NAMUR, (Fr. na-miirl, Bel gium; (1) a city, capital of the province of the same name, at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse, 35 miles southeast of Brussels. The old fortifications have been razed since 1866 with the exception of the picturesque cita del dating from 1784, built upon steep rock, high above the confluence of the rivers. A cordon of five large and four small modern forts now defend the town. The town is beautifully situ ated and well built, with spacious streets and several handsome squares. Frequent sieges and bombardments destroyed almost all its ancient buildings. Among those of more recent times are the cathedral dedicated to Saint Aubin, one of the most handsome modern churches of Bel gium; the church of Saint Loup, the church of Notre Dame, the Hotel de Ville and the belfry tower. Namur is the seat of a it pos sesses a chamber of commerce, a royal athe naeum, a public library, a museum, an agricul tural society, normal and various other schools and numerous benevolent institutions. Namur is famous for its cutlery, its leather-works and its iron and brass foundries. The trade is greatly favored by the two navigable rivers. Steamers ply on the Meuse; and railways com municate with Brussels, Mons and the French frontier. Namur dates from the 7th century, under the names of Namucum, Navinucum Castrum and Namon. It was taken by Louis XiV in 1692, and retaken by William III of England in 1695. Pop. before the World War, about 33,000. The Germans occupied Namur on
23 Aug. 1914. (2) The province is bounded on the north by Brabant, northeast by Liege, east by Luxembourg, south and southwest by France and west by Hainaut; greatest length, north to south 57 miles; greatest breadth, 37 miles; area, 1,413 square miles. The surface is greatly diversified, well watered by the Meuse, with its tributaries, the Lesse and the Sambre. About one-half of the whole surface is cultivated. The chief vegetable productions are the ordinary cereals, oil-seeds, chicory, fruit and medicinal and dye plants. In some places the vine is cultivated. The extensive forests furnish good timber and the prevailing car boniferous strata yield coal, iron, limestone, etc. The industry of the province, both manu facturing and commercial, is largely developed. Namur was an independent country as early as the 10th century. At the close of the 12th cen tury it came into the possession of the counts of Hainaut, and early in the 13th century fell to Peter of Courtenay, emperor of Constan tinople. It was sold by his son Baldwin to Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders, with whose descendants it remained till 1420, when it was purchased by Philip the Good. Duke of Burgundy, for 132,000 gold ducats, and after ward shared the fate of the other Burgundian states. Pop. before the war, about 365,000, nearly all of whom speak Walloon. See