Marbais

The Marbais family had very significant possessions in the valley of the River Thyle, an area long disputed between the Dukes of Brabant and the counts of Namur.

In 1146, Gauthier de Marbais and his mother endowed the Cistercian monks of Villers Abbey in the northern part of their lands.

However, their lineage disappeared from the village in the 17th century when the daughter of the last Lord of Marbais sold his land to the neighbouring noble family, the 't Serclaes Tilly.

A bull of Pope Paul V, dated 15 May 1609, mentions the presence of the relic and grants indulgences related to acts of devotion.

The archer who manages to do so bears the title of king for a year and participates with 11 colleagues in the Holy Cross Procession.