Saint-Ghislain

Saint-Ghislain (in Picardy Sint-Guilin ) is a French-speaking city of Belgium located in Walloon region in the Province of Hainaut, in the north of the area of the Borinage.

The city is located geographically at ten kilometers in the west of the center of Mons and, roughly, between the French cities of Valencian Maubeuge and , close to Bavay.

Sections of commune

Baudour, Hautrage, Neufmaison, Saint-Ghislain, Sirault, Hillock and Villerot.

History

The small capital of the Coal-mining, says one sometimes of the Villette, was formerly a dependence of Hornu.

Early middle ages

Towards 650, the history of Saint-Ghislain starts with the Apôtre Ghislain, mysterious character come from Greece which founds a monastery there.

This monk builds a church in the honor of the saints Pierre and Paul. He saw soon running around him many piles coenobites.

October 9th 680, Ghislain dies in his monastery.

Dagobert Ier, king of the Francs, made liberalities at the incipient community, which became a flourishing abbey of the Ordre of saint Benoît. Charlemagne, says one, at the request of Éléphas, its relative, abbot of this monastery, made build a splendid church that destroyed the Normands at the 11th century. This locality was indicated then under the name of Cella, until this name disappeared to be replaced by that of its saint founder. The abbot of Saint-Ghislain was spiritual and temporal lord of the city. The weapons of the city were semi-parts of the Empire and France.

At the beginning of the 9th century, the enlarging of the monastery and the dedication of a church were the first striking facts which are reported to us by the abbots anxious to transmit the memory of the last events. In 881, the abbey undergoes the fire and the plundering of the Norman ones.

The low Middle Ages

Since 1286, the market, bench at the origin with Hornu came to be installed on the Place of Saint-Ghislain; the installation of fairs was seen, the trade of cloth and leather developed and of the merchants of coal were established there.

But its situation near the capital of Hainaut and its position on Hatred conferred on the city an strategic importance which was worth to him the construction of fortifications in 1366 by Albert of Bavaria. Saint-Ghislain became thus a Fortified town important which always had a considerable garrison.

In January 1410, the charter-law of Saint-Ghislain and Hornu is renewed.

1420: birth of the musician Jean Ockeghem (Ca 1420-1497) the name of Jean Ockeghem is read in practically all the dictionaries and general encyclopedias and occupies a broad place in all dedicated works with the history of the music. Jean Ockeghem was one of the most brilliant type-setters of XVe century. He was first chaplain of king de France, Charles VII, and, thanks to the generosity of the sovereign, treasurer of the abbey of Saint Martin's day de Tours as of 1459. It remained with the service of the successors of Charles VII: Louis XI (1461 - 1483) and Charles VIII (1483 - 1498). Up to now, one was tiny room to assumptions in connection with his birthplace. It was believed a long time that it was originating in Termonde even of Bavay. Recent discovered of Mr Daniel Van Overstraeten shows without possible dispute that Jean Ockeghem was born in Saint-Ghislain.

Fortunately, Saint-Ghislain even, who had much to however suffer from the wars, and this until full XXe century, of the documents going back to the old mode survived and, among them, a series of accounts of the parish church of the place. The examination of the latter led to a surprise of size. Among the expenditure recorded in 1607 - 1608 by No5el Haneuze, receiver of the Saint Martin's day church of Saint-Ghislain, one raises the following payment indeed:

Aud curet only for its wages of the memorandum rested by pond Jan Hocquegam, in its time Holy treasurer of the church Martin de Thour and native of St Ghislain, him At esté payet for the year of this account: VIII lb.

This expenditure is found, in practically identical terms, all the preserved posterior accounts. It also appears in the former accounts (four, spread out of 1549-1550 to 1579-1580) arrived to us, but in a more laconic form; it is there indeed simply question of:

… memorandum dud. (elsewhere: fondet by) fire Mons gnor the treasurer of Thours".

The doubt is not possible: the name and first name of the character, his exact titulature, all indicate that it is indeed our musician, who thus appears in a series of accounts saint-ghislainois, whose oldest which is preserved is posterior one half-century to its death.

Thus, Jean Ockeghem was born with Saint-Ghislain, in the middle of Hainaut. It is thus well " of (it) mesme nation" that Jean Lemaire of Belgians: the indications discovered in accountancy saint-ghislainoise confirm the testimony of this poet and, who better is, explain it much more naturally than certain defenders of the Flemish origins of Ockeghem do it.

Native of Saint-Ghislain, the latter did not forget the small town hainuyère, and this in spite of one at least last half-century in France. Probably in the last years of its life, it decided to found a mass birthday there, to celebrate with its memory in the parish church by the care of the priest of the place, assisted of two other priests and five assistants. The foundation also envisaged the purchase of wax, the distribution of white breads to the poor and the children of the school, as well as a remuneration with the profit of the sexton. The whole was fed by the incomes of some located goods with Baudour.

Modern time

Saint-Ghislain had to undergo several seat S.

In 1581, it is the seat of Huguenots which was delivered to plundering.

In 1589, Saint-Ghislain who was a help of the parish of Hornu became a distinct parish then and acquired its independence and reached the row of city.

In 1655 it was the seat of Turenne and Ferté (Vauban takes part in it without ordering), followed entry of Louis XIV, then seventeen years old. The following year, the city is besieged without success by the Spaniards, who make a success of in 1657, under the control of Don Juan of Austria, to take it again.

In 1677, the return of the French with the marshal of Humières which was made main from there (the seat is led by Vauban).

In 1709, following the Battle of Malplaquet, the treaty of Nimègue having returned Saint-Ghislain with the Spain, entire Hainaut turned over to united ordered by the duke of Marlborough. Each time, the abbey undergoes plundering, devastation, fire and, each time, it draws from its resources in order to rebuild or restore the buildings.

Famous characters

Jean Ockeghem (1420 - 1495), Type-setter

Twinning

Gallery

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