The legend of the pig

The pig's tale

This tale took place a very long time ago, in the most glorious past of the Counts of La Roche. Henri was the unfettered ruler of the region. His authority extended as far as the horizon, bordered by the Deister, Corumont and Maka mountains.

Many of the lords of the Upper Ardennes owed this powerful feudal lord their respect as vassals. His fortress was impregnable. Built, like an eagle's nest, on a high, jutting rock, protected on all sides by steep slopes. The castle of La Roche stood like a sentinel at the entrance of the wild valley of the Upper Ourthe.

Henri 1st, Count of La Roche, was just twenty years old! He was brave, bold and fair, but stubborn as a boar, cunning as a fox and tough as an Ardennes man.

One day, the lords of Liège laid siege to the castle of La Roche. The enemy tried to penetrate the fortification. Siege engines of all kinds were used, to no avail. The largest stones thrown only reached the foot of the ramparts built on the steep slope. The battering rams failed to break the wrought-iron gate. When a group of besiegers tried to climb the ladders, they were bombarded with clouds of arrows, a torrent of water, boiling pitch and a shower of stones. The besieged, well sheltered behind the battlements and embrasures, defended themselves valiantly. Each wave of attack left many dead on the slopes.

The besieging lord had pitched his tents on the mountain in the distance, now called Corumont. From there, he had an overview of the event. One day, he called his masters-at-arms and told them: "My lords, the Count of La Roche and his men are stubborn and brave. We cannot defeat them with arrows and swords. And yet I want them here at my feet. To see them beg for mercy. Starvation will force them to do so. From that moment on, the battle was halted and the assault equipment withdrawn. The soldiers withdrew to the camps at Evreux de Harze, Bourg de Villers and Beausaint. We will wait! Day and night, vigilant sentries will make sure that no supplies or aid can reach the castle! We will crush the rebel Count.

No sooner said than done!

In the other camp, they waited impatiently for the outcome. Hunger began to make itself felt in the castle. Bread was in very short supply. There was no shortage of water. The well, dug into the rock, reached the water level of the Ourthe. But water alone was not enough. Everything edible was collected and kept in the underground chamber by double sentries. The provost himself was watching with a gun in his hand.

Nevertheless, Count Henri was confident and proclaimed victory. What trick had he devised?

The leader of the besiegers had a good view of the castle from the top of Corumont. One day, he heard horns blowing in the valley. Had the besieged surrendered?

The gates were open... And what left the castle? Slow, grunting, chubby, waddling, fat and on four little legs? Yes, it was a pig!

The soldiers seized it and brought it to their lord. The animal was killed with a sword and its abdomen cut open. The pig was stuffed with oats and bread that had not yet been fully digested.

"How much food must they have in the castle to feed a pig after such a siege? No, my lords, the castle is standing. Let's lift the siege and move on to other regions!"

In the distance, the captain shouted: ""Ces Rochois, encore, ils m'ont eu ! "" (""Those Rochois, they've got me again!"")

Such was Count Henri's cunning. To outwit the enemy, he had secretly fattened a pig and set it free in the enemy camp. As a result, the besiegers were fooled about their ability to withstand the famine.

""Encore, ils m'ont eu !"" became Corumont.