History of Leuwen

This article recalls the history of Leuwen in complement of the principal article on the town of Leuwen.

To include/understand the history of Leuwen it is necessary for all to lean on the Histoire of Europe : its wars, the history of the royal families, alliances, the successions, etc the city, located in a buffer zone between the European great powers, will be to the son of the years under Roman domination, Austrian, Spanish, French, Dutch, etc; each one of these occupations deeply marked the life of the louvanists.

Origins and Roman period

The man is already present in the neighborhoods of Leuwen in 130000 front J. - C. as attest it flints discovered at the time of archaeological excavations with Kessel-Lo, Linden and Lubbeek. , These flints, coming from the human activity, thus date from before last period interglacial, known as of Riss-Würm. The first installations seem gone back to 3500 av. J. - C., time of the last glacial period, said Würm. They were found at the time of archaeological excavations with Kessel-Lo, more precisely in Kesselberg. This site was apparently surrounded, over a length of 1300 m, of a palisade out of wooden and ground walls (broad of 14 m) as well as ditch (broad of 7 m and major of 90 cm). One century later, in 1600 av. J. - C., two tribes live in the area: the Nerviens, a Germanic tribe of origin, and the Éburons, another tribe of Germanic origin whose Ambiorix was a famous chief. The natural border between the territory of these two people was the Dyle (river running with Leuwen). The Nerviens lived with the west of the Dyle and the Éburons in the east. Their colonies were mainly built on the heights of the valley of the Dyle. Their dwellings were made of wood and ground. They lived breeding and agriculture and produced wool as well as potteries.

When Jules César attacks the Gaulle, it subjects the Nerviens by the force and the Éburons without fighting battle. In 57 av. J. - C., it beats the Nerviens, which become prone then of the Roman people. Five troops are placed on the territory of the Éburons, which have of another choice only to be subjected. The Éburons do not accept this domination ; and, knowing itself unable to beat the Romans by the force, attack them thanks to the trick. Ambiorix their fact of accepting a generalized revolt of the Gaulle assisted by the German ones, which would have saying already passed the the Rhine. The Romans decide to raise the camp to go as fast as possible to inform their generals of the situation. It is at this time that Ambiorix and the Éburons tighten a ambush to them and massacres surroundings 7000 Romans. César will be avenged in 55 av. J. - C. by exterminating the Éburons. Their territory is then depopulated and the Romans place there several thousands of Suèves and Sicambres. (Germanic people living on the other side of the the Rhine, overcome a little earlier by the Romans) It took then the name of Tungris. At that time, large a Roman way connected Cologne to Cambrai while passing by Tongres and Bavay (important city Roman; true node of communication at that time). Between Tongres and Bavay, the main road passed by Gembloux and Binche. But an alternative existed to connect Tongres to Bavay by using a minor road passing more to north via Saint-Trond, Tirlemont, Leuwen, Elewijt and Asse. Leuwen thus profited from situations geographical advantageous: the colony was with the intersection of the Roman Voie and the Dyle. Many remainders of Roman villas going back to this time were found along this transportation route, and more particularly neighborhood of Leuwen. The development of the colony was indisputably influenced by the fact that Leuwen was directly connected to the Roman communication network. It came then into contact with people, goods, knowledge and ideas coming from whole Europe.

Germanic invasions

When the Germanic Peuples (more precisely Frank saliens in the area of Leuwen) invade the area at the 4th century, they destroy any traces of the Gallo-Roman company systematically. The grid system is degraded, the commercial relations weaken, the fields tombs in disuse, and an afforestation of the landscape is noted. Civilization declines quickly but the lack of written sources does not make it possible at that time to determine precisely the practices of life of the inhabitants of the area. They however are described like warlike and quarrelsome tribes; pagan and superstitieuses ; using the ritual ones as well as magic formulas. Étymologiquement, the name of the city draws its origin from lo (forest) and ven (marsh). Leuwen would mean donc : le marsh of the forêt. This explanation seems coherent because, at the time, the area was covered with forests, was put aside the valley of the Dyle which was marshy. All the South-eastern part of the city, between the street of Namur (Naamsestraat) and the street of Diest (Diestsestraat), was covered with forest whereas the remainder of the city (except the heights such as the Mount-César (Keizersberg)) was covered with marsh.

