Editing Thuin (section)

==History==

===Origins===

This area was already being used as a burial place in [[Gallo-Roman]] times, around the 2nd and 3rd century.  The earliest name of the settlement, ''Thudinium Castellum'', referring to a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] fortification, is found on a 9th-century offering in [[Lobbes Abbey]], which lists various neighbouring towns and related [[tithe]] duties.  The village was a possession of the abbey of Lobbes and, together with the abbey, became part of the [[Bishopric of Liège]] in 888. The neighbouring [[Aulne Abbey]], reputedly founded in the 7th century by [[Landelin]], a repentant robber, was also made part of the Bishopric of Liège.

A century later, [[Prince-Bishop]] [[Notker of Liège|Notger]] had a [[defensive wall]] built in Thuin, which then became the westernmost of the 23 ''bonnes villes'' (or principal cities) of the bishopric.

===The frontiers of the Bishopric of Liège===

In the following centuries, several battles took place in this frontier area.  In 1048, [[Adalbert, Duke of Lorraine]] was killed at the Battle of Thuin by [[Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine]].  Many more battles followed between the [[County of Hainaut]] and the Bishopric of Liège, with Thuin caught in between.  Despite the stronger defensive walls that were built in the 12th century and in the 15th century, Thuin was besieged several times.  The Aulne Abbey, which had been given to [[Saint Bernard of Clairvaux]] in 1147 fared better and was even expanded several times in the 16th and 18th century.  In 1654, the [[Spain|Spanish]] army under the [[Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé|Prince of Condé]] tried in vain to take Thuin.  The good fortunes of the city were attributed to the intercession of [[Saint Roch]], who is still commemorated in the annual St-Roch procession.  Several 17th-century buildings, including the [[Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry]], can still be seen today in the upper city.  In 1675, the troops of [[Louis XIV]] took and occupied Thuin until the [[Treaty of Nijmegen]] in 1678.  Like its neighbour [[Charleroi]], Thuin went in turn to [[Spain]] and [[Austria]].

===After the French Revolution===

On May 10, 1794, during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], [[François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers|General Marceau]] expelled the Austrians and Thuin became part of [[France]]. The Aulne Abbey was burned to the ground.  In 1829, on the eve of the [[Belgian Revolution]], [[William II of the Netherlands]] was welcomed in Thuin, to no avail.  The last major heavy fighting around Thuin occurred on August 23, 1914, at the onset of [[World War I]], when the [[France|French]] army found itself nearly surrounded by the [[Germany|German]] army.