Hellhole Brussels capital of Belgium and its history

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royal destinations Brussels Belgium



During a visit in the Town Hall of Brussels, the amazing history of the city is explicated in an original way: through paintings. The official founding of Brussels took place around 979, when Duke Charles of Lower Lotharingia transferred the relics from St. Gudula from Moorsel to Brussels. This Charles would construct the first fortification of the city.

Charles Duke of Lower Lotharingia, who
founded Brussels - Source picture: Wikipedia

In the Middle Ages, Lambert I of Louvain gained the County of Brussels by marrying Charles 's daughter. Unlike the County of Flanders, the city wasn't a fief of France but a part of the Holy Roman Empire. 

Brussels was and still is located very well. During the Middle Ages the city was located near the Senne and on an important trade route between Bruges, Ghent (Belgium) and Cologne (Germany).

Brussels became a commercial center specialized in textile trade. In the 13th. century the construction works of the Cathedral St. Michael and St. Gudula started. 

In 1364 Margaret III, Countess of Flanders married Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy and their descendants became the rulers of Brabant.

royal families history
History of Brussels - paintings at the town hall
taken in 2017

On 13 February 1457, Mary of Burgundy was born in Brussels, she was the last heiress of Burgundy. She married Archduke Maximilian of Austria (who would become later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I). After her death the city came into the hands of the Habsburgs. It was Holy Roman Emperor  Charles V, who abdicated in 1555 at the Palace of the Coudenberg in Brussels.

royal families history
paintings of Brussels at the Town Hall - own picture taken in 2017

In 1695, Brussels was attacked by troops of King Louis XIV of France and after this destructive event, the Grand Place of Brussels was rebuilt with  amazing beautiful guild houses, a Town Hall and a House for the Dukes of Brabant.

In 1713, the Spanish Habsburgs transferred their rule of Brussels and the Habsburg Netherlands to the Austrian branch of their family.

In 1795, the Southern Netherlands, nowadays Belgium, was annexed by Napoleon Bonaparte.

royal families history Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte, painting @ the Town Hall in Brussels
own picture taken in 2017

However after the Battle of Waterloo and the Congress of Vienna, Belgium was ruled by King William I of the Netherlands.

royal families history The Netherlands
King William I of The Netherlands - own picture taken in 2017
@ the Town Hall in Brussels

Finally in 1830, the country became independent. Nowadays Crown Princess Élisabeth of Belgium still holds the title: Duchess of Brabant.

Royal families destination Brussels


Location: Brussel, België

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