CLOQUETTE Antoine Joseph

by HERALY1 | Jul 31, 2019

Home 9 Our tracks 9 CLOQUETTE Antoine Joseph

Antoine Joseph CLOQUETTE son of François Joseph CLOQUETTE and Anne Marie RAOUX was born in Ath on 8 February 1744. After brilliant studies, he enrolled at the Faculty of Douai, and on 10 October 1762 took Holy Orders at the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville under the name of Bruno. He was appointed priest on 14 March 1767. The death of Dom Etienne POUBAIX the post of abbot of Villers was vacant. Dom Bruno was elevated to the prelature on 30 January 1788 and was only appointed by the emperor 4 years later. He quickly distinguished himself by opposing the reforms of Emperor Joseph II. After many ups and downs due to the Brabant revolution, the role played by the clergy and the French revolution, and despite Dom Bruno's best efforts, the 700-year-old history of Villers-la-Ville Abbey came to an end. Antoine Joseph died on 12 October 1828 at the home of Brother Germain in Ath.

Birth certificate for Antoine Joseph CLOQUETTE

Death certificate for Antoine Joseph CLOQUETTE

Villers-la-Ville Abbey is located in the Thyle valley. Founded in 1146 by the knight Gauthier de Marbais and his mother Judith. They invited monks (17) from the Abbey of Clairvaux (France) to found a new abbey. That same year, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux visited them, and a chapel was dedicated to him in 1715. Construction of the Gothic-style abbey began in 1197. It took no less than 100 years to complete. Villers-la-Ville Abbey was a member of the Cîteaux order and one of its first daughters.

1146: Arrival of the first monks from Clairvaux - foundation of the abbey (Villers I: la Boverie).1147: Move to the Thyle valley (Villers II).
1197-1209: Abbot Charles has a new abbey built (Villers III).
1231-1237: Foundation of the first daughter abbeys of Grandpré and Saint-Bernard sur Escaut.
1248: Burial of Duke Henri I of Brabant in the abbey church.
1258: Burial of Saint Julienne de Cornillon.
1263: Burial of Gobert d'Aspremont.
1280-1283: Completion of theChurch.
1314: The community is exiled for the first time.
1358-1370: Abbot Nicolas de Brigode becomes a deputy in the States of Brabant.
15th century: reorganisation of the abbey (reduction in the space for the converses, hostelry transformed into a "monastery"). Brewery, ...).
1508: second exile (7 more until 1667).
1613-1616: construction of the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Montaigu.
1715: construction of the Saint-Bernard chapel.
1716-1734: under the abbatiate of Jacques Hache, construction of the Palais
1784: Construction of the pharmacy. (above the Brussels Gate)
1789: The abbey is ransacked by the Austrian army.
1794: Looting of the abbey by the French and local residents.
1796: Final abandonment of the abbey.
1797: Purchase of the abbey by a materials merchant: La Terrade.
1814: La Terrade is expelled from the abbey. Bought out by Charles-Lambert Huart.
1853: Death of Dom Placide, the last monk to become parish priest.
1855: Construction of the railway line.
1862: Visit from Victor Hugo.
1892: The Belgian state becomes the owner of the ruins.
1893-1914: Initial consolidation work.
1972: The ruins are classified as a historic site and monument.
1984: Start of a second restoration project.
1992: Classified as Wallonia's exceptional heritage.
2010: Start of work to upgrade and reunite the 3 complexes.