Scandinavian invasions

At the 9th century, the Vikings (to which one will give later the name of Normands) prevail in England, in France and on the territory of current the Belgium. Their mode of operation is simple : they go up in boats the course of the rivers, establish a camping, and leave to horse to plunder and devastate the neighborhoods. Hating the Christian , they set fire to the churches and kill the monks. In order to stop their devastations in the North of the France, the king Carloman their offer, on February 2nd, 884, 20 000 pounds of fine money against the promise which they will leave the France for twelve years. They accept and evacuate the country. A great part of them moves then towards Leuwen and establishes their camping there.

Ten months later, when Carloman dies on December 12th at the time of an accident of hunting, the Normands are considered released of their promise and break the truce with the France. Surroundings 40 000 Normands move then towards Paris, which it reach at the end of the month of November 886. Six months later, the king of France Charles Gros pours 700 pounds to them from to go away. The Normands which had left Leuwen go back there then and continue to devastate the area.

The Germanie king, Arnulf does not have, as for him, any intention of négocier : he decide to join together an army to attack the Normands. When the latter learn it, they attack by surprised the troops of Arnulf and massacre them. Arnulf again joins together an army (but this considerable time) and goes towards Leuwen which it reaches the 1er September 891. (either it quasi totality) are killed during the battles of Leuwen and the area is again free. However, it is possible that the figures were largely exaggerated by the historians. Indeed, the city at the time still was extended very little, mainly covered with marshes and they seem not very probable that 100 000 Normands were present at the time of the battles of Leuwen. Other sources suggest that des hundreds, even thousands of Normands changed cent thousand of them Normands. The latter would not have of aillor completely not left the area after the battle and would have returned to spend summer 892 to Leuwen. The famine and the plague would have then pushed them to emigrate in England and Normandy.

The village fair of Leuwen, which with place the 1^er Sunday of September, car is origin of the battles of Leuwen.

The county of Leuwen

The county of Leuwen had, at the time, about same the borders as the current Hageland (area between Aarschot, Leuwen, Tirlemont and Diest). It, more precisely, was located between the Démer at north, the Dyle in the west and the Velp in the south and the east. The residence of the count was then transferred towards another island, one kilometer downstream, with the current site of the church Notre-Dame predikheren.

The first duke of Leuwen to being mentioned in writing was Lambert Ier Bearded the. He obtained in dowry, thanks to his marriage with Gerberge (girl of the duke of Low-Lotharingie), the county of Brussels then, in 1013, he annexed the duchy of Bruningerode, located at the neighborhoods of Tongre. The tomb of the couple is located today inside the Saint-Pierre church.

The duchy of the Brabant

In 1106, the emperor of the Germanic Roman Holy roman Empire, Henri V gave the duchy of Low-Lotharingie in stronghold to the count of Leuwen, Godefroid Ier Bearded the.

Godefroid Ier Bearded the made gift, in 1129, of part of its grounds of hunting for the Prémontrés (order created in 1120 by Saint Norbert de Xanten, also called Norbertins). They based on these grounds, located at the south-east of the city, the abbey of park which is always present at our time.

The first enclosing wall of Leuwen was high between 1156 and 1161: it is called the “enclosing wall of the Duke Godefroid III”. From a two meters thickness, a height varying cave four and five meters, this 2740 meters length wall protected the center from the city (600 000 m ²). It counted 31 strengthened towers, that is to say every 90 meters surroundings, like eleven doors. The remainders of this wall are still visible today by places, e.g in the Saint-Donatus park or in the course of the crossbows (hanbogenhof).

The ducal residence is abandoned in 1233. The duke prefers to him the castle-extremely located on the current Mount-César the Brabant consequently controls very lucrative connection between the the Rhine and the the Scheldt. The economy of the duchy is then flourishing; thanks to the trade and in particular thanks to the textile trade with the England. Leuwen is at the top of its glory, as well at the economic level as cultural. The city counts in 1340 surroundings 20.000 inhabitants the inhabitants of Leuwen refer today still to these famous doors (Namur carries, carries Brussels, etc) although they have missing since then. Part of the rampart is always visible in the street of Malines. It with is noted that the buildings of the door of Brussels go back to 1825 and that they are thus not remainders of the strengthened enclosure.

