What is Sedan, Ardennes?
{{For|other uses of Sedan|Sedan}} {{Infobox French commune |name = Sedan |image = FR-08-Sedan03.JPG |image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Sedan (Ardennes).svg |arrondissement = Sedan |canton = 3 cantons |INSEE = 08409 |postal code = 08200 |mayor = Dominique Billaudelle |term = 2001–2008 |intercommunality = |coordinates = {{coord|49.70250|4.94111|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |elevation m = 157 |elevation min m = |elevation max m = |area km2 = 16.28 |population = 20548 |population date = 1999 }} '''Sedan''' ({{IPA-fr|sədɑ̃}}) is a commune in the [[Ardennes (department)|Ardennes]] [[Departments of France|department]] and [[Grand Est]] region of north-eastern France. It is also the [[chief-lieu]] (administrative centre) of the [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissement]] of the same name. ==Geography== The old centre is on land within a curve of the [[Meuse River]]. It is about 10&nbsp;km (6 miles) from Belgium, and about 200&nbsp;km (120 miles) from [[Paris]]. ==History== Sedan was built in 1424. In the sixteenth century Sedan was a safe place for Protestants escaping from the [[French Wars of Religion|Wars of Religion]]. Until 1651, the Principality of Sedan belonged to the [[La Tour d'Auvergne]] family. It was independent. The most famous member of the family, [[Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne|Marshal Turenne]], was born at Sedan on 11 September 1611. With help from the [[Holy Roman Empire]], Sedan [[defeat]]ed France at the [[Battle of La Marfée]]. [[wikt:immediate|Immediate]]ly after that it was surrounded, and its prince, [[Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon|Frederic]], surrendered to France. Only a year after that, it became part of France in return for sparing Frederic's life after he was in a plot against France. During the [[Franco-Prussian War]], on 2 September 1870 th