a town of France, department of Oise, and capital of a cognominal arrondissement, stands on the left bank of the Oise, here crossed by a handsome bridge of 3 arches, and on the Paris and St Quentin railway, 36 miles E. by S. of Beauvais. The town is ancient and ill built, but contains some fine edifices, among which may be mentioned the town-house, new theatre, several of the churches, and the royal palace. This last is for extent and magnificence one of the first of the kind in France. It was built under Louis XV. and XVI., and renovated by Napoleon; and is surrounded by extensive gardens, adjoining which is a forest covering 37,000 acres. Compiegne was formerly strongly fortified; and it was at the siege of this place in 1430 that Jean d'Arc was taken prisoner by the English. There is a communal college, a tribunal of primary instance, and a public library of 28,000 volumes. It has manufactures of hosiery, muslins, and ropes; and a considerable trade in corn and wood. Pop. (1851) of town 8986; of arrondissement, 98,190.