For those studying Belgian genealogy, specifically in Wallonia, a small but detailed account of a peasant revolt from the pages of The London Gazette in 1681 provides a glimpse at what life might have been like for your ancestors.

“An Account from Luxembourg”

Many pages of The London Gazette are digitized and searchable on Google Books. Regardless of the region you’re researching, it’s a great source for this kind of detail. This wasn’t a newspaper in the sense you might consider it today. The Gazette was and is an official journal, a publication of the government.

Here is a section of text dated from March 24 to March 31, 1681:

From Luxembourg we have an account, that the Peasants had fallen upon 250 French Dragoons which were quartered in a Village near Arlon, and had killed above 40 of them, and the Officer that Commanded them, besides several that were burnt in their Houses which they retired into, and which the Peasants for that reason set fire to.

The london Gazette – Issue 1288, Part 1705, Page 1603

It isn’t clear which village near Arlon this refers to, but there are several within about ten miles including: Stockem, Altenhosen, Freylange (Freylingen), Heinsch (Heischlingen), Waltzingen. If your ancestors lived in this small region during the 1680s, even if they were not present at this event they likely would have heard about it.

Ferraris Map of Arlon and surrounds 1777
The Ferraris Map of 1777 depicting Arlon and surrounding villages.

Arlon and the War of the Reunions

In 1681 while there wasn’t “a war on,” one was in the making. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, was at the height of his power and annexing lands in the Spanish Netherlands. We see that his army was in Arlon in 1681. Later he would go on to lay siege to Luxembourg in the War of the Reunions.

It’s unclear to what extent the laborers and carpenters of these small villages knew or cared much for the politics. Many of them were not literate. But what we do know is that people in this region were no stranger to war. In fact, it can become confusing. Some wars were running concurrently. Wars continued almost without interruption through the 17th and 18th century.

Villagers would be forced to accept troops into their barns or homes. Horses were likely requisitioned from the locals to replace dead mounts. Food, firewood and other items were forced from them to accept the influx of men. Villagers may also have been called upon to construct fortifications or repair roads. Moreover, the troops carried illness that would then be spread across the village.

Questions?

If you’re searching for information about ancestors in Arlon or elsewhere in Belgium, contact me to find out how I can help!