The university of Leuwen, which will occupy later a dominating place in the city, was founded in 1425.

The duchy of Burgundy

Officially, the integration of Leuwen in the Duchy of Burgundy date of 1430. The city then made new great strides, certainly of short duration, mainly due to the development of the industrial sector: the weaving of the flax, the industry of leather, the weaving of carpet and tapestries, etc This rise involved an increase in the population, and the city will count to 19.000 inhabitants, that is to say a little less than in 1340. During this boom, three buildings typically representative of the gothic Architecture the Brabant flamboyant were built: the town hall, the Tafelrond and the Saint-Pierre church. It is between 1439 and 1469 that the town hall was built. Its innumerable ornaments testify to the importance that the Sculpture at the 15th century had. Built originally in 1479, the Tafelrond, in turn residence of the guilds, the craftsmen and other associations, were destroyed in 1818 and were replaced by a neo-classic building of style . In 1921, after having been burnt lasting First World War, it was rebuilt on the Gothic model of origin.

In a more anecdotic way, it is interesting to note that, at the time of the 15th century, with Leuwen close to a man on two is called Jan (36%) or Hendrik (12%) and that nearly two women out of three are called Catharina (26%), Elisabeth (24%) or Margaretha (14%).

Under Habsbourg

After the death of Charles Bold the in 1477, Marie of Burgundy succeeds to him. The latter being married with Maximilien Ier de Habsbourg, the Brabant is consequently managed by the Habsbourg.

Leuwen then knows one of the blackest periods of its history. The power struggles between the various royal families of Europe disturb the economy and the trade. The war, the epidemics of Plague, the overflows of the Dyle as well as bad harvests will decimate the population on several occasions.

Spanish Netherlands

When Charles Quint abdicated in 1555 with Brussels in favor of his/her son Philippe II of Spain, Leuwen passed under Spanish control. Philippe II having been high in Spain, it is very difficult for him to include/understand its subjects of the Spanish Netherlands. The latter do not regard it besides as one as of theirs. In 1559, it will leave the Netherlands not to return there never again.

The beginning of the Spanish domination corresponds to a terrible climate for Leuwen: the controversy between the catholic traditional (supported by Spanish) and the Protestant involves a series of violences as well as many aggressions against the religious institutions. Between 1578 and 1579, a strong epidemic of Peste finishes devastating the population. In 1600, Leuwen counts nothing any more but 9.700 inhabitants surroundings.

The climate is much more peaceful as from 1598, when Albert de Habsbourg and his wife Isabelle of Spain succeeds Philippe II. The city is then rebuilt, and the absolute priority is given to the development of the Agriculture.

The Saint-Michel church was built under the Spanish domination. It was the first church Baroque of Leuwen.

Austrian Netherlands

In 1700, when Charles II of Spain die without successor, the Bourbons and the Habsbourg assert the throne. The War of succession of Spain (1701-1714) devastation then the Europe during more than ten years. A diplomatic solution is finally found in 1714 at the time of the Traité of Rastatt where Charles de Habsbourg receives the Spanish Netherlands. Leuwen passes then under Austrian domination.

When Charles dies in 1740, his/her daughter Marie-Therese de Habsbourg receives the States hereditary of the House of Habsbourg. She had, however, to carry out the War of succession of Austria (1740-1748) against the Prussia, the Bavaria, Saxony as well as the France and the Spain, which disputed the throne to him. The area is then invaded in 1745 by the French troops. In 1748, the treated of Aachen put an end to the war and the area passed by again under Austrian domination.

Marie-Therese then named Charles-Alexandre of Lorraine as governor of the Netherlands. He was one of the general governors of the most popular Netherlands. After having agriculture gave on foot, it developed the trade and the economy; and it modernized the transport infrastructures. For example, the channel of Leuwen was dug between 1750 and 1763. An inner harbor was also arranged, and an industrial park developed to with it.

In 1780, Joseph II of Austria succeeded his/her mother Marie-Therese. This despote éclairé, engaged of very many political reforms and religious progressists who involved, initially the protests of the people, thereafter the Révolution brabançonne and finally an easing of the reforms.

