Rocroi (French pronunciation: [ʁɔkʁwa]) is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.

Rocroi
A general view of Rocroi
A general view of Rocroi
Coat of arms of Rocroi
Location of Rocroi
Map
Rocroi is located in France
Rocroi
Rocroi
Rocroi is located in Grand Est
Rocroi
Rocroi
Coordinates: 49°55′34″N 4°31′20″E / 49.9261°N 4.5222°E / 49.9261; 4.5222
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentArdennes
ArrondissementCharleville-Mézières
CantonRocroi
IntercommunalityVallées et Plateau d'Ardenne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Denis Binet[1]
Area
1
50.41 km2 (19.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
2,259
 • Density45/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
08367 /08230
Elevation385 m (1,263 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The central area is a notable surviving example of a bastion fort.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 3,260—    
1800 2,846−1.92%
1806 3,008+0.93%
1821 3,501+1.02%
1831 3,173−0.98%
1836 3,232+0.37%
1841 3,780+3.18%
1846 3,590−1.03%
1851 3,765+0.96%
1866 2,998−1.51%
1872 2,281−4.45%
1876 2,381+1.08%
1881 2,977+4.57%
1886 3,172+1.28%
1891 2,265−6.51%
1896 2,193−0.64%
1901 2,176−0.16%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1906 2,116−0.56%
1911 2,256+1.29%
1921 2,127−0.59%
1926 2,442+2.80%
1931 2,436−0.05%
1936 2,250−1.58%
1946 1,969−1.33%
1954 2,348+2.22%
1962 2,870+2.54%
1968 2,997+0.72%
1975 2,911−0.42%
1982 2,789−0.61%
1990 2,555−1.09%
1999 2,420−0.60%
2007 2,376−0.23%
2012 2,409+0.28%
2017 2,330−0.66%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

History

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Rocroi was fortified by Francis I of France and expanded by Henry II of France. Because of its strategic location in the north of France it changed hands a number of times during wars. It is best known for the Battle of Rocroi in 1643. In the 1670s the fortifications were re-modelled by the French engineer Vauban.[5]

In 1815, two months after the Battle of Waterloo, the town was taken by Prussian and British forces (on 16 August).

 
Rocroi seen from the air shows its defensive structure

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Rocroi, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Rocroi, Réseau des sites majeurs de Vauban
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