Research center and of Musical Formations of Wallonia (CRFMW)
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The growth of the city of Liège is due mainly to two causes:
Of old, its position as capital city of a diocese and a principality within the Holy Germanic Empire
More recently, the discovery of coal in the 12th century, leading to an industrial growth which, through the social, political and juridical revolutions of 1789, culminated in the 19th century with the machinist revolution from England. Liège thus became a Queen of Modern Industry.
The Old City has left us its churches (roman, gothic, baroque, classic), its palaces and aristocratic mansions, its works of art and its famous names. However, the City has also changed its face again and again, and nowadays it stands much like a New City. Some will complain... but it is the price to pay in a living city.
Funding of Liège
The site of the Mosa river (Meuse) and its tributaries the Urta, Veseris and Legia (Ourthe, Vesdre, Legia) has been occupied since the Roman Times (the ruins of a Villa have been recently discovered underneath Place Saint-Lambert). The place is well protected and well irrigated by the many streams. Nowadays, while the first two, the Ourthe and Vesdre, still flow in from the Ardennes in picturesque valleys and landscapes, the Legia has dried up so much that this old stream now flows through the sewers.
In the early Middle-Ages, it was a small remote town where Lambert, bishop of Tongeren, built his country house. Liège knew fame when Lambert is murdered in 705. The place of martyrdom attracts many pilgrims and the body of the Saint was brought back to Liège in the procession of 718. The new bishop, Hubert, gradually transformed the town in a new political and religious centre for the diocese. Saint Lambert the martyr became the patron saint of a small church. By 881, Liège was considered as "The City", i.e. the capital of the diocese.
During the 10th century, after having been raided by the Norse, Liège was under Germanic control. The Carolingian rulers were indeed from this country, which occupied a central position in Charlemagne's empire. The Emperor, who liked to live in Jupille, Herstal or Aix (Aachen) chose to be buried in Aachen, at that time part of the diocese of Liège.
Notger
Liège belongs to Lotharingia, ruled by Emperor Otton I. However, the country is coveted by France, which until 987 is also dominated by Charlemagne's heirs. Notger, born in 930, is appointed by Otton as bishop of the diocese, with the double goal of defending the City as well as embellishing it to the standing required of a diocese capital city.
Notger orders the construction of the Palace and consecrates the church of Notre-Dame and Saint-Lambert as cathedral. Six other churches are finished (Saint-Martin, Saint-Paul) or ordered (Saint-Denis, Sainte-Croix, Saint-Jean, Saint-Barthélémy) during his reign.
Notger builds strong walls around the City, promotes the settlements of l'Isle and l'Outre-Meuse. A stone bridge crosses the Meuse. The bishop wages war on aggressive local lords and, by capturing the castle of Chêvremont, locks the region under the sole authority of Liège. The grounds of the principality are much increased through imperial grants, and Notger also devotes money for huge works all over the land, as in Thuin, Mechelen, or Fosses. The bishop becomes a prince-bishop.
The principality of Liège is officially born on january 6, 980. As the saying goes: Liège, tu dois Notger au Christ et le reste à Notger (3 Liège, you owe Notger to Christ and everything else to Notger).
The growth of the Principality
The development of Liège brings a demographic expansion. The City's inhabitants soon demand from the prince-bishop a clear definition of their rights and liberties, as well as their duties. In 1196, the Charter of Albert de Cuyck defines private property and civil equity. In Liège, pauvre homme en sa maison est roi (A poor man is king in one's own house)...
The church authority, through the hierarchy of archdeacons, deans of council and parish priests, could reach the common people that could, by the same way, bring their grievances to the bishop, who regularly held synods where the important laymen were also present. The court of first instance was created in 1082 by Henri de Verdun for the whole diocese.
Thus, the diocese of Liège is a land of freedoms. Over time, the country, formed through the grouping of feudal territories, takes more importance. The notion of "country of Liège" appears in 1213, after the victory of Hugues de Pierrepont and his vassals over the Brabançons of Henri the first.
