Maastricht

History

Old stone age remains have been found to the west of Maastricht, between 80.000 and 250.000 years old. At least 500 years before the Romans came, Celts lived here, at a spot where the river Meuse was shallow and therefore easy to cross. The Romans later built a bridge and a large road to connect the capitals of the Nervians and Tungri, Bavay and Tongeren, with the capital of the Ubians, Cologne.

Related Topics:
Old stone age - Celts - Meuse - Tongeren - Cologne

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Saint Servatius was the first bishop of the Netherlands.

Related Topics:
Saint Servatius - Bishop

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His tomb, in the crypt at the Basilica of Saint Servatius, is a favoured place of pilgrimage: Pope John Paul II visited it in 1984.

Related Topics:
Basilica of Saint Servatius - Pope - John Paul II

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The golden gilt shrine containing some of the saint's relics is carried around the town every seven years.

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During the medieval period these processions caused such rioting that they were forbidden.

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The city remained an early Christian bishopric until it lost this position to nearby Liège in the 8th century.

Related Topics:
Christian - Bishopric - Liège - 8th century

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Maastricht developed in the Middle Ages into a city of dual authority, with both the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the Duchy of Brabant holding joint sovereignty over the city. It received city rights in 1204. The role of the Dukes was occupied by the Dutch States General from 1632 onwards when the city was taken from the Spanish by Frederik Hendrik. This duality remained in force until the conquest and annexation of the city by the French in 1794.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Liège - Brabant - City rights - 1204 - States General - 1632 - Spanish - Frederik Hendrik - French - 1794

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Skeletons uncovered in a front garden in Maastricht in May 2004 may be the remains of musketeers who died during a fierce 17th century battle between French attackers and Dutch defenders.

Related Topics:
2004 - Musketeer - 17th century

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On 14 June 1673, Louis XIV's troops started to surround the city of Maastricht. Under the leadership of Captain-Lieutenant Charles de Batz-Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan, the First Company of "Mousquetaires du Roi" prepared to storm a rampart located in front of one of the city's gates. The assault on the bulwark took place not far from where the seven skeletons were found. D'Artagnan was killed by a musket shot on 25 June 1673 during a night attack on the Tongerse Gate (this event was portrayed by Alexandre Dumas in his novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne).

Related Topics:
14 June - 1673 - Louis XIV - Charles de Batz-Castelmore, Comte d'Artagnan - 25 June - Tongerse Gate - Alexandre Dumas - The Vicomte de Bragelonne

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Maastricht surrendered to French troops on June 30. The French troops occupied the Dutch city from 1673 to 1679. It was subsequently restored to Dutch rule.

Related Topics:
June 30 - 1673 - 1679

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After the Napoleonic era, Maastricht became a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815. When the southern provinces sought independence from the North to form Belgium in 1830, the garrison in Maastricht remained loyal to the Dutch king and in 1839 the city and the eastern part of Limburg, despite being geographically closer to Belgium, were permanently added to the Netherlands. Because of the resulting eccentric location Maastricht was often more focused on Belgium and Germany than on the rest of the Netherlands, adding to the distinct non-Dutch character of the city.

Related Topics:
Napoleonic era - United Kingdom of the Netherlands - 1815 - Belgium - 1830 - 1839 - Limburg - Germany

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On September 14, 1944, Maastricht was the first Dutch city to be liberated by allied forces during World War II.

Related Topics:
September 14 - 1944 - Allied forces - World War II

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In 1976, Maastricht became part of the Euregio Maas-Rhine.

Related Topics:
1976 - Euregio Maas-Rhine

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In 1992, the Maastricht treaty was signed here, leading to the creation of the European Union.

Related Topics:
1992 - Maastricht treaty - European Union

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Especially under current mayor Gerd Leers, Maastricht attracted many summits, like the OCSE-summit in 2003, and several gatherings during the Dutch EU-chairmanship in the second half of 2004.

Related Topics:
Mayor - Gerd Leers - OCSE - 2003

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