Draft:Clermont-sous-Huy

Clermont-sous-Huy (in Walloon Clérmont) is a district of the municipality of Engis, located in the province of Liège in Wallonia, Belgium.

It was a municipality in its own right before the merger of municipalities of 1977.

Etymology
In 1062 Clermont. From the Latin “claro montium” which means “clear, illustrious mountain”; “sous-Huy” (downstream of Huy) allows it to be distinguished from other Clermonts.

History
The first Count of Clermont was Lambert, Count of Clermont and Montaigu. The second, Gislebert de Duras, Count of Clermont, was a companion of Godfrey de Bouillon during the crusade of 1096; before his departure, he offered part of his fortune to the Abbaye de Cluny which built the Saints-Pierre-et-Paul church of Saint-Séverin-en-Condroz. A successor, Gilles de Clermont, founded the Val-Saint-Lambert Abbey by donation to the nuns of Signy. The family died out in the 12th century.

Archaeological excavations
Excavations led to the discovery of traces of a Gallo-Roman villa from the 1st century at the bottom of Avry (on the plateau), a Roman habitat and a lime kiln which operated in the 3rd century in the valley. The 100 m long villa had a gallery and baths.

The castle of the Counts of Clermont was built in Engihoul, on the rocky spur which forms the north of the ancient commune of Éhein. Various texts mention it and indicate that it was besieged in 1095 by the prince-bishop Otbert because he constituted a threat to the control of the Meuse. Having become the property of the prince-bishops, it was attacked by the Hutois in 1300. Later, it constituted a resting place for Adolphe de La Marck who also died there. The liégeoise and Hutoise militias, which emerged victorious from the battle of Vottem in July 1346, led by de Baré de Voroux, consul of Liège, attacked it the following September, burned it and razed it. The castle was never rebuilt again. Ruins were still visible in 1835. Les Chercheurs de la Wallonie found and excavated them in 1975.

Industry
The Belgian Poudreries de Clermont, which later became the Poudreries Reunites de Belgique then PB Clermont, were founded there in 1850.

Related personalities

 * Hilarion-Christmas of Villenfagne of Ingihoul