County of Loon

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The County of Loon (Dutch: Graafschap Loon, French: Comté de Looz) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire, lying in present-day Belgium. Its territory corresponded more or less with that of the current province of Belgian Limburg.

The county was first mentioned in 1040. Initially its capital was the city Borgloon (castle of Loon, French name: Looz), but around 1200 the capital was moved to Hasselt. In 1366, the county became a part of the Bishopric of Liège. Loon remained a separate entity (quartier) within the bishopric. When the bishopric was annexed by France in 1795, the county of Loon was also disbanded and became part of the département Meuse-Inférieure.

The most important cities (bonnes villes) of the county of Loon were Beringen, Bilzen, Borgloon, Bree, Hamont, Hasselt, Herk-de-Stad, Maaseik, Peer and Stokkem.

[edit] Counts of Loon

• Louis II, Count of Loon