Vincenzo DM

#OTD in 1430, Philip I, Duke of Brabant and Limburg died in Leuven. He was the last 'independent' Duke of Brabant as he would be succeeded by Philip the Good who added the duchies to the emerging Burgundian Netherlands.

The first Belgian soldier who fell during #WWI was lancer Antoine Fonck, who was killed #OTD in 1914 at Thimister.

#OTD in 1914, Germany invaded Belgium. King Albert I of the Belgians, who assumed command over the army, held a speech in parliament the same day confirming Belgium would fight for its independence. #WWI

Imagine some 500 years ago, servants rushes through these doors and hallways to deliver food and beer to the finest royal and imperial state rooms in Europe. Photo: ruins of the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels.

Hear me out: Anthonis Mor is the most underrated portrait painter in 16th c. Europe.

Cool ! Students who wanted to stay at the Van Dale College at the University of Leuven had to prove they had some links to the founder's family so this family tree (1654) was made as a reference. State Archives, Leuven.

We need more chandeliers! The Throne Room at the Royal Palace of Brussels.

#OTD in 1396, Philip the Good, one of the most influential, powerful and richest rulers in 15th c. Europe was born. His realm was a European centre of the arts and commerce.

Why painter Jan van Eyck was one of the greatest painters ever. Details from 'The Annunciation', painted in the 1430s

From what I understand during an official visit some folks in the audience shouted something and he just grabbed a club to start a fight.

Cool ! The official seal (1504) of wolf hunter Jehan de Cauchie. State Archives, Brussels.

Imagine being Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, ruler of the Burgundian Netherlands and one of the most powerful men in 15th c. Europe who during a visit to Ghent wants to start a fistfight with some locals.

Bijna een half jaar na publicatie hangt mijn boek nog steeds rond in de top 10 geschiedenis van de Standaard Boekhandel. Het Coudenbergpaleis blijft lezers fascineren :)

#OTD in 1128, William, Count of Flanders died of his wounds following the siege of Aalst. He succeeded Charles the Good who was murdered the previous year and was succeeded by Thierry d'Alsace, who also claimed Flanders.

Count Ferdinand of Flanders was captured by the French and would spent many years in a French prison whilst his wife Joanna of Flanders and Hainaut ruled the counties alone.

#OTD in 1214, King Philip II August of France defeated an Imperial-English-Flemish coalition at Bouvines. The battle would have far-reaching consequences in the Holy Roman Empire, England and Flanders.

Vaak was het referentiepunt in de vroegmoderne tijd de stad / streek waar men leefde.

#OTD in 1184, the odd Erfurt latrine disaster happened. During a meeting of the Hoftag, convened by Henry VI of Germany, near the Cathedral, the second floor of the building collapsed and loads of participants fell into a cesspit killing 60.

#OTD in 1554, Philip of Habsburg, then King of Naples, married Queen Mary I Tudor at Winchester Cathedral. Following the unpopular marriage the Habsburg became King of England.

Vier dacht ik (en die serie liep over van de historische fouten, ook bijv hoe Karel V en Chapuys werden voorgesteld, beiden spraken bijv. met een waanzinnig dik Spaans accent)

#OTD in 1568, Don Carlos heir to the Spanish Empire died in mysterious circumstances. Considered mentally instable he was imprisoned by his dad, Philip II, earlier. Philip assumed Don Carlos was planning to take over the Habsburg Netherlands.

Charles V who is raised in the most humanist court in Europe - Mechelen - , inherits Spain by accident, bribes electors to become emperor, fights endless wars, which he often leads himself, and tinkers with watches as a hobby. Pure television gold !

It always amazes me there are a million series about the Tudors (don't get me wrong, love those as I'm a Tudor buff), but only a handfull about the Habsburgs, you know the dynasty that ran half the globe at some point.

A 19th c. depiction of Charles V, his mistress Johanna van der Gheynst and daughter Margaret. In real life Margaret was snatched from Johanna and would only see her daughter once many decades later.

He was considered extremely charismatic. Young Henry VIII met him once and was blown away.

#OTD in 1478, Philip the Handsome, s. of Mary of Burgundy and Maximilian of Habsburg was born at the Prinsenhof Palace in Bruges. Nobody could have expected his marriage to a Castilian princess would alter the course of European history.

Het blijft een zware opdracht :(

Happy National Day Belgium 🇧🇪
#NationaleFeestdag

#OTD in 1831, King Leopold I of the Belgians was inaugurated in Brussels. He took the constitution oath after which he was invited to ascend the throne.

Inderdaad !