LAON 418 LAON among the ancient Laodiceans, and it was the seat of a famous medical school. The number of Jews who were settled here at the rise of Christianity will ac- count for its importance. An important ecclesiastical council, the First Council strong position, it has been a fortress since the 5th century; its citadel is sur- rounded with ruinous walls. From 515 to 1790 it was the seat of a bishop. The cathedral, a Gothic edifice of the 12th century, and the bishop's palace, now a of Laodicea, was held here in 363, which law-court, still remain. The inhabitants THE LAOCOON GROUP adopted resolutions concerning the canon of the Old and New Testaments and re- ferring to ecclesiastical discipline. A second council, 476, condemned the Eutychians. LAON (la-owfif), the chief town of the French department of Aisne; 87 miles J«J. E. of Paris. Occupying a naturally are noted market-gardeners. In the 10th century the city was the place of resi- dence of the Carlovingian kings, and capital of Francia. At Laon, March 9 and 10, 1814, Napoleon I. was repulsed by the allies under Bliicher and Biilow; and it surrendered to a German force, Sept. 9, 1870. In the fall of 1914, Ger- man forces captured the town and held
