Editing Tongeren

{{Short description|City in Limburg, Belgium}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Tongeren
|namefr           = Tongres
|namede           = Tongern
|type             = city
|picture          = 20100706 tongeren25-c.JPG
|picture-legend   = View of the Grote Markt
|map              = Tongeren Limburg Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Tongeren in Limburg
|arms             = Blason Tongeren.svg
|flag             = Tongeren vlag.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-FLE}}
|community        = {{BE-NL}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-LI}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Tongeren|Tongeren]]
|nis              = 73083
|pyramid-date     = 01/01/2006
|0-19=19,90
|20-64=61,20
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date  =
|postal-codes     = 3700
|telephone-area   = 012
|web              = [http://www.tongeren.be/ www.tongeren.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|47|N|05|28|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Tongeren''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈtɔŋərə(n)|lang|nl-Tongeren.ogg}}; {{langx|fr|Tongres}} {{IPA|fr|tɔ̃ɡʁ|}}; {{langx|de|Tongern}} {{IPA|de|ˈtɔŋɐn|}}; {{langx|li|Tóngere}} {{IPA|li|ˈtʊŋəʀə|}}){{fix|text=tone?|date=March 2022}} is a [[City status in Belgium|city]] and former [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] located in the [[Provinces of Belgium|Belgian province]] of [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], in the southeastern corner of the [[Flemish region]] of Belgium. Tongeren is the oldest town in [[Belgium]], as the only [[Roman Empire|Roman]] administrative capital within the country's borders. As a Roman city, it was inhabited by the [[Tungri]], and known as ''Atuatuca Tungrorum'', it was the administrative centre of the ''Civitas Tungrorum'' district. Since 1 January 2025, it is part of the new municipality [[Tongeren-Borgloon]]

==History==

===''Atuatuca Tungrorum''===
The Romans referred to Tongeren as ''Aduatuca Tungrorum'' or ''Atuatuca Tongrorum'',<ref>{{Citation|last=Gysseling| first=Maurits |url=http://www.wulfila.be/tw/facsimile/?page=77| year=1960| title=Toponymisch Woordenboek van België, Nederland, Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en West-Duitsland}}</ref> and it was the capital of the large [[Roman province]] of ''[[Civitas Tungrorum]]'', an area which covered modern [[Limburg (Belgium)|Belgian Limburg]], and at least parts of all the areas around it. Before the Roman conquests, this area was inhabited by the group of [[Belgic tribes]] known as the ''[[Germani cisrhenani]]''. (Despite being known as the ''Germani'', whether they spoke a [[Germanic language]] is debated, and the names of their tribes and their leaders were [[Celts|Celtic]].) Specifically the [[Eburones]] were the largest of these tribes and the one living around Tongeren.

[[File:Tongeren Romeinse wallen.jpg|thumb|left|Part of the Roman city wall]]

Caesar referred to the fort of the Eburones as [[Aduatuca]], and this has led to a widely accepted proposal that this can be equated to Tongeren. There are counter arguments that the word "''Aduatuca''" was probably a general word for a fort in this region, meaning that there might have been more places with the same name, and that Tongeren shows no signs of pre-Roman occupation, nor the hilly terrain described by Caesar. There was also a distinct tribe in the area known as the [[Aduatuci]].<ref>{{Citation|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zY4g1kfWvCMC&pg=PA143|page=143|title=Archaeology in Confrontation: Aspects of Roman Military Presence in the Northwest (Studies in Honour of Prof. Em. Hugo Thoen)| editor-first=Frank |editor-last=Vermeulen |editor2-first=Kathy |editor2-last=Sas |editor3-first=Wouter |editor3-last=Dhaeze |publisher=Ghent University| last1=Vanderhoeven| last2=Vanderhoeven| first1=Alain |first2=Michel |chapter=Confrontation in Archaeology: Aspects of Roman Military in Tongeren|year=2004|isbn=9789038205786}}</ref> On the other hand, it has the same name and function as a local capital, and is in generally the right area. If it is not Tongeren itself, the Aduatuca of the Eburones might be the ancient fortification of [[Caestert]] in nearby [[Riemst]].

