Editing Verviers (section)

=== Early history ===
Various flint and bone fragments, as well as [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] coins, were found in this area, attesting to the early settlements in the region. In the 4th century, the Romans had to deal with a constant push of Germanic tribes coming from the east. Successful at first at containing them, they finally had to concede defeat, allowing [[Clovis I|Clovis]]'s [[Salian Franks]] to occupy the region at the end of the 5th century. The Verviers area was covered with forests and became a hunting ground for the [[Merovingian]] kings, who maintained a [[Vicus (Rome)|vicus]] in neighbouring [[Theux]]. It was also slowly Christianized by the monks of the nearby Abbey of [[Stavelot]].

Late in the 10th century, [[Charles the Simple]] ceded the [[Marquisate of Franchimont]] to [[Notker of Liège]], one of Notker's final steps in consolidating the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]]. Liège took direct control of the [[marquisate]] in 1014, an act which was confirmed by emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]] and by [[Pope Adrian IV]] in 1155.