A perron (in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

; also nl, perroen) is kind of stone

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

, often decorated with a cross-bearing orb (''globus cruciger'') common to many towns and cities belonging to the erstwhile Prince-Bishopric of Liège (980-1795) in modern-day Belgium. They were primarily built in the so-called Good Cities (''Bonnes Villes'' or ''Goede Steden'') that formed the primary urban settlements in the polity. Many survive, although not in their original form. Perrons were also built in the smaller Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy. The columns came to symbolise civic freedom and

autonomy In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ...

(initially bishopric autonomy, later urban autonomy). This stemmed from their function as places where laws were proclaimed and justice was administered. However, the actual origin of the symbols of the column is unclear. In 1467, after recapturing the rebellious city of

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy had the city's perron dismantled and removed to Bruges, not to be returned until after his death. This was "viewed both as a punishment of the people of Liège and as a clear warning to any Flemish subjects who might be tempted to question the duke's authority".

''Perrons'' and the Prince-Bishopric of Liege

The former cities of the Prince-Bishrophic where perrons have been built are nowadays located in multiple regions and provinces of Belgium, in addition to one in the Netherlands (that of Maastricht, which was a

condominium A condominium (or condo for short) is an ownership structure whereby a building is divided into several units that are each separately owned, surrounded by common areas that are jointly owned. The term can be applied to the building or complex ...

of the Prince-Bishopric and the Duchy of Brabant during the Middle Ages).

Limburg Province (Belgium)

Liège Province (Belgium)

Limburg Province (Netherlands)

On coats of arms

A perron is featured in the coat of arms of the city of

and has become a badge of the city. The design is also featured on the

cap badge A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as w ...

of Belgium's

12th Regiment of the Line The 12th of the Line (Prince Leopold) – 13th of the Line Battalion (french: Bataillon 12e de Ligne Prince Léopold - 13e de Ligne, nl, Bataljon 12 Linie Prins Léopold - 13 Linie) is an infantry unit in the Belgian Army, Land Component of the M ...

. File:Wappen Bistum Lüttich.png, Coat of arms of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège File:Blason liege.svg, Coat of arms of Liège File:Blason ville BE Saint-Trond.svg, Coat of arms de Sint-Truiden File:Blason ville be Chatelet.svg, Coat of arms of Châtelet

References

Bibliography

* *{{cite journal, last1=Pirenne, first1=Henri, title=Le conflit Liégeois-Bourguignon et le Perron Liégeois, journal=Annales du congrès de Liége, date=1932 Columns and entablature Prince-Bishopric of Liège Buildings and structures in Limburg (Netherlands) Buildings and structures in Limburg (Belgium) Buildings and structures in Liège Province