During [[Julius Caesar]]’s campaigns in this part of [[Gaul]] in the first century BC, the Belgae revolted against the campaign of Caesar, led by the Eburones. They destroyed a legion that had demanded the right to winter among them in 54 BC. Caesar reported that he sold the Aduatuci into slavery, and annihilated the name of the Eburones, many of whom however he reported having fled successfully, including [[Ambiorix]] the leader of the revolt. Instead of risking Roman lives to pursue them he invited tribes from over the Rhine, such as the [[Sigambri]] to come and plunder. This back-fired when Eburones pointed out to the Sigambri that the Romans had all the booty at Aduatuca, and were the more attractive target.

The [[Tungri]], not mentioned by Caesar, came to dominate this area in the Roman era, and are the reason for the name of the modern name Tongeren. [[Tacitus]] says that [[Tungri]] was a new name for the original tribes who had previously been called the ''Germani''. But many modern writers believe that the Gallo-Roman population of the area contained a significant amount of more recent Germanic immigrants from across the Rhine. Located on the important road linking [[Cologne]] to [[Bavay]] via the relay of [[Liberchies]], and surrounded by the fertile lands of the [[Hesbaye]] region, Roman Tongeren quickly became one of the largest [[Gallo-Roman]] administrative and military towns in the first century.  It suffered from a destructive fire during the [[Batavians|Batavian]] siege in 70 AD, which was part of the [[Batavian revolt]]. In the second century, it erected a defensive wall, portions of which can still be seen today. Typical Roman buildings were built in town, while [[villa]]s and mound graves ([[tumuli]]) dotted the surrounding area.

In 358 the future [[emperor Julian]] met, in Tongeren, a delegation of [[Salian Franks]] who had recently settled in [[Toxandria]] (the modern [[Campine]] region), to the north of Tongeren. They wanted peace but spoke "as if the ground they had seized were rightfully their own". Julian gave ambiguous replies and then after the meetings sent a surprise attack along the Maas or [[Meuse]] river, and "they met him with entreaties rather than with resistance, he received the submission of them and their children".<ref>Ammianus Marcellinus, ''Res Gestae'', [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/ammianus_17_book17.htm#C8 Book XVII.8.3-4]</ref>  They became increasingly important after this time. [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]] reports that Julian used them as part of his forces in fights against other Germanic tribes.<ref>Zosimus ''Nova Historia'' [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/zosimus03_book3.htm Book III]</ref>

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Moerenpoort, Tongeren.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Moeren Gate, a monumental gate in the medieval city wall]]
Already in the fourth century, just as the Salian Franks were settling to the north, the city became the center of a Christian diocese under the influence of [[Saint Servatius]], [[bishop of Tongeren]], who died in 384 AD. In the meantime, the Franks to the north and east were pagan and so many areas had to be reconverted over the course of the following centuries, with several missionaries becoming martyrs. The seat of the Tungrian bishopric however eventually moved to nearby [[Maastricht]], after Saint Servatius was buried near the Roman town there. Much later, [[Liège]] became the seat of what would become the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Liège]], the church equivalent to the Civitas Tungrorum. This was the resting place of Saint [[Lambert of Maastricht]], one of the last missionaries in the area, who died about 700 AD.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jona Lendering |url=https://www.livius.org/se-sg/servatius/servatius.html |title=Servatius of Tongeren |publisher=Livius.org |access-date=2014-05-20}}</ref> Aduatuca Tungrorum may have been destroyed by the Huns in 451 AD. Tongeren therefore lost some importance during this period.

Significant waves of Germanic settlers and invaders changed the area. The [[Merovingian]] period between the fifth and the eighth century is not well documented. The building of a new church and the foundation of a chapter of [[canon (priest)|canons]] took place in [[Carolingian]] times, at the very place where the old bishops’ houses stood, and where the basilica still stands today. The construction of the current basilica started at the beginning of the thirteenth century in the prevalent [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style of that period. Other buildings were added to the religious core of the city, including new commercial areas, hospitals and artisans quarters.  The thirteenth century also saw the building of the medieval defensive wall, several new churches and cloisters, and the beguinage. The city became one of the “[[Good Cities|bonnes villes]]” ("good cities") of the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]].

