(Flem. Berghem), a town of Belgium, capital of the province of Hainault, is situated on both sides of the Trouille, which is here crossed by three bridges, 38 miles S.W. of Brussels by railway. It stands partly on a plain and partly on the slope of a hill, is defended by a castle, and is surrounded by fortifications, which are entered by five gates. On the E. of the town are two lakes, by means of which and the river the whole neighbourhood may be laid under water. The streets are in general wide, regular, and well paved, though some are steep and winding; and the houses are handsome and well built. There are eight squares, the most important of which is the Place d'Armes, which contains the government-house and the provincial council-hall. Mons possesses five churches, the principal of which is that of St Wardru, a building in the Gothic style, with one of the finest collections of works of art in Belgium. The chief of the other buildings are the town-hall, a Gothic edifice with a handsome steeple; the castle, court-house, college, theatre, and arsenal. The town has also an academy of music, school of arts, and many other educational institutions; an orphan hospital, a deaf-and-dumb institution, two lunatic asylums, &c. The manufactures of Mons are important and various, consisting of linen, woollen, and cotton stuffs; hardware, fire-arms, musical instruments, soap, oil, candles, earthenware, &c. The chief wealth of the place, however, is derived from the coal-pits in the neighbourhood, in which a large number of men are employed. There are also extensive bleachfields near the town. The trade is considerable in coal, marble, building stone, timber, horses, cattle, corn, and manufactured goods. Mons stands on the railway between Brussels and Valenciennes, and is also connected with Condé on the Scheldt, and by a canal which forms part of a communication by water between this town and Paris. It is believed to occupy the site of a Roman camp founded by Cesar, which was defended with great courage and success by Q. Cicero, the brother of the orator, against several Gallic tribes. In the seventh century it became the residence of Alberic, Count of Hainault, and subsequently increased in size and prosperity, till it was made by Charlemagne, in 804, the capital of Hainault. After undergoing several sieges and changes, it fell into the hands of the Duke of Burgundy. The greatest prosperity to which this town attained was during the reign of Charles V., but this was soon after checked by the exactions of the Duke of Alva; and after an unsuccessful attempt at revolt, the town remained quiet, and gradually declined in importance. In 1678 the Prince of Orange was defeated near Mons by Marshal Luxemburg, who afterwards besieged the town; but his operations were cut short by the peace of Nimeguen. In 1691 it was besieged and taken by the French, who retained the town till the peace of Ryswick. In 1709 the battle of Malplaquet was fought in the neighbourhood of Mons, in which Marlborough and Prince Eugene defeated the French; and the town soon afterwards capitulated to the conquerors. In 1792 the French, under Dumouriez, defeated the Austrians at Jemappes, and afterwards obtained possession of Mons, which was in 1794 declared to belong to France, and made the capital of the department of Jemappes. It was restored to Belgium in 1814. Pop. 23,165.