What is Rethel?
{{Infobox French commune|name=Rethel|intercommunality=|population footnotes={{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}|population date={{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}|population={{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}|area km2=18.58|elevation max m=146|elevation min m=67|coordinates={{coord|49.5106|4.3667|format=dms|display=inline,title}}|term=2020–2026|commune status=[[Subprefectures in France|Subprefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]|mayor=Joseph Afribo|postal code=08300|INSEE=08362|canton=Rethel|arrondissement=Rethel|image coat of arms=Blason comtes de Rethel.svg|caption=Town hall|image=Mairie Rethel.jpg|website=[http://www.villederethel.fr www.villederethel.fr]}} '''Rethel''' ({{IPA-fr|ʁətɛl|lang|Fr-Paris--Rethel.ogg}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] in the [[Ardennes (department)|Ardennes]] department in northern [[France]]. It is a [[Subprefectures in France|sub-prefecture]] and third-most important city and economic center in the department. It is situated on the river [[Aisne (river)|Aisne]], near the northern border of [[Champagne-Ardenne|Champagne]] and 37&nbsp;km from [[Reims]]. Its inhabitants are called ''Rethélois.'' == History of Rethel == According to legend, the city was founded by [[Julius Caesar]], who established a camp on the site of the city during his campaigns. The parents of [[Arnulf of Metz|St. Arnulf of Metz]] were said to have given all they owned ''in villa Reistete'' (in the city of Rethel) to [[Saint Remigius|St. Remigius, bishop of Reims]], so that their prayers for a child would be answered. The city belonged to the [[Abbey of Saint-Remi]] and was [[Administrative division|administered]] by its [[Advocatus|advocati]]. One of them, Manasses I, became the first [[Counts and dukes of Rethel|Count of Rethel]]. In 1481 the county, with Rethel as its seat, became the [[Peerage of France]]; it became a [[duchy]] in 1581 and in 1663 it became the Duchy of [[Duchy of Mazarin|Mazarin]]. During the [[Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)|Franco-Spanish War]]