Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege

The Révolution inhabitant of Li2ege (in Walloon Revolucion lidjwess or Binamêye revolucion ) is the period which goes from 1789 to 1795, and which will involve the disappearance of the Principauté of Liege after 8 centuries of existence.

According to certain historians, the revolution proceeded for the period when the prince-bishop was absent, as of its departure during the night from August 26th to 27th 1789 until its return on February 12th, 1791. In this interpretation, the Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege was the counterpart of the Révolution brabançonne in the Austrian Netherlands, which failed.

According to others, the Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege was a mirror of the French revolution or of it was even a part. The Revolution in France started simultaneously in 1789 and in this interpretation the revolution with Liege continued after the temporary return of the prince; she knew a second phase with the entry of the revolutionary troops in 1792, and a third phase in 1794 with the second return of the French. Then, the revolution finished in 1795 by the disappearance of the principality and its incorporation with the French Republic. During this phase the revolution showed extreme episodes, for example the demolition of the cathedral Saint-Lambert.

1772-1791

The prince-bishop François-Charles de Velbruck (1772-1784), émancipé spirit, is favorable to the philosophers and lets spread the novel ideas. It is even of the company “Emulation”, that it founds in 1779 to encourage the taste of arts, the letters and sciences, that certain chiefs will leave the revolt.

Because the revolt thunders already. Since 1684, the capacity belongs to the prince-bishop, to the canons of the cathedral Saint-Lambert and to the aristocracy. The low clergy, the minor nobility, the industrial middle-class, the workmen, the peasants, thus do not take part in the management of the public affairs. Moreover, the situation of the small people is hardly enviable; unemployment and the begging prevail; voices rise to claim political changes and more social justice.

In 1784, it is César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck which becomes prince-bishop. Hostile with any reform, this authoritative sovereign pokes the rebellion which broods.

In June 1787, Hoensbroeck sends to Spa two hundred men and two guns to make close a house of play. The event and the long lawsuit which follows are the pretext of a renewal of dispute, and the revolution which bursts with Paris in July 1789 completes to overheat the heats.

August 18th, 1789, Jean-Nicolas Bassenge and other democrats go to the town hall. They claim the resignation of the magistrates in place and make name popular burgomasters: Jacques-Joseph Fabry and Jean-Remy de Chestret. The citadel of Holy-Walburge falls to the hands from the insurrectionists. Hoensbroeck is brought back of its castle of Seraing to ratify the nomination of the new municipal officials and to abolish the so much disputed payment of 1684.

But it is only one trick. A few days later, the prince flees with Trier, in Germany. The court of the Empire will condemn the insurrection inhabitant of Li2ege and will order the re-establishment of the old mode in the principality of Liege.

While waiting, the States of the country of Liege prepare a Constitution in which one finds in particular the equality of all in front of the tax, the election of the deputies by the people and the freedom to the work.

From November 1789 in April 1790, the Prussian occupy Liege and other large cities of the principality, in charge of a mission of mediation between the revolutionists and the Cercle of Westphalia.

But it is impossible to reconcile the liberal aspirations of the people inhabitant of Li2ege and the authoritative stubbornness of Hoensbroeck in exile. The emperor of Austria Léopold II, after having begun again possession of the Netherlands, intervenes to restore the episcopal capacity in his integrity.

The volunteers inhabitant of Li2ege, who face the enemy by entonnant the “Valeureux Inhabitant of Li2ege” of the abbot Ramoux, cannot obviously contain the Austrian army, which between in Liege on January 12th, 1791. The prince-bishop Hoensbroeck recovers his throne and proceeds to many reprisals. Most of the patriots inhabitant of Li2ege are obliged to find refuge in France.

1792-1795

June 3rd, 1792, dies the prince-bishop Hoensbroeck, that which the people called the “Tyrant of Seraing”. It is François-Antoine-Marie de Méan which succeeds to him.

September 22nd, 1792, the republic is proclaimed in France. This one is in war against the other European powers, which want to restore monarchy, and the conflict proceeds partly on the Belgian ground.

November 6th, 1792, the French general Dumouriez inflicts with Jemappes a heavy defeat with the Austrians; he enters to Liege the 28, in the middle of popular enthusiasm. The patriots exiled at the time of the return of Hoensbroeck return with the French Army, while flees François-Antoine-Marie de Méan

February 17th, 1793, an National Assembly inhabitant of Li2ege elected by the eighteen year old citizens decides the meeting of the principality in France. But in March, the French Army is overcome with Neerwinden: the Austrians re-occupy Liege and bring back the prince-bishop.

This second restoration is of short duration. June 26th, 1794, the republican troops gain the victory of Fleurus.

The July 27th 1794, the Austrian troops leave Liege after having bombarded and having set fire to the district of Amercoeur. The last prince-bishop François-Antoine-Marie de Méan share in exile.

The last battle, before the final conquest of the territory, the Battle of Sprimont, intervenes the September 17th with Fontin, between Esneux and Aywaille. One of the coasts of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Redoute, car its name of a fortified position of this battle.

In 1795, Convention issues the incorporation of the Principauté to the French Republic, consequently involving its disappearance and its distribution on three departments: Ourte, Meuse-Lower and Sambre-and-Meuse. This disappearance will be ratified in 1801 by the Legal settlement between Bonaparte and the Pope Pie VII.

See too

Internal bonds

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

External bond

Chronic of the revolutions Belgian and inhabitant of Li2ege 1789-1790

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