It is for this period that the doors of the enclosing wall of the Duke Godefroid III were dismantled in order to improve transport towards the center town. The cemeteries around the churches disappeared with the profit from several places. The city placed many water pumps which provided drinking water to the population.

With Leuwen, three streets testify today to the occupation Austrian: the street Marie-Therese (Maria Theresistraat), the street Charles of Lorraine (Karel van Lotharingenstraat) as well as the street Joseph II (Jozef II-straat).

The 19th century

The French period

June 26th, 1794, France gains the battles of Fleurus vis-a-vis the Austria, the Great Britain and Hanover. It takes again the Belgium thus and puts an end to 80 years an Austrian occupation. The French occupation will involve radical modifications, as well on the legal level as on the administrative level. Leuwen then makes party of the department Dyle, whose Chef-lieu is Brussels.

The French presence is very badly lived in the area. The inhabitants hope for a possible British unloading which would release the country. The Église is the target of the revolutionary France. The churches are closed; the béguinages, the cloisters, the abbeys are abandoned; sold buildings or even sometimes demolished. When, on December 5th, 1798, a law imposes the military service on any man from 20 to 25 years, the inhabitants take the weapons and revolt. It is what one calls the war of the peasants or Boerenkrijg in the area. This revolt will last only a few months and was severely repressed (170 leaders were carried out).

The situation improves in 1801, when Napoleon sign the legal settlement and recognizes the Catholicisme like the religion “of the majority of the French”. He enjoys then a certain popularity among catholics of the area.

The Dutch period

June 18th, 1815, Napoleon is overcome with Waterloo, and Leuwen passes under Dutch administration. The foreign trade is restored gradually, via the reopening of the the Scheldt, and involves a clearing of the economic activity.

Dutch builds customs houses on the access roads to Leuwen. The splendid neo-classic building of the door of Brussels in is an good example.

It is for this period that the botanical garden was built with the site of the old cloister of the capuchins, which had been destroyed at the time of the French occupation.

The revolution of 1830

August 25th, 1830, with Brussels, the people thunder against the Dutch occupant and of the riots éclatent : it is the beginning of the Belgian Révolution, which will be propagated quickly with the remainder of the country. August 29th, the Tricolor (French) is planted on the perron of the town hall of Leuwen. The people, enthusiastic, go down then in the streets and overflow quickly the guard. When on September 2nd, it is learned that Dutch troops moves towards the city, a crowd goes to the barracks of the street of Tirlemont (Tiensestraat) in order to obtain weapons. The guard is opposed and ends to it up shooting at crowd. Four insurgent will then be killed. Seeing the anger of the people going up, the garrison leave the city during the night. Dutch approaching Leuwen more and more. A small troop of Louvanistes armed is then sent to their meeting. After a short shooting, Dutch beats a retreat. September 23rd, a column of the Dutch army located on the chaussee of Malines (Mechelsestraat) starts to cannonade the city. But while the volunteers place themselves quickly on the ramparts and counteract, another part of the Dutch army arrives by the chaussee of Tirlemont (Tiensesteenweg), located on the other side of the city. Louvanistes are defended with their single gun and succeed in putting Dutch in escape.

July 30th, 1831, Léopold, recently proclaimed King of the Belgians (on June 4th), goes to Leuwen where it east accommodated with enthusiasm by the inhabitants.

At the time of the episode of the Countryside of the Ten-Days, Dutch briefly takes again the war against Belgium. It are with the doors of the city on August 10th. Léopold Ier and the Belgian army, in inferiority, flees the city later two days for Malines. The army enters the city on August 12th but the Belgians recover Leuwen later two days whereas the French troops arrived in reinforcement.

The industrial revolution at the 19th century

It is undoubtedly during the 19th century that Leuwen with more changed. The Industrial revolution caused an upheaval without preceding, as well at the demographic level as at the urban level. About 1800, Leuwen was a very artisanal city, and altogether rather rural; populated surroundings 20 000 inhabitants. One century later, the city is strongly industrialized and counts more 40 000 inhabitants.