During the 13th century, power has split into the three "estates" classical of the Middle-Ages. The church represents the First Estate, the knights and nobles the Second and the middle class of the capital and the "good cities", through their burgomasters, represent the Third Estate. The lower classes regroup in strong and stable craft organisations (there are 32 "good crafts" in Liège). In 1303, the craftsmen obtain political equity with the three estates, as half of the local council is formed of elected craftsmen. When, in 1312, young noblemen try, by a coup, to seize back power, they are mercilessly killed by the commoners, who see their rights confirmed in the treaty of Angleur, 1313.
The political system which emerges in Liège through the constitution of 1316 is remarkable. The legislative power is shared by the prince and the representatives of the three estates. The prince is powerless without their consent and if the prince's officers violate the law, they are pursued and punished.
Judgement is, from 1373, the sole competence of the Tribunal des 22. Its 22 judges are elected each year by the three estates and they were known to offer shelter and protection at any time of day or night. Only the prince is irresponsible, although his ministers can be deferred to the tribunal (which is one of the bases of the Belgian constitution of 1831).
All this forms an impressive democratic system which was founded in relative peace more than 400 years before the well-known French revolution.
Liège slaughtered
Nothing, except parts of churches and the palace of the prince-bishops, remains of the old city. It is a sad consequence of the burning desire for freedom that is found deep in every Liège citizen. Such is the story:
In 1390 the Pope imposes Jean de Bavière as bishop of Liège. During 16 years, he will try to seize back the freedoms that had been granted to the people of the country. In 1406 he is driven out of the city and must take cover in Maastricht, where he is besieged twice by the people of Liège. Jean de Bavière calls upon his powerful parents: Duc de Bourgogne, Comte de Namur, Comte de Hainaut. Against this coming threat, the army leaves the bishop to try and block the reinforcements. They are beaten in Othée (1408) and the country must surrender and deliver its charters.
In 1418, Jean de Bavière abdicates and Liège thus recovers its freedoms. However ,the Duke of Burgundy, who already seized the bishoprics of Lotharingia, wants to gain the country of Liège as well, because it holds a strategic situation in northern Europe. He forces the next prince-bishop to abdicate and give the country to his nephew Louis de Bourbon.
The new prince-bishop is greedy, absent-minded and awkward. The opposition grows until the three estates proclaim his dethronement and elect Marc de bade, a Mambour, ally of France. It's war. Unfortunately, Louis XI cannot send troops quickly enough and the Liège army falls in Montenaken in front of Charles the Bold. The conditions of surrender include tributes to Brabant and Limbourg, war indemnities, destruction of fortifications. The town of Dinant is besieged, bombed, captured, burned and sacked in 1466 (the citizens cast two by two, bonded, in the Meuse) because it "had insulted the Duke and his good spouse".
When the Duke dies in 1467, the country rises again and claims revenge. Charles crushes the troops of Liège in Brusthem and enters Liège. The leaders are banished, the freedoms cancelled, taxes are multiplied by seven and the perron is moved to Brugghe. The removal of Liège's symbol of freedom means the juridical suppression of the country. The city's families sell their houseware and jewels to pay the debts of the city.
Although the church is flabbergasted, although Louis XI of France weakly protests, revolt will come once again from the townspeople, the banished hiding in the nearby forests. In 1468, the people of Liège group again and try to reconcile with their bishop Louis, with the help of a papal legate. The people have to seize Louis in Tongeren to bring him back in Liège and force him to sign a treaty of peace. This of course does not please Charles the Bold, who definitely wants to tame this city which claims to solve its problems all by itself. He forces Louis XI to abandon his alliance with Liège and join him in a punitive expedition. Peace is celebrated in Liège on 16 October, the troops invade
the country on the 21. The rear-guard of Liège is slaughtered in Lantin on the 25, and Liège is besieged. On the morning of the 30, Gossuin de Streel and Vincent de Bueren lead the legendary 600 franchimontois in a desperate attack against Charles's camp. They hope to kill the Duke during the night. They fail and, forced to flee, they will die when the troops of Charles raid the city. The agony of the city lasted 7 days, the citizens were murdered and the city was destroyed. Only holy ground (the churches and the palace) is left intact. All the rest is burned down.
If you happen to visit the Louvre, you might see a portrait of Jean de Bavière meditating in front of the virgin. The painting by Van Heyck was ordered by Jean after the Liège army retreated from Maastricht in 1408. Story has it that Jean had supplicated the virgin to give him Liège back, when the arrival of Jean's allies forced the besiegers to leave. The painting is erroneously called La Vierge d'Autun and shows, in the background, the city of Liège as it stood before its destruction in 1468.
