Cambrai

Cambrai (in Flemish, Kambryk), town in northern France, in the Nord Department, on the Schelde (Escaut) River. It is an agricultural and manufacturing centre, producing textiles, metal items, and processed food. The town was formerly best known for producing cambric, a fine linen named after the town and first made here. Notable buildings include the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Church of St Géry, and the town hall.

In Roman times the city was known as Camaracum. It became the capital of a Frankish kingdom in ad 445 and around the year 800 was fortified by Charlemagne. Much of the medieval history of Cambrai is a record of strife between the ruling bishops (archbishops after the 16th century) and the townspeople. In the late 15th century the town came under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire. At Cambrai in 1508 the kings of France and Spain, the Pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor formed the League of Cambrai, an alliance against the Venetian Republic. The Peace of Cambrai, signed here in 1529, concluded a war (1527-1529) between Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The treaty is sometimes referred to as the Paix des Dames (Ladies' Peace), the preliminary negotiations having been conducted by Louise of Savoy, mother of the French king, and Margaret of Austria, aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor. Cambrai was annexed by the French Crown in 1677. The city was occupied by the Germans and badly damaged in both World Wars. Population 33,100 (2005 estimate).