History of Turned

The history of the City of Turned begins with the foundation from the city during Roman times and continues until our days. That covers many periods of the European history and the life of the city was marked by many regime changes. Royal city under the first Mérovingiens, it was integrated thereafter in Francie Occidentale then in the Kingdom of France within the Comté of Flanders with a broad autonomy which enabled him to be a “ communal republic ”. The Flemish city became also English during a few years, then was integrated into the remainder of the Spanish Netherlands under Charles-Quint, passed in the kingdom of Louis XVI, then reinstated the Netherlands in this moment Austrians which it will not leave any more in spite of the French occupation under the Directory and the Empire, the Dutch mode after the Traité of Vienna and finally the national independence of the Belgium.

Origins

One does not know when the town of Tournai was founded. The absence of documents on its foundation gave birth to by credulity and love from the marvellous number of ridiculous and extravagant fables: Foundations by Nabuchodonosor II, Tarquin Old the,…

It is mentioned no city in Belgium Ancienne in the documents worthiest of faith which inform us about this part of the Gaulle of the time of César, it is thus impossible to know if Turned were already founded at the time of the Guerre of Gaules. If it were the case, it is probable that was a tiny village on this place depend on the territory of the Ménapiens in extreme cases of the Nervie.

The first true agglomerations were born under the Roman mode, they were far from numerous: only Tongres and Tournai.

The first document authenticates which reveals the existence of Turned is a chart: the Table of Peutinger. Turned ( Turnaco ) there appears like postal station.

The Route of Antonin, dating from IIIe of our era, also shows the site of the city in the Roman Empire. It appears there with the Roman Voie which connected it to Cologne.

The Notitia Galliarum (Notice of Gaules), contemporary with the Route , which catalogs dix-septs provinces and a hundred and twenty Roman cities as a Gaulle speaks about two cities in the part which corresponds to the territory of the Kingdom of Belgium, it acts of Tongres and of Turned. Turned, ciuitas Tornacensis , is the chief town of Ménapie and was located in the Belgium Second.

Saint Jerome announces Tournai in one of its letters of 409, it mentions that the city was ransacked by the Vandales into 407.

One can also speak about the legend relating to Saint Piat, which comes in the Belgian regions towards the end from IIIe century there to preach the Gospel and to convert the hearts with Christianity. The legend speaks about the conversion of thirty thousand people. This figure is exaggerated but it indicates that at the time of the visit of this missionary, the city had acquired a certain importance because the preachers moved towards the most populated centers.

Roman period

Turned became really an agglomeration during the Roman domination, with the statute of Municipe and directed by an assembly called curie.

Turned to the junction of was fitted Roman at that time. Principal coming from South-east, Bagacum (Bavay) and setting out again of Turned towards the North-West to pass by Viroviacum (Wervik), Castellum Menapiorum (Cassel) and to lead to Gesoriacum (Boulogne-sur-Mer). A secondary coming from the South-south-west connected Nemetacum Atrebatum (Arras) to Tournai to continue its layout towards Asse with the North-north-east after having crossed the Scheldt. These two axes form within the young Roman agglomeration the Cardo and Decumanus .

High-empire

During the High-Empire, Tournai is extended an enough agglomeration, the Pax romana reign, there are no fortifications because the need to defend oneself does not exist. The dwellings are scattered on forty hectares, mainly on the higher left bank which makes it possible to avoid the risings but there were some buildings on left bank close to the current street of the Bridge and also a commercial district in Luchet d' Antoing which is used as landing stage for the trade of the stone of size and lime. The city jouaissait at that time of a certain comfort, there was a Aqueduc and water pipelines and sewers. Certain dwellings had a Hypocauste and one even found a marble bath-tub with the current site of the Saint-Pierre Place.

The Lower Empire

The cruel invasions of IIIe century and the political disturbances within the Empire stopped the rise of the agglomeration and changed the aspect of the city. After one century of crises, the Dominat is founded and the sudden Empire of great reforms. Turned becomes the caput ciuitatis (chief town) of Ménapie in the place of Cassel and must now defend the Northern border of Gaulle because of his new military role. Its size is reduced because it must shelter behind an enclosure. This fortification built at the end of IIIe and the beginning of IVe century is a wall hones some forming a half-circle closed by a natural defense, the Scheldt. The river, as well as the Roman ways whose city is located at the crossroads are ways of infiltration of the Barbarians. Turned is in load of the control of this road junction and this river road. The landing stage of the High-Empire which was located at the luchet of Antoing was moved at the Lower Empire inside the fortifications, close to the current quay of Market-with-Poisson.