[[File:20100706 tongeren98.JPG|thumb|upright|Het Plein ("The Square") with a "[[Perron (columnar monument)|Perron]]", the historic symbol of being one of the "[[Good Cities]]".]]

===From seventeenth century until contemporary age===
In 1677, the city was burned almost entirely by [[Louis XIV]]’s troops, a [[Franco-Dutch War|catastrophe]] from which Tongeren never completely recovered. The rebirth of the city dates from after 1830.

In 1977 the neighbouring municipalities of Berg, [[Diets-Heur]], Henis, 's-Herenelderen, Koninksem, Lauw, [[Mal, Tongeren|Mal]], Neerrepen, Nerem, Overrepen, Piringen, Riksingen, [[Rutten, Belgium|Rutten]], Sluizen, Vreren and Widooie merged into Tongeren.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/themas/13374 |title=Tongeren |website=Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed|date=1990 |access-date=17 October 2020|language=nl}}</ref>

Tongeren is currently the judicial capital of the province of Belgian Limburg.

==Main sights==
* The [[Béguinage]], founded in 1257, has been listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 1998.<ref name = "unesco1">{{cite web |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/855 |title = Flemish Béguinages |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 6 November 2021}}</ref> Its enclosure wall was destroyed in the 19th century: it separated the beguinage from the rest of the city and thus guaranteed peace and quiet for the small religion-inspired community. In the 17th century, the beguinage counted some 300 beguines; it was also able to survive the 1677 fire that destroyed most of the city.
* The [[Basilica of Our Lady, Tongeren|Basilica of Our Lady]] (''Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek''), built in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]] in the 13th century, where recent excavations have produced some of the richest archaeological finds in [[Flanders]]. Archaeological excavations have proven the presence of an edifice here starting from the 4th century, while a [[Carolingian]] prayer house existed here in the 9th century. The building of the choir of the present basilica began in 1240. Nave, transepts and side chapels were added between the 13th and 15th century. The original [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] tower was replaced by the present, {{convert|64|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=mid|-tall}} Gothic tower from 1442 until 1541. The basilica's interior is home to the statue of Our Lady of Tongeren, erected in 1475. The treasury is housed in the former hall of the Chapter and comprises one of the richest collections of religious art in Belgium. The bell tower was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] site in 1999.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/943 |title= Belfries of Belgium and France  |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 5 November 2021}}</ref>
* Church of St. Catherine, built in Gothic style in 1294, but modified later in different styles. Works of art include the 1711 pulpit by [[Robrecht Verburgh]], the main altarpiece by [[Gaspar de Crayer]] (17th century) and a sculpture of the ''Suffering Christ'', donated by the beguine Anna de Floz.
* The [[Gallo-Roman Museum of Tongeren|Gallo-Roman Museum]], which houses [[Celt]]ic gold, Roman glassware, [[Merovingian]] [[filigree]] work, and a [[Roman dodecahedron]], an unusual [[Gallo-Roman]] object found during excavations
* The original Roman wall, dating from the second century, still visible for more than {{convert|1,500|m|ft|abbr=off}}.
* Some of the medieval defensive towers, also still visible today.
* Statue of ''[[Ambiorix]]'', erected in 1866.
* Several [[Tumulus|Tumuli]] are found around the city.
* The Pliniuspark features the Plinius spring, a natural spring described by [[Pliny the Elder]] in 77-79 a.d.
* At the location of a former Roman temple in the Keverstraat, a modern representation of that temple can be found. Because no drawings, apart from the floor plans, of the original temple exist, everything has been rebuilt up to {{convert|1|m}} high.
* Partly {{convert|3|m}} below the Basilica of Our Lady and partly inside the Basilica, the Teseum-museum shows the archaeological findings at the location of the Basilica, as well as exhibitions about the history of the church. 
* Tongeren houses a youth detention center.

