Josselin

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Coordinates: 47°57′25″N 2°32′24″W / 47.95694, -2.54

Commune of Josselin

Josilin
View of the old chateau from the River Oust
Location
Image:Paris_plan_pointer_b_jms.gif
Map highlighting the commune of
Coordinates 47°57′25″N 2°32′24″W / 47.95694, -2.54
Administration
Country France
Region Bretagne
Department Morbihan
Arrondissement Pontivy
Canton Josselin
Intercommunality Communauté de Communes du Pays de Josselin
Mayor Joseph Seveno
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 32 m–93 m
(avg. 30 m)
Land area¹ 4.48 km²
Population²
(1999)
2,419
 - Density 539/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 56091/ 56120
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Josselin (Breton: Josilin) is a commune of France, in the Morbihan département, in the région of Brittany. It is very close to Pontivy.

Contents

[edit] History

St Meriadek is said to have founded a chapel there during the 4th century. It became a stronghold of the House of Rohan.

In 1351, during the Breton War of Succession (part of the Hundred Years' War), two groups of approximately 30 English knights (led by Robert Bramborough, the English captain of Ploërmel) and Franco-Breton knights (commanded by Jean de Beaumanoir, captain of Josselin) staged an arranged combat at a spot halfway between the Chateau de Josselin and Ploërmel. The Franco-Breton side eventually won after killing or capturing the English force, including Bramborough. This episode was later known as the Combat of the Thirty.

The old fortress can still be seen today, although only four of the original nine towers remain after the Cardinal Richelieu ordered the castle partially demolished in 1629. (47°57′8″N 2°32′50″W / 47.95222, -2.54722)

[edit] Demographics

Inhabitants of Josselin are called Josselinais.

As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 2,419.

[edit] Miscellaneous

It is a twin town of Alzey, Germany.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Mayors of Morbihan Association (French); INSEE (English); IGN (English)

[edit] External links

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