The Aisne ( , , ) is a river in northeastern France. It is a left tributary of the Oise. It gave its name to the French department of Aisne. It was known in the Roman period as Axona. The river rises in the forest of Argonne, at Rembercourt-Sommaisne, near Sainte-Menehould. It flows north and then west before joining the Oise near Compiègne. The Aisne is long. Its main tributaries are the Vesle, the Aire and the Suippe. The Battle of the Axona was fought near there between the Romans and the Belgae in 57 BC. Three Battles of the Aisne were fought in the Aisne valley during the First World War. Places along the river Departments and towns along the river include: Meuse Marne: Sainte-Ménehould Ardennes: Vouziers, Rethel Aisne: Soissons Oise: Compiègne Aisne: Berny-Rivière Navigation The river Aisne was used for commercial navigation as early as the Celtic period, and rafts were floated from a long distance above the present limit of navigation at Vailly-sur-Aisne until the mid-19th century. Canalisation works were begun in 1836, at the same time as construction of the Canal lateral à l'Aisne. The canal was completed first, in 1841, then two years later the river navigation. Commercial traffic in péniches carrying 220 tonnes is still active, while recreational traffic is mainly private boats. The waterway is long, from the river Oise to the junction with the lateral canal, and has 7 locks. Through the lateral canal, it links with the Marne and the Canal de la Meuse. En route The kilometre distances continue the numbering from Canal latéral à l'Aisne from east to west. PK 51.3 is the end of the Canal latéral à l'Aisne PK 64.5 Villeneuve-Saint-Germain PK 67 Soissons PK 79 Fontenoy PK 85 Vic-sur-Aisne PK 92 Couloisy PK 104.5 Choisy-au-Bac PK 108 junction with Canal latéral à l'Oise upstream of Compiègne See also Rivers of France List of Canals in France Canal latéral à l'Aisne Chemin des Dames Battle of the Axona References External links River Aisne and Canal lateral à l'Aisne maps and details about places, ports and moorings on the river, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, Imray Navigation details for 80 French rivers and canals (French waterways website section) World Book encyclopedia 1988 Rivers of Aisne Rivers of Ardennes (department) Rivers of Marne (department) Rivers of Meuse (department) Rivers of France Rivers of Oise Aisne Rivers