Editing Ronse (section)

=== Renaissance and Old Regime ===

On March 26, 1478, French troops pillaged and burned the city.  It quickly recovered, however, thanks to its booming economy based on the fabrication and preparation of linen.  Around the middle of the 16th century, the city became an important [[Calvinist]] center in the [[Southern Netherlands|Spanish Netherlands]].  The religious troubles of that century, especially the terrible repression of the [[Duke of Alba]], forced a large number of the city's [[Weaving|weavers]] and [[Fulling|fullers]] to find permanent refuge in [[Holland]], England, and Germany.  The fire of July 21, 1559 completely ruined the city.  At the beginning of the 17th century, Ronse took advantage of the relative peaceful period under the [[Catholic Monarchs|archdukes Ferdinand and Isabella]] to get back on its feet.  It is during that period that one of the most beautiful castles of the [[Southern Netherlands]] (demolished in 1823) was built for [[John VIII of Nassau-Siegen|Count Jean de Nassau-Siegen]], [[baron]] of Ronse since 1629, the [[castle of Ronse]]. The [[Bubonic plague|plague]] in 1635–1636 nearly emptied the city.  Despite opposition by the [[Spanish monarchy|King of Spain]], Ronse was annexed to France from 1680 to 1700.  During the following Austrian period, on March 31, 1719, a gigantic fire again turned most of the city to ashes.  Thanks to the perseverance of its inhabitants, Ronse could again rank as a city, with its commerce and businesses still based on the textile industry.