Guillaume of Marck

Guillaume of Marck (? - 1485) are without question one of the most attractive figures of the history of the Principauté of Liege. Called the wild boar of the Ardennes , it was one of the most powerful lords of the country, wire of Jean, lord of Arenberg and Sedan, and Anne de Virnenbourg.

Presentation

In order to consolidate its authority, Louis de Bourbon raised it with the row of large Mayeur and granted to him impregnable the fortress of Franchimont, close to Theux before banishing it to sanction its personal ambitions.

This one took refuge in France, and made hear with the king Louis XI that if he wanted to give him a body of troops, he would ensure a free passage French by the country of Liege, all the times that they would like to enter the the Brabant. Louis accepted the proposal, and provides a company of one hundred lances and thirty thousand ecus.

Marck passed by again in the country of Liege with part of its troop which, to be distinguished, carried a whole a red dress, and a boar's head embroidered on the sleeve. It advanced towards Liege, and assassinated the bishop the August 30th 1482, it was made main of almost all the country, putting at fire and blood all that refused to be subjected.

It was made name Mambour Principality and then made elect his Jean son with the episcopate, the September 14th, whereas the majority of the members of the chapter elected in Leuwen Jean de Hornes, soon recognized like the legitimate bishop by the Pope and the Emperor. A bloody war followed between Maximilien Ier of the Saint Worsens, which controlled the Netherlands, and the mambour of Liege which profited from the support of Louis XI.

Guillaume accepted finally, the May 21st 1484, to recognize Jean de Hornes. The following year, it was stopped in a ambush and conduit with Maastricht where it was decapitated the June 18th 1485.

After its death

Its death is not enough to alleviate the conflicts since his/her Everard brothers and Robert continued the war against Jean de Hornes and Maximilien de Habsbourg.

During seven years, a civil war afflicted the country of Liege. Evrard d' Arenberg, brother of Guillaume, seized three times Liege. He reconciled himself with Jean de Hornes only after this one had, publicly, be sorry for the legal crime of Maastricht (July 1492).

This act was of direct connection with peaces of Cadzand and Senlis. All in all, Everard of Marck and Jean de Hornes had been fought less by personal antagonism than in the capacity as blowing agents, one of Charles VIII, the other of Maximilien of Austria.

This same year 1492, France and the Holy roman Empire, reconciled, fell from agreement to respect the principle of neutrality inhabitant of Li2ege, such as it had been stated by the declaration of 1478.

Anecdote

Its history inspired the novel Quentin Durward of Walter Scott in 1823, novel which provided the subject of the Massacre of the bishop of Liege paints by Delacroix.

See too

History of the Principality of Liege
List of the prince-bishops of Liege

Category: history of Liege

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