Mortain is a small town and commune in the Manche département, France. It is the chief town of an arrondissement and seat of a sub-prefect. Population 2,452. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. ... Manche is a French département in Normandy named after La Manche (the sleeve), which is the French name of the English Channel. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... The 100 French départements are divided into 342 arrondissements. ...

Geography

Mortain is situated on a rocky hill rising above the gorge of the Cance, a tributary of the Sélune.

Area: 744 ha.

Altitude: 232 m

History

Remembrance

Mortain was, in the Middle Ages, the head of an important county (comté), reserved for the reigning house of Normandy (see List of Counts of Mortain). Around 1027 it was established for Robert, who was probably an illegitimate son of Richard I of Normandy. He was succeeded by William Warlenc ("the waning") who was probably his son. In or about 1049 Duke William took it from William Warlenc and bestowed it on his half-brother, Robert, thenceforth known as "count of Mortain," whose vast possessions in England after the Conquest (1066) gave name to "the small fees of Mortain," which owed less feudal service than others. Robert was succeeded as count by his son William, Count of Mortain, who rebelled against Henry I, was captured at the battle of Tinchebrai (1106) and forfeited his possessions. Some years later, Henry bestowed the comtéship on his nephew Stephen, who became king in 1135. On Stephen's death (1154) his surviving son William became count of Mortain, but when William died childless in 1159 the title was resumed by Henry II. On the accession of Richard I (1189) he granted it to his brother John, who was thenceforth known as count of Mortain until he ascended the throne (1199). With his loss of Normandy the comté was lost, but after the recapture of the province by the House of Lancaster, Edmund Beaufort, a grandson of John of Gaunt, was created count of Mortain and so styled till 1441, when he was made earl of Dorset. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 496 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 725 pixels, file size: 742 KB, MIME type: image/png) Photographer - Alan Hughes File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 496 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 725 pixels, file size: 742 KB, MIME type: image/png) Photographer - Alan Hughes File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ... The County of Mortain was a medieval county in France centered on the town of Mortain. ... Events March 26 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II Holy Roman Emperor. ... Richard the Fearless as part of the Six Dukes of Normandy statue in the town square of Falaise. ... Events Leo IX becomes pope. ... Robert, Count of Mortain (c. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned September 20 - Battle of Fulford September 25 - Battle of Stamford Bridge September 29 - William of Normandy lands in England at Pevensey. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Henry I (c. ... The battle of Tinchebray (or Tinchebrai) was fought September 28, 1106, in the town of Tinchebray, Normandy, between an invading force led by Henry I of England, and his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy. ... Events September 28 - Henry I of England defeats his older brother Robert Curthose, duke of Normandy, at the Battle of Tinchebrai, and imprisons him in Cardiff Castle; Edgar Atheling and William Clito are also taken prisoner. ... Stephen (c. ... Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 6 July 1189 to 6 April 1199. ... This article is about the King of England. ... John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (June 24, 1340 - February 3, 1399), the third surviving son of King Edward III of England, gained his name because he was born at Ghent in 1340. ... The title Earl of Dorset has been created at least four times in the Peerage of England. ...

In August 1944, Mortain was the site of an important battle between the German and American forces. Over a period of six nights the 30th Infantry Division fought valiantly (with one radio with dying batteries) against the German Panzer counter-attack of Operation Lüttich, to preserve the breakout established in Operation Cobra. Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 30th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It was nicknamed the Old Hickory division, in honour of Andrew Jackson, due to it being comprised of National Guard units from his old stomping grounds. ... Combatants Allied Powers Germany Commanders Omar Bradley Hans von Kluge Strength 5 infantry divisions, 3 armoured combat commands 3 Panzer Divisions, 2 infantry divisions, 5 panzer or infantry battlegroups Casualties N/A N/A Operation Lüttich was a counterattack launched by German forces on the left flank of the... Combatants USA Canada Free France Germany Commanders General Omar Bradley, General George S. Patton General Philippe Leclerc SS General Paul Hausser Strength 8 infantry divisions, 4 armoured divisions 2 infantry divisions, 11 infantry battlegroups, 2 Panzer Divisions, 1 Panzergrenadier Division Casualties 1. ...

Sights

Abbaye Blanche

The parish church of St Evroult is a magnificent example of the transitional style of the early 13th century. Close to the town is the Abbaye Blanche, founded as a Benedictine convent in 1105 and soon afterwards affiliated to Citeaux. The church is a perfect example of a Cistercian monastic church of the late 12th century, and portions of the 12th-century cloisters also survive. The ruins of a castle was once the home of the cruel Sir Guillaume de Mortain and the site of the Gap of Goeblin. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 398 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1988 × 2996 pixels, file size: 893 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image has been cleaned up: lossless jpegtran crop of black borders. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 398 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1988 × 2996 pixels, file size: 893 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image has been cleaned up: lossless jpegtran crop of black borders. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... For the college, see Benedictine College. ... Events Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor deposed by his son, Henry V Tamna kingdom annexed by Korean Goryeo Dynasty. ... 16th century Citeaux, perspective view (engraving) Cîteaux Abbey (abbaye de Cîteaux) is a Catholic abbey located in Saint-Nicolas-les-Cîteaux, south of France. ... The Order of Cistercians (OCist) (Latin Cistercenses), otherwise Gimey or White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which is worn a black scapular or apron) are a Catholic order of monks. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Cloister of Saint Trophimus, in Arles, France A cloister (from latin claustrum) is a part of cathedral, monastic and abbey architecture. ...

Miscellaneous

Mortain was the birthplace of Ferdinand André Fouqué (1828-1904), geologist and petrologist. Ferdinand André Fouqué (c. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Geologist by Carl Spitzweg A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth and planets of the solar system (see planetary geology). ... Petrology is a field of geology which focuses on the study of rocks and the conditions by which they form. ...

References

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Mortain

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Coordinates: 48°39′N, 0°56′W Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Encyclopædia Britannica, the eleventh edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...