Marquessate of Franchimont

The Marquessate of Franchimont was a lordship forming the western frontier of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Its base was Franchimont Castle. It was made up of the bans of Theux, Spa, Sart, Jalhay and later Verviers. The prince-bishops of Liège first took the title of marquis of Franchimont at the start of the 16th century, adding an outer wall to the castle.^[1]

Before the 1789 Liège Revolution, the Marquessate of Franchimont formed a small province within the Prince-Bishopric. This small province, six leagues long by four leagues wide,^[a] was bounded in by the Duchy of Limburg (to the east), the Duchy of Luxemburg (fragmented, to the south and the west) and the Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy (fragmented, to the south and the northwest).

The Marquessate was divided into five bans, whose capitals or burghs were:

• The ban of Theux (head-ban) with Oneux, La Reid, Polleur, Jehanster and Franchimont
• The ban of Verviers with Stembert, Ensival and Andrimont
• The ban of Jalhay
• The ban of Sart
• The ban of Spa

In all, it comprised around fifty villages and hamlets.

• www.chateau-franchimont.be
• Déclaration des Droits de l'homme et du citoyen de Franchimont