Statue Christine de Lalaing - Tournai

Since September 1863, the Grand Place of Tournai has housed in its center an imposing figurative sculpture ensemble paying homage to Christine de Lalaing, Princess of Epinoy (1545, ca. 1582).

With her hair blowing in the wind, the lady is depicted in a resolutely martial posture : she holds a kind of ax in her hand; she has donned battle armor; her scabbard is empty and her sword lies at her feet, next to her helmet; she seems to want to leap forward and shake off the imposing plinth of almost 5 meters high, which allows her to dominate the space.

Pierre de Melun, Prince d'Epinoy, Baron d'Antoing, Senator of Hainaut and Governor of Tournai attacked Gravelines. Taking advantage of his absence, Farnese besieged Tournai despite the proximity of the winter season. The Catholic Princess Christine de Lalaing (wife of Pierre de Melun), who commanded the town together with a lieutenant, helped mobilize the inhabitants. They held out from October 5 to November 29, 1581 before being forced to surrender . The city escaped looting and the Protestants were allowed to leave (nearly 6,000 Calvinists left the banks of the Scheldt).

Christine de Lalaing had lost one of her sons in battles in which, according to legend, she quickly gained a special place and heroic deeds . She herself left Tournai for Ghent and then Antwerp, where she died in 1582.

Willem Vandenameele