r CHARLEROY, a town on the Sambre, province Hainault, Belgium, 33 miles S. from Brussels. It was originally founded by Charles II. of Spain; was destroyed in 1795; attacked by Napoleon in 1815; and restored and strengthened in the following year by the Duke of Wellington. It contains extensive manufactories of woollen stuffs, leather, ropes, and glass, besides several distilleries and sugar refineries. There are about 90 coal pits, 50 iron foundries, and 70 high furnaces in the vicinity. About 6000 of the inhabitants are employed in nail-making, and 8345 at the coal-mines of the district. The railways, which run to most of the important towns, and the Brussels and Charleroi canal, afford abundant means of transit. Pop. of the town 8080; of the arrondissement 141,107.