Wellen - History

History

It is unclear when exactly Wellen had arisen, but archaeological findings suggest a branch in the Frankish period (5th to 7th century). The debris from the river Herk on that spot is deposited, appears to be a suitable place for ranchers. Wellene or Welnis is only stated in the second half of the 12th century in "official" sources.

The name Wellen comes from the Middle Dutch "wellene", and means source or pit. There are indeed many and spontaneous upwelling source tidy. Another explanation for the name comes from the Latin terra Villina, and means agricultural holding.

Wellen was long associated with the abbey of Munsterbilzen, and this in both administrative, legal and ecclesiastical. The attachment to this abbey is the land owner who founded the monastery around 670. Landrada was all her worldly possessions to the abbey. From the 12th century the abbey was a rather elitist, aristocratic ladies pen and began to behave like a chapter of canons ash, led by a princess-abbess. This Princess-Abbess had different rights, such as the tithe and patronage law and fundamental rights and highly delicious. Eventually she called herself the sovereign monarch of the abbey and its territories. The appointment of its ships banks were subject to the Loon laws, an appeal against a conviction could be noted in Munsterbilzen. Many Buckriders from Wellen been in this profession as to death sentenced. Around 1760 40% of the male population was mentioned in the processes around the Buckriders. Ater this large number of allegations and death sentences, the inhabitants of Wellen were nicknamed the Buckriders. Nineteen or not alleged Buckriders were in Wellense Bonder Pit executed.