MAYENNE, a town of France, capital of the arrondissement of the same name, in the above department, is irregularly built on both sides of the River Mayenne, 18 miles N. by E. from Laval. The streets are extremely steep, and the houses quaint and old-fashioned. The principal building is the old castle on the right bank of the river. Mayenne has some manufactures, especially of linen fabrics; and there are also cotton mills, bleachfields, and dye-works. The trade consists in the productions of its manufacture and agriculture, especially grain and cattle. The town was formerly strongly fortified, and resisted for three months a siege by the English, under the Earl of Salisbury, to whom it surrendered in 1424. In 1544 it was made a duchy by Charles IX., and gave the title of Duke of Mayenne to
Mayenne Charles of Lorraine, afterwards famous as the head of the League. Pop. (1851) 9588.