CHATEAU-THIERRY, a town of northern France, in the department of Aisne, S9 m. E.N.E. of Paris on the Eastern rail way to Nancy. Pop. 7.492. Château-Thierry is built on ris ing ground on the right bank of the Marne, over which a fine stone bridge leads to the suburb of Marne. On the top of a hill are the ruins of a castle, said to have been built by Charles Martel for the Frankish king, Thierry IV., whence the name of the town. The chief relic is a gateway flanked by massive round towers, known as the Porte Saint-Pierre. A belfry of the 15th century and the church of St. Crepin (Crispin) of the same period are of some interest.
Chateau-Thierry was formerly the capital of the district of Brie Pouilleuse, and received the title of duchy from Charles IX. in 1566. It was captured by the English in 1421, by Charles V. in and sacked by the Spanish in 1591. During the wars of the Fronde it was pillaged in 1652; and in the campaign of 1814 it suffered severely, under Blucher, the Russo-Prussian forces be ing beaten by Napoleon in the neighbourhood. It was the farthest point reached by the Germans in their offensive of May 27, 1918. The 2nd and 3rd Divs. of the American Expeditionary Force were sent to the Marne in the Chateau-Thierry region to assist the hard pressed French forces. At Chateau-Thierry itself a U.S. machine gun battalion took part in the successful defence of the river crossing, while to the west of the town the 2nd Div., under Gen eral Bundy, fought the fiercely contested engagement of Belleau Wood. (See GERMAN OFFENSIVE; MARNE, SECOND BATTLE OF THE.) La Fontaine was born in the town in 1621. His house is still preserved in the street that bears his name.
The distinctive industry is the manufacture of mathematical and musical instruments. There is trade in the white wine of the neighbourhood, and in agricultural products. Gypsum, millstone and paving-stone are quarried in the vicinity.