Liège : the dauntless city.

Ever since they began to grow their influence over the north of Europe, the Burgundian dukes have always  went through difficulties with the powerful principalities of the area. Among these principalities, the episcopal city of Liège seemed to be the most strong-willed and determined to fight the Burgundian. In 1408, they were defeated at Othée by John the Fearless and had to undergo a strict repression. However, the Liégeois kept acting hostilely with the Burgundian and especially after 1456 when Philip the Good decided to appoint his cousin Louis of Bourbon, as the archbischop of Liège. The Liégeois were scared that the duke of Burgundy was trying to establish his authority on the city and refused to submit to Louis de Bourbon despite pope Calixte III's opinion. The opposition became stronger and stronger and the 22th of April 1465, the Liégeois decided to elect Marc de Bade as their new leader. This election turned the conflict into an open war between the Burgundian state and the episcopal city of Liège. Moreover, Louis XI discreetly supported this rebellion by providing money and weapons to the Liégeois. Unfortunately for these Liégeois, Louis XI was "defeated" by Charles the Bold during the war of Bien public and had soon to negociate with him and to abandon his Liégeois ally. 

Thus when the war between Burgundy and Liège broke out, during the summer of 1465, the Liégeois were soon left alone against their powerful ennemy. They were first defeated at the battle of Montenaken despite the use of the "wagenburg strategy". The 20th of October 1465, two thousand and two hundred Liégeois were killed by the two thousand horsemen of John II of Nassau. After this victory, Charles the Bold could get across the principalty of Liège with a powerful army. He ordered his soldiers not to rob or fleece anything from the Liégeois and not to kill any civilian, so the first campaign of Liège wasn't violent : the plunder of the castle of Harzé was the only savage event of this first war.  The 22th of December a first peace was concluded in Saint-Trond between the Liégeois and the Burgundian. It set the submission of the Liégeois who had to pay a huge war indemnity. Some days after, while Charles the Bold was taking the road of Bruges, his rearguard was suddenly attacked by the inhabitants of Saint-Trond who refused the peace. As a reaction, the Burgundian murdered all the men of the town, plundered everything and set a huge fire before living Saint-Trond. But the peace was concluded.  

However, there was still an important feeling of disappointment discernible in Liège where a few inhabitants agreed with the peace. Some weeks after the conclusion of the peace of Saint-Trond, Liège was already ready to declare war to Philip the Good. The duke of Burgundy, exasperated by the Liégeois and very exhausted, decided to destroy their ally of Dinant by burning the city (cf. previous article). The cruelty of Burgundian in Dinant soon scandalized and terrified the Liégeois who gave up their war against Philip the Good and accepted a new submission. The destruction of Dinant was in all the spirits. But the peace was only a chimera and soon, the Liégeois showed again their intentions of war against Burgundy. This new war broke out just after the death of Philip the Good.

Indeed, the Liégeois made use of the succession of Charles the Bold as duke of Burgundy to enter in a new rebellion. In Liège, they dismembered Jean Carpentier who used to be faithful to Charles the Bold. Some days later they got rid of Louis de Bourbon and canceled the peace of Saint-Trond. Charles the Bold was soon forced to declare war to the Liégeois. The proclamation is made in the streets of Bruxelles by a herald who held in his left hand a flaming torch and in his right hand a sword stained with blood to show what the Liégeois could expect from Charles the Bold : blood and fire. 

The duke of Burgundy besieged Saint-Trond and defeated the Liégeois at the battle of Brustem. About five thousand Liégeois were killed and Renaud de Rouvroit had no choice but opening the doors of Saint-Trond to Charles the Bold who was know able to besiege Liège after having devastated the countries nearby. Helpless, the Liégeois were again forced to accept a submission. The punishment imposed by Charles the Bold was much more stronger than two years before : the walls and fortifications of the city were destroyed, the privileges and favours were cancelled and the municipal power of Liège was repealed. To amplify the humiliation, Charles the Bold ordered the move of the big steps, symbol of the independence of the city, from Liège to Bruxelles. But there was no place left for violence in the city after its submission despite the desire of the Burgundian soliders to plunder everything. Charles the Bold even hanged two of his archers who had stolen a sheep. That's why you can say the second punishment Liège was more a political punishment than a violent punishment such as Dinant. 

After the fall of 1467-1468, Liège was nothing but the shadow of itself. The city was now powerless, helpless and very weak. The Liégeois had no more walls to defend themself and no economical power. But there was still a desire of revenge fed by Louis XI who didn't give up the idea of a great rebellion. 

In october 1468, Louis XI met Charles the Bold at Péronne in order to discuss about the cities of the Somme. The first days of the meeting were very friendly and many witnesses thought that a peace could actually be concluded between the king of France and the duke of Burgundy. But soon, a letter was transmitted to Charles the Bold in which it was stated that the Liégeois had once again entered into a rebelion against Louis de Bourbon who was now their captive in Huy. Charles the Bold exploded with anger and accused Louis XI of having fomented this rebellion. He prevented him from going back to Paris and forced him to go with the Burgundian to attend the punishment. 

Charles the Bold rode side by side from Péronne to Liège where the city was soon besieged. Despite the lack of walls, fortifications and even weapons, the Liégeois hardly defended the city which was taken by the Burgundian on the 30rd of october 1468. Charles the Bold entered into the city on his horse, as a conqueror, followed by Louis XI who, shameless, exclaimed : "Vive Bourgogne!", after having once again abandoned his ally Liégeois. Then Charles the Bold escorted Louis XI who went back to Paris. 

Back in Liège, Charles the Bold could express his hatred and anger toward the Liégeois with a huge and extremely violent punishment. 

Thomas Basin, bischop of Lisieux described the punishment when he wrote : " 

"Among those who were found with weapons when the soldiers entered into the city, a majority was killed ; the others dropped their weapons and hid in cellars where they stayed safe. Some of them were thrown into the river. Several women who were armed or who had insulted the Burgundian were massacred" (Thomas Basin, Histoire de Louis XI, tome I, p. 326). 

VIEILLEVOYE B., Un épisode du sac de Liège

par Charles le Téméraire en 1468, 1842, Musée des beaux-arts de Liège

After some hours, the punishment became more and more violent. Though  Charles the Bold forbade his men to attack the churchs, Burgundian disobeyed and plundered the churchs. The most important, the church of Saint-Lambert, was soon emptied of all its artefacts. Charles the Bold was unable to maintain an authority in his ranks because Burgundian were fed up with the Liégeois. About forty thousand Burgundian raped every woman they found as Jean de Roye explained : 

"And many others cruelties and inhumanities were done there, such as the rape of young ladies and even some religious women, and after the pleasure was taken, they were killed. Some children were killed too while priests were slaughtered in the churches." (Jean de  Roye, Journal, p. 217-218). 

Liège's industry was destroyed and all its workshops too : forty thousands men from the country of Limbourg set the fire which burnt the city. To the Liégeois who begged for Charles the Bold forgiveness, the duke of Burngundy answered : "I don't want to hear about forgiveness. Master, by the rights of war, life and goods of this race of rebels, I can castigate them as I want to.". 

Raphaël de Mercatel, Biblia Figurata, miniature datée de la fin du XVe siècle, cathédrale de Gand.