The Notitia Dignitatum Occidentis mentions that at the time there existed in the city a procurator gynæcii Tornacensis . This Gynécée was a workshop of weaving of wool where one employed women of which production for the clothes industry of the equipment of the Roman troops. The same note of the empire speaks about a numerus Turnacensium , a body of Tournaisiens appointed with the defense of the Litus Saxonicus in Brittany which was quartered with Portus Lemanis (Lympne), on the coast of the Kent.

The first Christian communities with Tournai go back to this time. At the end of IIIe century, the missionary Saint Piat originating in Bénévent founds there the first Christian community which one found the first vestiges and burials in lower part of the church bearing the name of this same missionary, the church Saint-Piat.

The great migrations of Germanic people at the beginning of Ve century mark the end of the Roman period of Turned. It was invaded by the Francs little time after the confusion of the Vandals. It is at that time that germanise Tournai, which one can see the sign in particular by funerary furniture.

Period mérovingienne

The franque occupation starts in Tournai towards 431, when Clodion settles there thanks to the signature of a Fœdus. Under its successor Mérovée, who will give his name to the dynasty mérovingienne, the city will play the part of capital of the kingdom salien until the reign of Clovis with certain attributes of the capacity, like that of the Frappe.

The son of Mérovée, Childéric, is especially known for his burial which contained a important treasure. He succeeded his father into 458 and he reigned during 23 years. With his death in 481, his/her Clovis son is high in Tournai on the bulwark. He launches out very quickly in conquests and moves the throne as of 486 worms Soissons then Paris. To its death, Tournai was allotted to his/her son Clotaire.

It is at the time of the conquests of Clovis that Tournai becomes a episcopal see depend on the Archevêché of Rheims. The bishop will be the manager of the city as from this moment, in the place of the king who installed his capital more in the south initially with Soissons then Paris.

The cradle of the dynasty of the Mérovingiens remains important in spite of the loss of its statute of capital. According to Gregoire de Tours, the king of Neustrie Chilpéric came to find refuge with Tournai in the neighborhoods of 575 because it was in war against his brother the king of Austrasie Sigebert. Sigebert, learning that, left with its army to besiege the city but he died assassinated in Vitry by servants of the queen Frédégonde. Chilpéric could thus join together the kingdom of Austrasie with his. This episode of the life of the city will be used in XIIe century by the canons of the Chapter of Turned to manufacture a false charter of king Chilpéric, the Diplôme known as of Chilpéric, granting in thanks the privilege of raising a tax (Tonlieu) on the passage of the goods of the Scheldt.

Afterwards, Tournai returns during one time of shade during all VIIe and VIIIe centuries when one has that very little information on the city. It is known that Tournai guard for this period its seat of Diocèse and episcopal administration as its river trade even if the bishop moves with Noyon and remains until in 1146 prelate of the two cities.

Carolingian period

After one period of almost two centuries when one does not know large thing about the city, it finds a certain historical visibility thanks to the end of the dynasty mérovingienne which became declining (the lazy Kings) and which was replaced by the Carolingiens. This period of revival of the frank kingdom, with a big number of documents of the time lets predict that the city was prosperous.

The river trade taking more importance at that time, the city of Turned gains the statute of Portus what shows its economic importance. Turned which was under the jurisdiction of the bishop sees his capacity to be counterbalanced by the nomination in 817 of a count, laic civil servant with the service of the emperor Louis the Piles, which receives part of the royal tax department of the city. The presence of this laic count will remain strong present until the weakening of the royal capacity towards the end of the century. The emperor also organized the clergy of the cathedral so that the canons can ensure their mission of prayer, benevolence and teaching.