<gallery>
File:Tongeren gemeentehuis.jpg|Tongeren City Hall
File:2006.08.17.122359 Basilika Tongeren Belgien-2.jpg|The [[Basilica of Our Lady, Tongeren|Basilica of Our Lady]]
File:Tongeren Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek altar of Our Lady Cause of our Joy.jpg|Statue of ''Our Lady Cause of our Joy''
File:Ambiorix.jpg|Statue of ''Ambiorix'' on the Grote Markt
File:Tongeren Innenstadt.jpg|Modern art in Tongeren: ''Púmpkëskal'' ("Pump-chat")
File:Dodecahedron-tongeren.jpg|The ''[[Dodecahedron]]''
</gallery>

==Events==
*The ''Kroningsfeesten'' (“Coronation Celebrations”) are organized every seven years in commemoration of the crowning of the miraculous statue of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] by Bishop Doutreloux in 1890.  This religious [[procession]], the largest and one of the most impressive in Belgium, took place for the seventeenth time in 2009. The eighteenth edition took place in July 2016.
*A well-attended antiques fair takes place every Sunday. It is the largest of its kind in the Benelux.

==Sports==
* Women's [[volleyball]] club [[Datovoc Tongeren]] plays at the highest level of the Belgian league pyramid.
* Tongeren's best known football club is [[K.S.K. Tongeren]].

==Famous inhabitants==
'''Ancient times'''

* [[Ambiorix]], prince of the [[Eburones]] and rebel leader against the [[Julius Caesar|Roman]] invaders. Although his statue stands on the central square of Tongeren, it is unknown where he lived exactly and [[Julius Caesar]]'s ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'' is the only source to mention him (1st century BC)
* [[Saint Servatius]], bishop of Tongeren, introduced [[Christianity]] in the [[Netherlands]] (4th century)
*[[Helier|Saint Helier]], ascetic [[hermit]] and [[patron saint]] of [[Jersey]] (6th century)
*[[Radulph of Rivo]], [[historian]] and [[liturgist]] (d. 1403)

'''Modern times'''

* [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau]], French politician (1749–1791)
* [[Valentinus Paquay]], [[Roman Catholic]] [[beatified]] [[priest]], also known as "het heilig Paterke van Hasselt" (the holy priest [diminutive] of Hasselt) (1828–1905)
* [[Philippe Boesmans]], composer (b. 1936)
* [[Robert Cailliau]], co-inventor of the [[World Wide Web]], together with [[Tim Berners-Lee]] (b. 1947)
* [[Cyriel Dessers]], [[association football|football]] player (b. 1994)
* [[Patrick Dewael]], politician, [[List of Minister-Presidents of Flanders|former Minister President of Flanders]], and [[mayor]] (b. 1955)
* [[Wilfried Nelissen]] (1970), Road racing cyclist
* [[Jozef Vliers|Jef Vliers]] (1932 – 1994), (football player and coach)
* [[Zoon van snooK]], songwriter/musician (b. 1978)
* [[Freddy Loix]], rally driver (b. 1970)
* [[Jules Castro]], racing driver (b. 2004)

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Tongeren}}
*[http://www.tongeren.be Official website ] - Only available in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
*[https://www.toerismetongeren.be/ Official tourism website]
*[https://www.livius.org/to-ts/tongeren/atuatuca.html Roman Tongeren]
*[http://www.galloromeinsmuseum.be Gallo-Roman museum]
* [http://belgium.beertourism.com/cities/tongeren Tongeren Travel Guide]&nbsp;- A comprehensive English language guide to Tongeren; includes history, sightseeing, brewing and beer culture.

{{Geographic location<!--- abbreviations per [[ISO 3166-2:BE]] --->
|Centre = Tongeren
|N  = [[Hoeselt]]
|NE  = [[Bilzen]]
|E  = [[Riemst]]<br/>[[Bassenge]] ([[Liège Province|WLG]])
|SE = [[Juprelle]] ([[Liège Province|WLG]])
|S  = [[Crisnée]] ([[Liège Province|WLG]]), [[Herstappe]], [[Awans]] ([[Liège Province|WLG]])
|SW = [[Oreye]] ([[Liège Province|WLG]])
|W  = [[Borgloon]]<br/>[[Heers]]
|NW = [[Kortessem]]
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tongeren| ]]
[[Category:Tongeren-Borgloon]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Limburg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Populated places in Limburg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Belgium]]
[[Category:Germania Inferior]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Belgium]]