Situated along the Meuse, Ourthe, and Sambre rivers, Liege was a bishopric which geographically completely divided the Austro-Spanish Netherlands.
Traditionally founded in the 7th Century by St. Lambert, Liege became a bishopric in 721 and by 1000, under Bishop Notga, thrived as an intellectual hub of the west and center for Mosan art. Internal struggles between citizens' guilds and prince-bishops did not weaken Liege to self-destruction. She resisted two sacks by Charles the Bold during 15th Century Burgundian domination of the Netherlands and completely rebuilt the city upon his death in 1477.
Liege was bombarded by the French in 1691, and during the War of Spanish Succession was taken by the English in 1702. After the death of Johann Theodor (Bishop, 1744-1763) there were no coin issues of the bishops. The only coin issues were the Sede Vacante issues of 1763, 1771, 1784 and 1792.
Ultimately the rule of the nobles ended in 1789 by a bloodless revolution which was followed by her annexation to France in 1795 and assignment with the rest of Belgium to the Netherlands in 1815.
Since Belgium's independence in 1830, Liege is again recognized as a major river port, rail center and cosmopolitan hub for art, education and industry.
