Editing Tielt (section)

==History==
[[File:Stadhuis Tielt (DSCF0061).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Townhall of Tielt]]
Some traces of [[Gallo-Roman]] occupation have been found in this area. The region was invaded by the Viking [[Rikiwulf]] of the [[Wulfing]] dynasty in 880 AD, who built Rikiwulfinga-haim, which survives as the Rijkegem-kouter today. The first written mention of ''Tiletum'', dates from 1105, when [[Baldric of Noyon]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai|Bishop of Tournai]], awarded the [[Jus patronatus#Right of presentation|right of presentment]] for the parish church to the chapter of St Salvator in [[Harelbeke]].<ref>K. Maddens, "Schenking van het altaar van Tielt aan het Sint-Salvatorskapittel van Harelbeke, 1105", in ''Doorheen de nationale geschiedenis'' (Brussels, 1980), pp. 15-17.</ref> In 1245, [[Margaret II, Countess of Flanders|Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders]] gave the city its [[charter]] and decided to found a hospital here. A few years later, a market place and cloth hall were built as well. Like neighbouring [[Roeselare]], Tielt was made part of the [[Kortrijk]] province of [[Flanders (county)|Flanders]]. In the 13th and 14th century, the economy of most [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] cities was based on the cloth industry, while the rural areas lived on the products of agriculture.

In 1393, [[Philip II, Duke of Burgundy|Philip the Bold]] decided to hold an annual fair in Tielt, which resulted in the city becoming the booming centre of the [[flax]] industry until the end of the 16th century. The following decades, however, were hard on Tielt as it suffered two major fires and a couple of epidemics, including the [[Bubonic plague|plague]]. Tielt also went through a severe famine at the end of the 17th century. From about 1700 until the [[Belgian Revolution]] of 1830, the city prospered again, this time as a regional center for the construction industry.

During [[World War I]], the city became the headquarters for the [[Germany|German]] army. The bombing of the [[World War II|Second World War]] was a lot more destructive. Most of the city centre had to be rebuilt. Today Tielt is a typical province town, which offers commercial, medical and educational services to the surrounding region.