The size of Turned increases, of the new buildings and of the new districts appear apart from the walls of the city. The old enclosures are always existing but are in ruin ( Tornacus, nunc multiplici prostata ruined Funditus ah! turres deflet cecidisse superbas. like writes it Milon d' Elnone towards 850) and of the new districts and buildings appear apart from the walls. The city does not need to renovate them or to increase them because they have only little utility in the middle of the pacified empire of Charlemagne. The need for new enclosures will be felt at the end of IXe century when they proves to be unable to stop the incursions Normans, in particular the plundering of Turned in 880. The Heidilon bishop will receive by Charles Simple the the authorization to rectify them towards 898, in addition to certain rights which belonged to the laic count before.

Feudal period

After the Treated of Verdun which separates the Carolingian Empire into 843 between its sons, Europe enters the era of the Féodalité. Dynastic fights start and Turned as all the remainder of the territories which will become the “Netherlands” been the subject of stake of territorial expansion of vassal which seek to withdraw themselves from the authority of their suzerain. Integrated in the Western Francie of Charles the Bald person, Tournaisis is quickly recovered by the news and ambitious Maison of Flanders at the end of IXe by Baudouin Ier. The counts of Flanders installs there a châtellenie which has its seat with the door of the city which becomes as of this moment a direct vassal ecclesiastical Co-seigniory of king de France while escaping the Flemish territorial district consequently. This duality enters Tournai and Tournaisis, between a city having a great autonomy and its Flemish country lasted until the French occupation. Two lords of the City being the bishop who resides at Noyon and the Chapter of the cathedral on the spot.

The seat of Châtellenie was located in the district of Bruille, also called Flemish Îlot so on Right Bank of the Scheldt. This district was aquis by the city of Turned by its purchase to the lady of the manor Marie de Mortagne in 1295. This expansion of the city proceeds during the economic advancement and demographic of the city which is located at XIe and XIIe centuries. The city develops at the time of the marketing activities which enabled him to be made a name as the stone of Turned and cloth. In 1147, the City is set up in commune sworn by the patricians.

Communal republic

In fight with a very turbulent county of Flanders, Philippe Auguste grants two charters one in 1188 and the other in 1211 in Tournai which grants privileges to him. These charters put an end to the ecclesiastical seigniory, the bishop Everard d' Avesnes “returned” officially the city to king de France. It is a bond of direct vassalage which links Tournai to the crown. It can manage itself according to its own interests without the intermediary of a royal representative of authority.

All that to have “a boulevard of monarchy at the northern end of the royal field” compared to the vassal claiming ones like the count of Flanders. This last, then Baudouin of Constantinople, is combined besides with the English after the refusal of king de France to return grounds in Flandres and makes the seat of Turned without success. His/her son, the Count Ferrand, very gives as much wire to retordre with his suzerain. This one takes Tournai on October 1st, 1213 with the assistance of the emperor Otton of Brunswick but it turns over to the crown after they were overcome in 1214 with the Bataille of Bouvines.

After this disturbed and strong period of the granted privileges, the prosperous commune. Sign this prosperity, the local guild of the clothiers, the Charity of Saint-Christophe, affiliates itself with the Flemish Hanse of London. The city grows rich and its population believes, the communal capacities nibble the competitor capacities which can remain like the bishop or the lord of the manor and buy grounds to grow, as it was the case with the districts of Bruille and the Limekilns in 1295. This last district also on Right Bank of the Scheldt included/understood Allain and Warchin, of the grounds depending on the Empire.

In 1313, the king of France Philippe Beautiful the invades Tournaisis, seizes the châtellenie and the last rights of justice scabinale that this one held. In 1321, the bishop gives up with Philippe V, in exchange of the seigniory of Wez, the homage and the stronghold of the châtellenie and the avouery of Turned like various economic rights. In 1323, it is with the solicitor to sell his office and its rights to Charles Beautiful the. The commune is shown however so jealous of its autonomy and sometimes so claiming that in 1332, the king removes it.

During the War One hundred Year old, Turned remainder faithful to King de France and its geographical position which did of it “one of the doors of the kingdom of France” puts it at the center strategic and military considerations. Fidelity with King de France, guarantor of communal freedoms, was thanked by Sainte Jeanne d' Arc in a famous letter and resistance opposed by the city during the seat of 1340 to the English troops of Edouard III helped by the militia of Jacques Van Artevelde is worth to him the restitution of the right of commune and the acquisition of all the rights of the lord of the manor, the solicitor and the bishop. One year later, after the purchase of half of the justice of Saint-Brice held by a relative of the lords of the manor, the commune is finally the only lord of all its territory.