Liège in the 17th century
The city recovers its rights and the perron in 1477, at Charles's death. The country is ruined and a new era of trade and neutrality brings the city to the 17th century. Industrial improvements in coal and metallurgy provide a new wealth and the political scene becomes dominated by the aristocratic middle-class. The first social struggles appear in the city, again backed up by strong neighbours with interest in the country.
Spain supports the Chiroux, the conservative party in favour of a strong power from the prince. France supports the Grignoux, in favour of increased communal freedom. Sébatien La Ruelle, of the Grignoux, burgomaster from 1630 to 1636 will pay dearly the help provided to the commoners: he is murdered on 16 April 1637. His body exposed in the Cathedral, La Ruelle receives imposing funerals. At this ceremony, the good crafts will reiterate their oath to defend to the death the freedoms of the noble city of Liège. Freedom, forever in the heart of the City.
The death of the country
The Liège Revolution finds its roots in the conservatism of the last prince-bishop, Honsbroeck. In Liège, as opposed to France, budget is balanced, taxes are low and laws are respected. Before 1784, the bishop de Velbrück is a defender of new ideas. He promotes the diffusion of the Encyclopaedia, creates free courses, founds la Société d'Emulation (1779), a circle for artistic, litterary and scientific discussions where, among others, sits Léonard Defrance. In Liège one freely speaks of Freedom, of Equity and Brotherhood.
However, Honsbroeck moves backwards when everyone goes forward. Nobles do not follow him, the middle class resists, the commoners are upset. Although the economic situation worsens, everyone knows that the state is not the only responsible. However, the bishop multiplies his mistakes. By ordering his troops to invest a casino which opened in violation of a monopoly concession, he violates the old law (pauvre homme en sa maison est roi). The city and the bishop are face to face in the imperial tribunal of Wetzlar.
In this troubled context comes the downfall of the Bastille. On August 4, 1789, the noblemen and the church both give up their privileges. The Forts and City Hall are peacefully occupied, the bishop is forced to ratify the reforms. The people of Franchimont will vote a Human Rights Convention much more radical than its French parent. The great work of the 14th century is completed: Liège has defined a constitution in line with the aspiration and the needs of the country.
However, the Imperial Court has of course ruled the return of the bishop. In 1790, the Prussian army invades the City. The country unites at the tune of Valeureux Liégeois (Brave man of Liège, a well-known song) and kicks them out. War continues during 4 years, until July 27, 1794. The country of Liège is split in 9 departments attached to France, the very day of the death of Robespierre. The people of Liège, who wanted to behead the sovereign church, asked Defrance to demolish the Cathedral. By stating that the only ruler is the nation, they offended Art and hurt the conscience of the Country. Liège had been born of its cathedral. They rallied in war to the cry of "Liège et Saint-Lambert". The cathedral is no more, the Country is no more.
The new era
Liège has now become a provincial city. Its industry will now, more than ever, be on the front scene. Dony invents a method to extract Zinc. William Cockerill, by bringing power looms from England, transforms Verviers in an international wool centre. His son John installs steam machines in the mines and steel industries of the region. The national railway provides an enormous boom for the industry. Cockerill, Vieille Montagne, la Fonderie de Canons, les Cristalleries du Val-Saint-Lambert, la Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre have long been famous sites. Zénobe Gramme (1826-1901) invents the revolutionary dynamo.
In the second half of the 19th century, the landscape will be much modified for progress. Train stations, train trenches, new urban settlements - Guillemins, Jonfosse, Longdoz. The river is straightened and deepened to allow fluvial transport. The many branches of the Meuse and of the Ourthe are filled to create new streets, squares, boulevards. The excess waters are channelled through the new Dérivation. The university develops on the traditional schools: Mining School (1837), Electrotechnical Institute Montefiore (1883), Institute of Zoology, etc. Tramways now connect the city to the neighbouring villages.
The last phase of modernisation comes in the 20th century, with the digging of the Canal Albert, the harbour, the highway extensions into the city, the transfer of the university towards the Sart-Tilman (still ongoing) and the modification of the Place Saint-Lambert, open wound left where once stood the cathedral.
