LOUVAIN, loo-van (Flemish, Leuven; German, LOwen), Belgium, city in the province of Brabant, on the Dyle, 15 miles east by north of Brussels. It was surrounded by earthen ramparts, which have been converted into pleas ant promenades, which form almost a perfect circle, diameter nearly two miles. There are many buildings of historical interest, among which are the Hotel de Ville, one of the rich est and most beautiful Gothic buildings in the world, elaborately and exquisitely decorated in every part of its exterior by sculptures of sub jects taken, for the most part, from the Old Testament (restored 1842, Injured by lightning 1890) ; the collegiate church of Saint Peter, al most opposite the Hotel de Ville, built at the end of the 14th century, an edifice of vast ex tent, which was Heft in works of art, particu larly a fine 'Holy Family' by Matsys. The educational institutions were numerous, among them the university, which had a number of American students who were studying for the priesthood. It had an attendance of nearly 3,000 students and a library of 120,000 volumes, specially rich in examples of 15th and 16th century printed books. There are also a col lege, an academy of fine arts, two normal schools for the training of teachers, several secondary and elementary schools. There are hospitals, homes for orphans and other chari table institutions. It has a number of manu factories, the most important of which are the tanneries. For a general trade the town is well situated, having ample communication both by railroad and the Louvain Canal. The name of Louvain first appears in history about the end of the 9th century. It was surrounded with walls in 1115, but was afterward much en larged. The dukes of Brabant inhabited the castle till the 13th century. At the beginning of the 14th century Louvain was the capital of Brabant, contained 200,000 inhabitants and had an extensive and flourishing trade in the man ufacture of broadcloth and all kinds of woolens. The populace, jealous of the privileges of the nobles, revolted in 1382, and being overcome by Duke Wenceslaus and subjected to severe oppression, emigrated in great numbers to Eng land and thus caused the decay of the town. During the European War Louvain was taken by the Germans on 19 Aug. 1914. After six days of peaceful occupation the Germans ad vanced beyond the city, but were driven back by the Belgian troops about Malines. Return ing to Louvain, the German troops under the command of Major von Manteuffel, began to devastate the city. At midnight the houses were set in flames, while rifle and machine-gun fire swept the streets. The German version
stated that the fighting was the outcome of a plot among the civilian population ; the Bel gians declare that a detachment of German troops, driven back from Malines, was fired upon in mistake by the Germans occupying Louvain. On the 26th fire and destruction con tinued; the university with its library were set on fire, also the church of Saint Peter and many houses. Citizens were shot and others taken prisoners and compelled to go with the troops. Many of the civilians hid in cellars, but the soldiers fired down through the grat ings. On 27 August orders were given that everyone should leave the city; it was going to be bombarded. The exodus began in the morn ing; streams of men, women and children passed along the roads—in opposite directions — leading to Malines and Tirlemont. Groups of prisoners with tightly-bound hands were led by long ropes. About 1,000 refugees were brought back to Louvain on 23 August and placed in a large building on the cavalry exercise ground. (These prisoners were prac tically without food from early morning on the 26th until midnight on the 29th. Of the corpses seen on the road some had their hands tied be hind their backs, others were burnt, some had been killed by blows, and some corpses were those of children who had been shot. . . . On the way from Rotselaer to Wespelaer 50 bodies were seen, some naked and carbonized and unrecognizable)) (Bryce Report). A crowd of men, women and children from Aerschot (q.v.) were marched to Louvain and exposed to rifle and machine-gun fire. One batch of prisoners comprised 27 ecclesiastics, of whom Father Eugene Dupiereux, aged 23, was executed in the presence of his colleagues for having in his pocket a piece of paper on which was written: "The Germans have in vaded Belgium with fire and sword . . . when Omar destroyed the library of Alex andria, none believed that such vandalism would ever be repeated. It was repeated in Louvain . . . such is the Gerrnamsche kul tur of which they boasted so much.)) Father Schill, S. J., a native of Luxemburg, was com pelled to read the document —which was in French — and translate it into German. Con stilt Massart, Jean, (Belgians under the Ger man Eagle) (London 1916) ; Morgan, T. H., 'Official Investigation on German Atrocities' (London 1916); An Eye-Witness at Louvain' (per Father Thurston, S. J., London 1914); Toynbee, A. J., The German Terror in Bel gium' (New York 1917). See WAR, EURO