Industry - mainly based with Leuwen on the transformation of the agricultural produce - evolved/moved drastiquement during this century. The example of the breweries is striking: several tens of them existed and carried out a fatal competition during the 19th century. And if, the head office of the largest brewer of the world (InBev) is located today at Leuwen, it is undoubtedly mainly because of the spectacular development carried out during the 19th century.

The grid system was also largely improved at that time. The enclosing wall of the duchess Jeanne left room to the “boxing ring”: a broad circular road surrounding the city. In 1839, four years after the opening of the first line of Railroad in continental Europe (connecting Brussels to Malignant), Leuwen was in its turn connected to the Railway network. In parallel, the channel was adapted to be able to accommodate larger boats.

The avenue of allied (Bondgenotenlaan), which is famous for its trade today, was then creates to connect directly and in a rectilinear way the station to the center town. Its name was besides at the time rue of the gare (statiestraat).

The last parts of Leuwen intramurally still made up of gardens and fields were transformed to be able to accommodate the growing population. These gardens and fields were mainly located in the south-eastern part of the city: between the current street of Namur (naamsestraat) and the street of Tirlemont (tiensestraat).

From the urban point of view, Leuwen changed considerably during the 19th century. Tens of places were created, among which the place Saint-Jacob (Sint-Jacobsplein), the place of the people (Volksplein, today Mgr. Ladeuzeplein) and places it station (Statieplein, today Martelarenplein, i.e the place of the martyrs). Since 1835, the streets of the city were enlightened with gas. The brook of Voer was arched, the drains occupying the medium of the streets were removed, a quantity of narrow streets were widened or quite simply destroyed and a considerable number of sewers was installed.

The theater and the post office - two splendid buildings in full center town - were built, respectively in 1866 and between 1893 and 1895. It is as at that time as the central prison, the cloister of the Rédemptoristes as well as the Abbaye of the Benedictines (located on the Mount-César (Keizersberg)) were built.

It is as with the course this century as one of most beautiful and the most majestic churches of Leuwen was bâtie : the church Saint-Joseph (Sint-Jozefkerk). This neogothic church of style , located in the street of the corbels (Ravenstraat), built by the fathers Jesuits, was devoted in 1871. Unfortunately, surroundings one century later, the church undoubtedly show worrying signs of dilapidation (because of the Second world war) and, in 1966, it is decided to cut down the building. The ground is then sold at the university, and one finds there today the faculty of letters and the garden of Érasme (Erasmustuin). One of the rare images of this church is visible on photo Ci-contre : one can see it at the bottom on the left, on the level of the horizon.

The 20th century

The First World War

The Second world war

During the second world war, Leuwen is a strategic point in more than one way. The city is: chief town of district; a node of communications between Brussels, Tirlemont, Namur, Tervuren, Diest, Malignant Aarschot and ; a railway center of first importance. Moreover, the ligne K.W. (line of defense crossing the Belgium of Koningshooikt to Wavre) passes by Leuwen.

The Germany invades successfully Is Belgium on May 10th, 1940. The allies take refuge then behind the ligne K.W and the 3^e British division of infantry, under the command of Montgomery, defend Leuwen. The allies blow up the principal bridges of the city to ensure defense. May 10th, during a German bombardment, 101 civilians are killed with the Door of Tirlemont (Tiensepoort). May 14th, the 19^e division of German infantry attacks the city and manages to take the station. The allies bombard them then heavily. The following day, the general Montgomery manages to push back the Germans at the time of a counter-offensive. A fire, caused by the bombardments, destroyed the college library on May 16th. On some: 900,000 pounds: 880,000 are destroyed. May 17th, the troops allied give up the city, because the line of defense was bored some days earlier with Sedan.

At the time of the German occupation, there are no troops in Leuwen; only administrative services are present. For this period, the students of the university carrying out their first year are forced to work for six months in industry.

In spring 1944, for one month (from April 26th to May 25th), Leuwen is bombarded with five recoveries by the allies. These bombardments make almost 500 dead and leave the city in ashes. September 4th, 1944, the British troops release the city. In order to extract the few Germans taken refuge in the Roundtable (Tafelrond) the British put fire at it; but the absence of German military troops in the city makes the release very fast.

The crisis of Leuwen

Demography

Chronological plank

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