LILLEBONNE

town, northwestern France, Seine-Maritime dpartement, Haute-Normandie rgion, north of the Seine River and east of Le Havre. The Romans called it Juliobona. Under Roman rule in the 2nd century it had baths and a great theatre; materials from the theatre were used to build fortifications during the Middle Ages. Tradition holds that William the Conqueror was in his castle at Lillebonne in 1066 when he made his decision to invade England. The castle was rebuilt in the 12th century, but today only ruins remain. Textiles, rubber, and chemicals are the chief industries of the town. Pop. (1990) 9,426.