DENAIN

denain, a town of northern france in the department of nord, 8 m. s.w. of valenciennes by steam tramway. a mere village in the beginning of the 19th century, it rapidly increased from 1850 onwards, and, according to the census of 1906, possessed 22,845 inhabitants, mainly engaged in the coal mines and iron-smelting works, to which it owes its development. there are also breweries, manufactories of machinery, sugar and glass. a school of commerce and industry is among the institutions. denain has a port on the left bank of the scheldt canal. its vicinity was the scene of the decisive victory gained in 1712 by marshal villars over the allies commanded by prince eugene; and the battlefield is marked by a monolithic monument inscribed with the verses of voltaire:-- "regardez dans denain l'audacieux villars disputant le tonnerre a l'aigle des cesars."