Moreuil

Moreuil
Moreuil
Location within Picardy region  Moreuil
Coordinates: 49°46′31″N 2°29′02″E / 49.7753°N 2.4839°E / 49.7753; 2.4839Coordinates: 49°46′31″N 2°29′02″E / 49.7753°N 2.4839°E / 49.7753; 2.4839
Country	France
Region	Picardy
Department	Somme
Arrondissement	Montdidier
Canton	Moreuil
Intercommunality	Avre Luce Moreuil
Government
• Mayor (2001–2008)	Pierre Boulanger
Area1	23.43 km2 (9.05 sq mi)
Population (2006)2	4,040
• Density	170/km2 (450/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	80570 / 80110
Elevation	32–113 m (105–371 ft) (avg. 42 m or 138 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Moreuil is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.

Geography

Moreuil is situated on the D920 and D935 crossroads, some 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Amiens, on the banks of the Avre River.

Population

History

Known by several names over the years, Morolium (1103), Moroil (1183), Moruel, Moroilum, Moroiel, Moreul (1240), Moureul, Moureuil (1340), Morveul, Morvels and finally Moreuil, the commune has ancient origins. Flint tools have been found here and the presence of tall boundary stones indicates pre-Roman settlement. Moreuil comes from a Celtic word meaning ‘sea’. Moreuil is found on the Roman road that links Compiègne, Montdidier and Amiens which explains the number of Gallo-Roman finds in the vicinity.

First mentioned around 800 as a fort and square on the river Avre, it was sacked by the Normans. The lords of Moreuil rendered great service to the Kings of France during the Crusades. One was created a Knight of the Order of Malta. During the Hundred Years War, Moreuil suffered through blood and fire. It was taken, won back and re-taken by the Burgundians.

During the Wars of Religion, it was one of the strongest supporters of the Catholic League In 1574 the towns’s two schools were burnt down, but reconstructed thanks to the benefices of Cardinal Antoine de Créquy, Bishop of Amiens and abbot of Moreuil.

In 1720 hat-making was established in Moreuil. Unaffected to any degree by the French Revolution, Moreuil was subject to foreign occupation during 1815 and during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. During the Great War, the town formed a part of the front line of the Western Front.

Places of interest

• The church
• The town hall
• The war memorial

Personalities

• Jean Leclerc, 1587–1617, lawmaker and lawyer in Paris.

See also

• Communes of the Somme department
• Raymond Couvègnes

References

• INSEE

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