Braine-l'Alleud
History
History
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### Middle Ages

Several archaeological finds point to [prehistoric](/wiki/Prehistoric "Prehistoric") settlements in this area. The first historical mention of a parish on Braine\-l'Alleud's current territory, then called *Dudinsart*, dates from 1131, date at which [Godfrey I, Duke of Brabant](/wiki/Godfrey_I%2C_Duke_of_Brabant "Godfrey I, Duke of Brabant") ceded it to the [Abbey of Gembloux](/wiki/Abbey_of_Gembloux "Abbey of Gembloux"). The Duke, however, still owned exempt land (or [franchise](/wiki/wiktionary:Franchise "Franchise")) on this territory, as specified in a legal document by [Henry I](/wiki/Henry_I%2C_Duke_of_Brabant "Henry I, Duke of Brabant") dated 1197\. The name of the municipality changed to the current one, derived from “Braine”, former name of the stream that crosses its territory (now called the “Hain”), and “alleu(d)”, a [medieval](/wiki/Medieval "Medieval") French word designating exempt land (English *[allod](/wiki/Allod "Allod")*). The latter name was added to the former to distinguish this community from two neighbouring ones also called Braine.

At the beginning, the franchise might not have been much more than a right to local administration. By 1489, however, the local lord enjoyed complete juridical power on its territory, which was still formally part of the [fiefdom](/wiki/Fiefdom "Fiefdom") obtained from the [Duke of Brabant](/wiki/Duke_of_Brabant "Duke of Brabant").

### Battle of Waterloo

In 1815, part of the fighting that took place at the [Battle of Waterloo](/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo "Battle of Waterloo") actually occurred on the territory of Braine\-l’Alleud. The town's church of Saint\-Étienne became a [field hospital](/wiki/Field_hospital "Field hospital").


In what ways does the Battle of Waterloo relate to Braine-l'Alleud's history?