Breteuil, Eure

Commune in Normandy, France

(2020–2026) Gérard Chéron^[1]Area55.05 km² (21.25 sq mi)Population4,287 • Density78/km² (200/sq mi)DemonymBretoliensTime zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation157–197 m (515–646 ft)
(avg. 179 m or 587 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Breteuil (French pronunciation: [bʁətœj]), also known as Breteuil-sur-Iton ("Breteuil-on-Iton"), is a commune in the Eure department in Normandy in northern France. On 1 January 2016, the former communes Cintray and La Guéroulde were merged into Breteuil.^[3]

History

During the Middle Ages, Breteuil was the seat of a lordship in the duchy of Normandy. Its lord William FitzOsbern was a companion of William during his conquest of England in 1066. His son William of Breteuil served as a Benedictine abbot before inheriting Breteuil and was later canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. His illegitimate son Eustace of Breteuil married Juliane de Fontevrault, the illegitimate daughter of King Henry I of England, who feuded with her father and eventually lost control of the lordship.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	3,976	—
1975	4,259	+0.99%
1982	4,219	−0.13%
1990	4,280	+0.18%
1999	4,456	+0.45%
2007	4,521	+0.18%
2012	4,553	+0.14%
2017	4,424	−0.57%
Source: INSEE[4]

See also

• Communes of the Eure department

References