ALENVON, chief t. of the department of Orne, in France, is situated on the Sarthc, in lat. 48° 25' n., and long. 0° 5,1-' e. The town-church—a structure of the 16th c., con taining the remains of the tombs of the A. family, which were almost completely destroyed at the revolution—is built in the Gothic style. It has a fine porch and exquis itely painted windows. A. is a clean and handsome t., with good streets and a delightful public walk. The inhabitants produce excellent woolen and linen stuffs, embroidered fabrics, straw-hats, lace-work, artificial flowers, hosiery, etc. The manufacture of A. point-lace (points d'A.), although still important, is not carried on to the same extent as formerly. The cutting of the so-called A. diamonds (quartz-crystals), found in the vicinity of the t., is a branch of industry which has also greatly declined. Pop. '76, 15,4:33.
The old DUKES of A. were a branch of the royal family of Valois, and were descended from Charles of Valois, who perished at the battle of Crecy in 1346. His grandson, John I., fell at Agincourt in 1415. His successor, John II., allying himself with the
enemies of the court, vas twice condemned to death, but pardoned both times. Rene, son of John II., also excited, not without cause, the suspicion of the French monarch, Louis XI., who confined him for three months in an iron cage at Chinon; but as the parliament had never condemned him, he was released at the death of Louis, and ir.tored by Charles VIII. to his title and estate. Iter5's son, who had married the siste rof 7/';aticis I., was general of the advance-guard of the French army in the Netherlands. He commanded the left wing at the battle of Pavia, where, instead of supporting the king at a critical moment, lie fled with his and to him, therefore, has been attributed both the disastrous defeat sustained by the French, and his sovereign's falling into the hands of the enemy. With him expired the old house of A. The duchy was then given to the duke of Anjou. Louis XIV. conferred it upon the duke of Berri, and Louis XVI. on the count of Provence.