History
In Roman times, Harfleur was known as Caracotinum, the principal port of the ancient Calates. A Roman road led from Harfleur to Troyes. Another road that disappeared during the Hundred Years War linked Harfleur to Fécamp.
Several Merovingian sarcophagi have been unearthed at the foot of Mount Cabert.
In the Middle Ages, its name, Herosfloth, Harofluet or Hareflot, was still sufficiently uncorrupted to indicate its Norman origins. The suffix fleur comes from Old Norse Flöthe meaning "estuary or arm of the sea" and is related to the word fjord. The precise meaning of the prefix "har" is unknown.
- 1202 saw the granting of a town charter by King John of England.
- In 1281 began the expansion of the port of Harfleur.
- At the beginning of the 14th century, Harfleur saw the setting-up of a Catalan and Portuguese merchants association.
- 1341-1361 saw the building of the city walls, pierced by three gates (Porte d’Eure, Porte de Rouen and Montivilliers Gate). These were restored in the 15th century after the destruction of the Hundred Years War.
For six centuries, it was the principal seaport of northwestern France. In 1415, it was captured by Henry V of England. In 1435, the people of the district of Caux, led by Jean de Grouchy, rose against the English. 104 of the inhabitants opened the gates of the town to the insurgents, and forced the English occupiers out. The memory of the deed was long perpetuated by the bells of St Martin's tolling 104 strokes.
Between 1445 and 1449 the English were again in possession, but the town was recovered for the French by Dunois in 1450.
In 1562, the Huguenots pillaged Harfleur and its registers and charters perished in the confusion, but its privileges were restored by Charles IX of France in 1568. It was not until 1710 that it was subjected to the "taille." In the 16th century, the port began to dwindle in importance owing to the silting up of the Seine estuary and the rise of Le Havre. In 1887, the Tancarville canal restored waterborne access to the town from both the Seine and Le Havre.
[edit] Population
| 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9262 | 9872 | 10102 | 9703 | 9180 | 8517 | 8602 |
| Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting | ||||||
[edit] Places of interest
- The church of St-Martin, dating from the 14th century.
- The 17th century Hôtel de Ville (town hall).
- Medieval ramparts (1350-1390)
- The 15th century museums of fishing and of archaeology and history.
[edit] Personalities
[edit] In modern literature
The 2008 novel Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell describes the siege and the conquest of Harfleur by the army of Henry V of England in 1415. The middle age siege techniques are described in details but easily understood.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- INSEE
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- Official website of Harfleur (French)
- Harfleur history website (French)
- Harfleur on the Quid website (French)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Harfleur |
