NORTH-BRABANT.
The Duchy of Brabant was formally established in 1183/1184, with the elevation of the land
county Brabant (between Dender and Senne) to duchy in favor of Henry I of Brabant.
In 1430 Brabant is one of the Burgundian Netherlands under the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy,
who choose their residence in Brussels.
Mary of Burgundy becomes Duchess of Burgundy, after the death of her father Charles the Bold
in 1477. She marries Maximilian of Austria, who, after the sudden death of Mary in 1482 acts as
regent. The 'Burgundian Netherlands' become the
'Habsburg Netherlands’.
After the abdication by Charles V (grandson of Mary) in 1555, he was succeeded by his son Philip
II. As Philip II is King of Spain, there is since then usually spoken of the ‘Spanish Netherlands’.
After Emperor Charles V had incorporated the duchy of Guelders in 1543, a more or less
continuous and exhaustive system of counties was developed. Only in the southern part the
Principality of Liège formed a large enclave. This assembly is also referred to as the ‘Seventeen
Provinces’.
The 80-year war ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The Seventeen Provinces are
divided into the Northern Netherlands (the Republic of the Seven United Provinces) and the
Southern Netherlands.
The border between the Republic and the
Southern Netherlands (see red line in the
adjacent map) is determined by the front
situation at that time between the Dutch
rebels and the Spaniards.
The border also divides the Duchy of Brabant
into two parts. The northern part is broadly
consistent with our current province of North
Brabant.
An important indirect consequence of this
treaty is the fact that the Low German
Reformed faith becomes the church of the
Republic.
All Catholic goods forfeited to the
government: not only churches and chapels,
but also monasteries and their properties.
The Catholics have to use so-called "hidden
churches" until 1795: they are allowed to
hold services, but not in buildings that are
identified on the outside as a church.
(See also the page about Groningen.)
In 1795 Brabant is annexed by France and
from 1815 Brabant is a part of the United
Kingdom of the Netherlands (the current
Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg
together).
on September 21, 1815 William I takes the
constitutional oath as King of the
Netherlands.
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1, 2 and 3)
will remain in existance until 1830.
In 1830 the Southern Netherlands secede.
It would take until 1839 before King William I
acknowledges the new Belgium.
Since Maastricht and Luxembourg remain occupied
by the troops of the king, William is demanding
Limburg and Luxembourg. He gets the eastern part
of Limburg (2) and the German-speaking part of
Luxembourg (5).
As a result of the Treaty of London (1867)
Luxembourg is actually independent, though the
country still remains united in personal union with
the Netherlands (House of Nassau-Weilburg).
This personal union with the Netherlands is coming
to an end in 1890, when King William III dies without
a male heir to leave. Wilhelmina becomes Queen of
the Netherlands and Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg, Grand
Duke of Luxembourg.
The Walloon part of Luxembourg (4) becomes a part
of Belgium in 1839.
This makes the current borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg broadly defined as
are the limits of our present province of North Brabant.
Map of the present province of North Brabant.