# The Mal Saint-Martin in Liège (3–4 August 1312)

URL: https://allhistories.com/belgium/timeline/1312-the-mal-saint-martin-in-liege
Themes: Wars & Revolts

On the night of 3 to 4 August 1312, during a vacancy of the see after the death of Prince-Bishop Theobald of Bar, the patrician families of Liège tried to seize control of the city by force. The craft guilds rose against them, and the nobles took refuge in the collegiate church of Saint-Martin, which was set on fire. Some two hundred of them died in the flames. The episode, remembered as the 'Mal Saint-Martin', broke the monopoly of the patriciate over city government. The Peace of Angleur in 1313 opened the council of Liège to the crafts, and the guilds became a lasting force in the city's turbulent politics. The struggle between bishops, nobles and townspeople continued throughout the 14th century.

## Why it matters
The Mal Saint-Martin made Liège one of the first cities in Europe where the craft guilds shared power with the old elite.

Ruler at the Time: [Robert III of Flanders](https://allhistories.com/belgium/rulers/robert-iii-of-flanders)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Prince-Bishopric of Liège](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince-Bishopric_of_Liège)
- [Wikipedia — Theobald (bishop of Liège)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobald_(bishop_of_Liège))
- [Wikipedia — Liège](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liège)
- [Wikipedia — Low Countries (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countries)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Belgian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Belgian_history)