Wars of Liège

The Liège Wars are 3 rebellions from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège against the expanding Duchy of Burgundy in the 1460's.

Cause

Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, had in the first half of the 15th century become ruler of large parts of the Low Countries, to that extent that these were now called the Burgundian Netherlands. (See Timeline of Burgundian and Habsburg acquisitions in the Low Countries)

In 1456, Philip tried to expand his influence to the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Through his excellent relations with Pope Callixtus III, he had Prince-Bishop John of Heinsberg deposed, and replaced by his 18-year-old nephew Louis de Bourbon. Louis de Bourbon continued his studies at the University of Leuven for 7 more years, while Philip de facto ruled over Liège.

First Liège War (1465)

In the meantime, the resistance in Prince-Bishopric grew. The leader was Raes van Heers, bailiff of Heers. He contacted King Louis XI of France, who promised his support. When Louis of Bourbon finally took up his functions in the Prince-Bishopric in 1465, he was immediately deposed by the States of Liège. Raes van Heers was unable to control the rebellious populace, which plundered the lands of Overmaas which belonged to the Duke of Burgundy.

Philips the Good sent an army under command of his son Charles the Bold to Liège to restore his authority. Raes van Heers assembled an army of 4000 men, mostly civilians and confronted Charles in the Battle of Montenaken on October 20, 1465. The battle was a clear victory for the Burgundians. Charles went on to occupy Sint-Truiden, where the Peace of Sint-Truiden was signed in which Liège lost all its rights and Louis of Boubon was reinstated as Prince-Bishop.

Second Third Liège War (1467)

The unrest in Liège didn't disappear. In 1466, the city of Dinant rebelled and Philip the Good sent his son Charles the Bold, who punished the city by casting 800 burghers into the Meuse and setting fire to the city.
When Philip died in 1467, unrest broke out in the city of Liège and Louis of Bourbon was forced to flee to Huy. Here also he wasn't save and had to flee the Prince-Bishopric together with all the Burgundians. Again Raes van Heers and Count Jan de Wilde of Kessenich raised an army to confront Charles the Bold. The reinforcements promised by Louis XI of France again didn't materialise, and the troops of Liège were decisively defeated in the Battle of Brustem on October 28, 1467.
After the battle, Charles moved on Liège and forced the city to surrender on November 12. The Prince-Bishopric became a Burgundian protectorate under Guy of Humbercourt and all cities in the County of Loon were forced to remove their defences.

Third Liège War (1468)

Still the people of Liège refused to accept the Burgundian rule. In october 1468, freedom fighters under Jean de Wilde, Vincent de Bueren and Gosuin de Streel, invaded the city. In the confusion, Guy of Humbercourt and the entire Burgundian garrison fled the city. Liège was free again and Jean de Wilde occupied the Prince-Bishopric palace.

One night, a Liège militia attacked Tongeren and killed all Burgundians. After this, Jean de Wilde started negociations with Guy of Humbercourt. But Charles the Bold had other plans: he leaded an army towards Liège to deal once and for all with the rebellious city. He was accompagnied by King Louis XI of France. Several cities on their path were plundered, including Tongeren.
On 22 october, a 500-strong militia that tried to stop the Burgundians at the village of Lantin, were driven into the church and burned alive. Vincent de Bueren organised the defence of the city of Liège and gained some successes with hit-and-run sorties. Best known is the attack by the 600 Franchimontois in the night of 28-29 october, who sneeked out of the city and attacked the sleeping Burgundian, with the aim to killed the Duke and the King. The plan failed and all 600, including Vincent de Bueren and Gosuin de Streel, were killed.

The next day, Liège surrendered, and at the command of Charles the Bold, hunderds of Liègois were tided together and thrown into the Meuse river. The city was set alight and is said to have burned for 7 weeks.

End of the Burgundian rule

In 1477, Charles the Bold was killed in the Battle of Nancy and succeeded by his only nineteen year-old daughter, Mary of Burgundy. Mary was immediately attacked by France and turned for help to the States-General of the Netherlands. The help was given, but Mary had to conceed the Great Privilege, abandoning the centralized policies of her father and grandfather. Liège also benefited from this, and Mary gave up all her rights on the Prince-Bishopric on March 19 1477.
Louis of Bourbon remained Prince-Bishop though, until he was murdered on August 30 1482 by William de La Marck, who was supported by Louis XI of France.