The commune however is again removed in 1367: finances of the city suffer, inter alia, of the wars of kings de France and Tournaisiens are pressed by their sovereign to pay new taxes, which they refuse and of the riots take place. February 6th, 1370, communal freedoms are restored with a new constitution which gives all the capacities to the urban aristocracy. In 1423, a democratic revolution takes place and the craftsmen gathered in corporations of trades take part consequently in the government of the city. There are then a fourth college, that of the seniors and vices-dean of the trades, at the sides as of those of the eswardeurs, sworn and aldermen.

This accession of the professionals to the capacity is explained by the fact why XVe century is a golden age for the city which is then re-elected in the field of Article Its painters, its tapestry makers, its sculptors on stone and its brass founders produce masterpieces enormously. Exits of the Flemish university, painting and the tapestry tournaisiennes acquire noble letters. Masters like Jacques Daret, Robert Campin, Roger van der Weyden leave the guild of Saint-Luc, the corporation of the painters and the workshops of tapestry which had suffered from the war of One hundred Years find their glare, in particular following the decline of Arras. They export in all the Occident and are the regular suppliers of the Dukes of Burgundy who now reignent on almost the whole of the Netherlands.

English occupation

It is thanks to these Dukes of Burgundy that the destinies of Turned will change. The emperor Maximilien, Master of the Burgundian Netherlands by his marriage with the girl of Charles Bold the, takes again the fight against France within the Sainte League on May 17th, 1512 being combined with the pope Leon X, Spain of the king Ferdinand d' Aragon and the king Henri VIII of England. Pleasing Maximilien this last to seize the city in 1513, while probably wishing to annex it one day with the Provinces of the Netherlands. Henri VIII seizes easily Turned, badly defended by a small garrison and a thin artillery, the common flowerhead after a few days of bombardment.

The English period of Turned begins officially on September 25th, 1513, when Henri VIII fact his entry in the city in the morning. To horse, vêtu of a gold cloth dress, carrying a collar of precious stones and pearls, it is presented to the Sainte-Fontaine Door. Surrounded by thirteen pages of honor wearing a cloth dress of gold and a great number of princes and lords and escorted by the eight hundred archers of the guard, they overlap in Tournai and are accommodated by the canons. The latter raise above the king a Dais with the English colors: red velvet and sown blue of flowers of lily and leopards. And they make then it tower of the cathedral then the king enters there where it “makes greeting with God and Notre-Dame”. The afternoon, Henri VIII goes to the market close it belfry, to receive the oath of fidelity of the people.

Henri VIII considers that the city of Turned forms integral part of her kingdom. Turned and Tournaisis are a constituency and are thus authorized to send two deputies to the House of Commons. The English king leaves there twenty thousand riders and four thousand infantrymen, who will be placed in the district of Bruille. This district will be called thereafter “district of the Castle” because the king of England orders to build a citadel for his army there. Of this citadel which was destroyed in 1669-1688 during the installation of the fortifications by Vauban, there remains an imposing tower whose walls make nearly 7 meters thickness and which one names today the Tour Henri VIII.

The English will remain in Tournai until 1519, date on which François 1 {{er}} repurchases the city. Turned is the only town of Belgium to have been English.

Spanish period

The return to the crown of France will not last a long time. Charles Quint takes Tournai during the Sixth war of Italy at the end of a 3 months blockade and a seat 6 weeks. With the annexation of Turned and of Tournaisis on December 3rd, 1521, the Emperor carries out an old Burgundian dream: the unit of the Flanders and end of the French influence on this one and Artois, which will be completely concretized with the conquest of the Cambraisis in 1543. Turned thus turns over in the Flemish bosom and the Lord of the Netherlands consequently becomes occasion “ Seigneur of Turned ”.

The membership of Turned to the Flanders and with the remainder of the Netherlands was officialized by the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549. This document does not mention Turned, it is thus that it forms integral part of the County of Flanders. It establishes that the Spanish Netherlands, so called Seventeen Provinces, form a whole and that it are a separate entity of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire but also of the Kingdom of France.

French period