William de la Marck
Encyclopedia
William de la Marck was an adventurer, originating in Germany. He became an important character in the late 15th century in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. William's was nicknamed Le Sanglier des Ardennes (The Wild Boar of the Ardennes
)— because he was as fierce as the wild boar which he delighted to hunt.
In 1482 he had Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège
, assassinated, in order to replace him by his own son Jean de la Marck. He failed to have Jean accepted, and the next bishop was John of Hornes. This act led to a civil war in the prince-bishopric.
On 21 May 1484 a treaty was signed at Tongeren, whereby the de la Marck
family forfeited its claims to the bishopric and supported Liège's struggle against Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
for the reward of 30,000 livres. Bouillon
castle was mortgaged to William de la Marck until the time of repayment.
William's cousin Erard de la Marck
became prince-bishop from 1506 till 1538.
His great-grandson William II de la Marck
was an important leader of the Gueux de mer in the Eighty Years' War.
.
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
)— because he was as fierce as the wild boar which he delighted to hunt.
In 1482 he had Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège
Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège
Louis de Bourbon was Prince-Bishop of Liège from 1456. He was brought up and educated by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who supported him for ten years at the University of Louvain.-Conflict over the bishopric:...
, assassinated, in order to replace him by his own son Jean de la Marck. He failed to have Jean accepted, and the next bishop was John of Hornes. This act led to a civil war in the prince-bishopric.
On 21 May 1484 a treaty was signed at Tongeren, whereby the de la Marck
De la Marck
The House of La Marck, , original German name von der Mark, was an important family in the history of Europe, which from about 1200 appeared as the Counts of Mark.-History:...
family forfeited its claims to the bishopric and supported Liège's struggle against Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
for the reward of 30,000 livres. Bouillon
Bouillon
Bouillon is a municipality in Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Luxembourg Province.The municipality, which covers 149.09 km², had 5,477 inhabitants, giving a population density of 36.7 inhabitants per km².- History :...
castle was mortgaged to William de la Marck until the time of repayment.
William's cousin Erard de la Marck
Erard de la Marck
Erard de la Marck was prince-bishop of Liège from 1506 till 1538. He was the third son of Robert I de la Marck, lord of Sedan and Bouillon....
became prince-bishop from 1506 till 1538.
His great-grandson William II de la Marck
William II de la Marck
William II de la Marck was Lord of Lumey and initially admiral of the Watergeuzen, the so-called 'sea beggars' who fought in the Eighty Years' War , together with among others William the Silent, Prince of Orange-Nassau...
was an important leader of the Gueux de mer in the Eighty Years' War.
Cultural influences
He is described by Sir Walter Scott as "William, Count of la Marck", in Quentin DurwardQuentin Durward
Quentin Durward is a historical novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1823. The story concerns a Scottish archer in the service of the French King Louis XI ....
.