Thread by @DM_Vincenzo

Another royal residence: the Castle of Mariemont (Hainaut). A thread 👇 #twitterstorians #palaces #castle

In 1546, Maria, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands, commissioned a hunting lodge in the woods of Morlanwelz. The place would be littered with frescos, murals and sculptures by Jacques Dubrœucq.

In 1554, Henri II of France invaded the land and torched the castle - an act of revenge after Habsburg troops destroyed his favourite residence Folembray -. Efforts were made to rebuild the place, but the castle was left as a sort of ruin.

In 1598 Albert and Isabella became co-Sovereigns of the Habsburg Netherlands, who had an interest in the castle and ordered a massive restoration campaign.

'Their Royal Highnesses' Gardener' Pierre Lepoivre created a lush garden, whilst Wenzel Cobergher led the restoriaton and expansion campaign. By 1620 the Castle had actually been transformed into a proper palace, fit for a monarch.

After Albert and Isabella's death the castle was used less frequently by their successors. At some point in the 17th c. however Louis XIV conquered parts of the Habsburg Netherlands and claimed the castle as his own - visited the place several times -.

After the Peace of Nijmegen in 1679 those bits of lands were returned and the castle was once again used by a string of Regents.

In the 18th c. Charles Alexander, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands, ordered the destruction of the old castle and commissioned a new palace, which would be built by Jean-Nicolas Jadot and Laurent-Benoît Dewez. Charles Alexander would die there in 1780.

In 1794 invading French troops burned down the palace and reduced it to ruins. In the early 19th c. industrialists Isidore and Nicolas Warocqué acquired the land, got rid of the ruins and commissioned a new smaller castle.

Apologies, Charles Alexander did not die in Mariemont, but at the Castle of Tervuren.