Franchimont #castle | Theux #belgium

Franchimont Castle was one of the 12 residences and strongholds of the Prince-Bishop of Liège and defended the eastern march of the principality from the 11th-12th century.

The current ruins have three concentric enclosures which correspond, roughly speaking, to the evolution of the fortification from the Middle Ages to more recent times.

The first enclosure is the castle itself where the remains are concentrated and little remains of the second enclosure which surrounded an extension of the fortification to the west and north, on the access side.

The third enclosure, a pentagonal shape, is a bastion whose point is oriented due west. The artillery sparrows and cannon tower at the entrance are a typical example of military architecture from the beginning of the 16th century.

The heart of the castle consisted of a large rectangular keep with one of the short sides directed towards the presumed side of the attack and was reinforced with a spur flanked by two full turrets. This is unique because there are only very rare examples of such pentagonal keeps topped with a spur flanked by two turrets.

We believe that because this castle was landlocked and served to protect the eastern flank, that this castle was assaulted multiple times by those lords opposed to the Bishopric of Liege.

We know of two separate occasions when dragons were used to attack this castle…

At the end of the 12th century, Albert de Cuyck (supported by Baldwin V of Hainaut_ and Simon de Limbourg (supported by Henry I, “the courageous” Duke of Brabant and his father, Duke Henry III of Limburg) disputed the position of Prince-Bishop of Liège.

War between the Dukes of Brabant and the Counts of Hainaut had been happening for years—in fact, Baldwin V and his two sons, Baldwin VI and Philip I, rode upon the dragons Xolzrud, Longtail-- Togad, the Firestarter--- and Toned, the Youngling as they constantly provoked the Dukes of Brabant and Limburg. While other dragon battles occurred at nearby castles —the dragons were also likely dispatched to this castle to oust Simon and his allies from the castle in favor of Albert de Cuyck.

After an intense battle, the Pope called for a peace, conducted an investigation and authorized a new election where Albert de Cuyck is chosen as Prince-Bishop.
In 1236, Waleran, the lord of Fauquemont and Montjoie and brother of Henry IV, Duke of Limburg, invaded the castle after a dispute with the Prince-Bishop Jean d’Eppes. With a dispute already boiling, Waleran is said to have conquered the lands of the marches and burned the village of Theux to the ground in a matter of hours—only a dragon could manage such a feat.