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Denis (ST a town of France)

ST., a town of France, in the department of Seine, 6 miles N. of Paris. A chapel in honor of St. Denis was founded at this place, in 250. Dagobert was buried here in 580. Dagobert I. founded the abbey in 636, and it has ever since been the place of sepulcher for the French monarchs. The first church was finished in 775, and the present edifice, commenced in 1130, was completed in 1281. A battle between the Roman Catholics and the Huguenots was fought in its vicinity, Nov. 10, 1567, when the latter were victorious, De Montmorenci, the Roman Catholic leader, being mortally wounded. By a de- DENMARK cree of the Convention, Aug. 6, 1793, the royal tombs were opened, but they were restored by Napoleon I. in 1806.

The abbey was suppressed in 1792. Pop. (1906) 64,790.