# Rethel

> commune in Ardennes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q209790](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q209790)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rethel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rethel

## Summary
Rethel is a commune located in the Ardennes department of northeastern France. It serves as the administrative center for the arrondissement of Rethel and is home to a railway station, a local football club, and a historical lineage of counts and dukes. The town is recognized for its military history, having been awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune in the Ardennes department, France.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: 49.509722222222° N, 4.3675° E.
- **Population Data**: Historical and recent estimates include 7,730; 7,764; 8,058; 7,592; 7,522; 7,804; 8,361; 8,339; 7,923; 8,052; 7,847; 7,718; 7,467; 7,445; 7,425; 7,435; and 7,444.
- **Administrative Hierarchy**: Part of the canton of Rethel (established March 22, 2015) and the arrondissement of Rethel.
- **Official Website**: http://www.villederethel.fr.
- **Military Honor**: Recipient of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (established April 2, 1915).
- **Local Institutions**: Home to Gare de Rethel (railway station) and Rethel Sportif (football club founded in 1914).
- **Historical Lineage**: Associated with the list of counts and dukes of Rethel, with origins tracing back to the year 901.
- **Country Context**: Located in France, a semi-presidential republic with a population of 68,605,616 (2025 estimate) and a capital in Paris.
- **Regional Context**: Situated within the Ardennes department, which was established on March 4, 1790.
- **Sitelink Count**: 59 Wikipedia sitelinks are associated with the entity.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Rethel.
- **Wikidata Description**: Commune in Ardennes, France.

## FAQs
**What is the administrative status of Rethel within France?**
Rethel functions as a commune, which is the lowest level of administrative division in France, situated within the Ardennes department. It also serves as the seat for the arrondissement of Rethel and the canton of Rethel, the latter of which was reorganized in March 2015.

**What historical and military distinctions does the town hold?**
The town is historically significant for its lineage of counts and dukes, with records dating back to the year 901. Additionally, it was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established in 1915, in recognition of its service during World War I.

**What local infrastructure and organizations operate in Rethel?**
The commune hosts the Gare de Rethel, a railway station serving the local population. It is also the headquarters for Rethel Sportif, a French association football club that was founded in 1914.

**How does Rethel fit into the broader context of French geography?**
Rethel is located in the Ardennes department, which is part of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. As a commune, it is a territorial subdivision of the French Republic, which spans multiple continents through its overseas territories.

## Why It Matters
Rethel matters as a specific case study of French municipal organization and historical continuity within the Ardennes region. Its significance lies in its dual role as an administrative hub for the arrondissement and a repository of medieval history through its counts and dukes. The town's recognition via the Croix de guerre highlights its contribution to national defense during the First World War, embedding it in the collective memory of France. Furthermore, the presence of active local institutions like the railway station and the football club demonstrates the town's ongoing vitality and community engagement.

## Notable For
- **Military Decoration**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for valor during World War I.
- **Historical Nobility**: The seat of the historical counts and dukes of Rethel, with a lineage documented since 901.
- **Administrative Center**: Serves as the capital of the arrondissement of Rethel.
- **Sports Heritage**: Home to Rethel Sportif, a football club established in 1914.
- **Transport Hub**: Location of the Gare de Rethel railway station.
- **Demographic Fluctuation**: Exhibits a varied population history with recorded figures ranging from approximately 7,425 to 8,361.
- **Canton Reorganization**: Part of the canton of Rethel, established in 2015.
- **Departmental Context**: Located in the Ardennes, a department created in 1790.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Rethel is situated in the Ardennes department of France, with precise geographic coordinates at latitude 49.509722222222 and longitude 4.3675. As a commune, it is a fundamental territorial subdivision of the French Republic. The Ardennes department itself was established on March 4, 1790. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Rethel and the canton of Rethel, the latter of which was formed on March 22, 2015.

### Historical Lineage and Nobility
The town is historically linked to a prominent lineage of nobility, specifically the counts and dukes of Rethel. This historical entity has an inception date recorded as the year 901. The headquarters for this historical list is associated with the entity . The continuity of this lineage provides a deep historical context for the town's development over more than a millennium.

### Military Recognition
Rethel holds a distinguished place in French military history. It was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a decoration established on April 2, 1915, to honor acts of heroism during World War I. This award is a French military decoration recognized at the national level, signifying the town's contribution to the war effort.

### Local Infrastructure and Institutions
The commune supports several key local institutions. The Gare de Rethel serves as the primary railway station for the area, facilitating transport connections. In the realm of sports, the town is the headquarters of Rethel Sportif, a French association football club that was founded in 1914. These entities contribute to the daily life and connectivity of the commune.

### Demographics and Population Trends
The population of Rethel has fluctuated over time, with recorded data points showing a range of values. Specific population figures include 7,730, 7,764, 8,058, 7,592, 7,522, 7,804, 8,361, 8,339, 7,923, 8,052, 7,847, 7,718, 7,467, 7,445, 7,425, 7,435, and 7,444. These figures reflect the demographic changes within the commune across different census periods.

### Administrative and Digital Presence
Rethel maintains an official digital presence through its website at http://www.villederethel.fr. In the context of knowledge bases, the entity is identified by the Wikipedia title "Rethel" and the Wikidata description "commune in Ardennes, France." It currently holds 59 sitelinks, indicating its visibility across various language versions of Wikipedia. The entity is classified under the broader category of "commune of France," a subdivision type that originated around 1789.

### National Context
As part of France, Rethel is subject to the laws and administrative structures of a semi-presidential republic. France, the country in which Rethel is located, has a capital in Paris and a population estimated at 68,605,616 as of 2025. The country's origins trace back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which established West Francia, and it later saw the formation of the First French Empire in 1804. France operates as a unitary state with a bicameral legislature and is a founding member of the European Union and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

## References

1. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/H1--0200)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. MusicBrainz
10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
11. Populations légales 2016
12. Populations légales 2017
13. Populations légales 2018
14. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
15. Populations légales 2019
16. Populations légales 2020
17. Populations légales 2021
18. Populations de référence 2022
19. Populations de référence 2023
20. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
22. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
23. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
24. GeoNames
25. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
26. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
27. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
28. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
29. museum-digital