15th Century
Re-enactment
& HEMA
Diest in Medieval Times
Even before Medieval times, the city of Diest already had a rich history of which we can find evidence in the shape of different archeological findings, ranging from the Stone Age to Roman times.
The oldest part of the city’s center rose on the southern banks of the Demer (the main river going through the center – Ed.) when building started on the predecessor of the current Sint-Sulpitiuskerk. The earliest time the city is mentioned in dated 837 A.D.
In 1088 A.D. we can find the first entry of an imposing castle on the Warande, owned by lord Otto van Diest (see ‘De Heeren van Diest – History’ below). At this point in history the city was still protected by a wall made of earth, which allowed the city to expand it’s center and reinforcements several times throughout history.
In the 14th century, after an impressive expansion of the original city, it was ordained by Lord Hendrik van Diest (descending from Lord Otto van Diest) that a stone walled reinforcement needed to be built. During the 13th and 14th century the city’s population boomed, with an absolute peak in the middle of the 15th century. Sadly, at the end of this century, an economic crisis caused the gradual decline of the once so economically rich city.
After the decline of the house of the ‘Heren van Diest’, the town was entrusted to the House of Oranje-Nassau, marking the beginning of a succession of military takeovers and epidemics which ensured the end of the glorious medieval past.
De Heeren van Diest - History
The noble family of ‘De Heeren van Diest’ is closely connected to the medieval history of the city of Diest, at the time part of Burgundian territory.
In the year 1087 the chronicles of the Abbey of Tongerlo mention Lord Otto I, Heer van Diest, in unrightfully obtaining estates under possession of the Abbey. In all certainty this marks the first time the family is mentioned in history books.
The castle, which is mentioned a year later, was raised on the current eastern banks of the Warande, opposite to the Begijnhof (buildings owned by the church and inhabited by a convent of nuns – Ed.). It was described as being quite impressive, even to medieval standards of the 11th century.
A few centuries later, the title of ‘Burggraaf van Antwerpen’ (transl. ‘Viscount of Antwerp’) is given to Lord Arnold V, who claims direct descent of Lord Otto I. In the 15th century, officials reported the early death of Lord Johan, Heer van Diest en Zeelhem-Burggraaf van Antwerpen, when he is only 25 years old. At the time of his death, the city was on it’s economical and financial peak.
With the death of the House of Diest comes the transfer of Diest, Zichem, Kaggevinne, Zelem and the Viscounty of Antwerp to Lord Engelbrecht II, Count of Nassau (Holland). His successor and nephew, Lord Hendrik III, ordered the old castle to be demolished and in succession ordered his own residence, Het Hof van Nassau te Diest, to be built.
This marked the final end to the once so famous (and at times infamous) house of ‘De Heeren van Diest’.