Editing Herstal (section)

==History==

===Merovingian and Carolingian golden age===

The name Herstal is of [[Franconian languages|Franconian]] origin, consisting of the elements ''hari'' ("army") and ''stal'' ("resting place", "camp"; compare Modern German ''Stall'', "stable"). The first mention of Herstal is in Latin documents from ±718 (''Cheristalius'' corrected to ''Charistalius'') and 723 (''Harastallius''). The first possibly non-Latinized occurrences are ''Eristail'' (in 919) and ''Harstail'' (1197).<ref>Wolfgang Haubrichs: ''The Multilingualism of the Early Middle Ages: Evidence from Peripheral Regions of the ''Regnum orientalium Francorum''.'' In: Robert Gallagher, Edward Roberts, Francesca Tinti (eds.): ''The Languages of Early Medieval Charters: Latin, Germanic Vernaculars, and the Written Word.'' Leiden 2020, ISBN  9789004428119, p. 85f.</ref><ref>Maurits Gysseling, [http://bouwstoffen.kantl.be/tw/lemma/?id=7238 Herstal] in the Toponymical Dictionary of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Northern France and West Germany (before 1226).</ref>

[[File:Charlemagne-liege-2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Monument to Charlemagne, Liège, [[Louis Jéhotte]], sculptor, 1867]]
[[Pippin of Herstal]] (ca 635–714), [[Mayor of the Palace]] and de facto ruler of [[Austrasia]] and [[Neustria]] and founder of the family that established the [[Carolingian]] dynasty, probably chose this location as his main residence because of its proximity to the major cities of [[Tongeren]], [[Maastricht]], and [[Liège]].  Pippin was the father of [[Charles Martel]], victor of the decisive [[Battle of Tours]] that stopped the Arab-Muslim advance into northwestern Europe, and great grandfather of [[Charlemagne]], also supposedly born in Herstal. Charlemagne lived for at least fifteen years in Herstal but later established his capital in [[Aachen]], ending Herstal's period of medieval glory as capital of the empire.

===Late Middle Ages and modern era===
The town was incorporated into the Duchy of [[Lower Lotharingia]], which became part of the [[Duchy of Brabant]] at the end of the 12th century.  Despite its proximity to [[Liège]], the territory of Herstal did not become part of the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]] until 1740, when the prince-bishop Georges-Louis de Berghes bought it from [[Frederick II of Prussia]].<ref>Histoire de la principauté de Liège, B. Dumoulin, J.L. Kupper, éd. priv., 2002, ({{ISBN|2708947753}})</ref>  By that time, the town was mainly known for its able craftsmen: ceramists, blacksmiths, and clockmakers.

In the 19th century, Herstal became a city of coal and steel.  It would, however, become world-famous thanks to the foundation of the [[FN Herstal|Fabrique Nationale]], a major armament factory, in 1889.  Several [[motorcycle]] manufacturers also established themselves in town.  On August 7, 1914, at the very beginning of [[World War I]], the invading [[Germany|German]] army executed 27 civilians and destroyed 10 homes in Herstal.

[[File:GP35 Gravé JPG1.jpg|thumb|right|Engraved firearm from the ''[[Fabrique Nationale de Herstal|Fabrique Nationale]]''|220px]]
After [[World War II]], heavy industry saw a prolonged period of decline, drastically reducing the number of jobs in these areas.  Today, Herstal's economy is picking up again, with more than 200 companies established on its territory, including Techspace Aero, which manufactures precision parts for the [[European Space Agency]]’s [[Ariane (rocket)|Ariane]] rocket.