BRIENNE-LE-CHATEAU, a town of north-eastern France, department of Aube, 1m. from the Aube and 26m. N.E. of Troyes. Pop. (1931) 1,717. The château, which overlooks the town, was built in the 18th century by Cardinal de Brienne (q.v.) . The church dates from the 16th century and contains good stained glass. In 1814 Brienne was the scene of fighting between Napoleon and the Allies. Brewing is carried on.
Counts of Brienne.—Under the Carolingian dynasty Brienne le-Château was the capital town of a French countship. In the loth century it was captured by two adventurers named Engel bert and Gobert, and from the first of these sprang the noble house of Brienne, which played an important part in history in the 13th century.