Vincenzo DM

When the tomb of Ernst (+ 1595), Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands, at the St Michael and St Goedele’s Cathedral in Brussels was opened they discovered a grand state sword and archducal hat, a gift from pope Sixtus V.

This is cool: an old bell, made in 1511 for a guild in Ghent when young Emperor Charles V was ruling the land, had gone missing for decades until is was rediscovered last summer hidden in the same building where it was installated 500 years ago. Photo: VRT Nws

Great photograph: the King of the Belgians during the opening ceremony of the Royal Military Academy’s new academic year @monarchiebe.bsky.social

The man who would have become King: Prince Boudewijn was destined to become King of the Belgians but died in 1891 of the flu.

#OTD in 1212, Count Philip I of Namur died. He left us a cool crown that is now being held at the Cathedral of Namur, Belgium. Some fragments of the holy cross (a gift from his brother) were used to make the crown that Philip wore for the first time for his marriage.

#OTD in 1436, Countess Jacoba of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland died. Her life was pretty fascinating: wars, conflicts, civil wars, intrigues, lovers and odd husbands. She needs a film !

The King and Queen of Spain were received by the King and Queen of the Belgians at the Royal Palace in Brussels. They met at the Goya-salon, decorated with tapestries designed by Goya and gifted by Queen Isabella II of Spain to King Leopold I.

Wie mij aan het werk wil zien (en een gesigneerd exemplaar van Coudenberg wil !)

#OTD in 1536, William Tyndale, one of the leiding figures in the English Reformation was executed. He was caught in the Habsburg Netherlands (Antwerp) after being betrayed and judged by a court in the Duchy of Brabant. He dead at the Castle of Vilvoorde.

#OTD in 1912, formal Belgian prime minister August Beernaert died. In 1909, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

#OTD in 1111, Count Robert II of Flanders died. Known as Robert the Crusader, hé participated in the 1st Crusade where he fought in my battles. He was killed during a skirmish in Normandy after he fell off his horse and was trampled to death

#OTD in 1830, the Provisional Government declared the independence of Belgium (the second time in 40 years Belgium declared its independence, the other time was in 1790). A few weeks later a National Congress would be installed that would draft a constitution.

#OTD in 1535, The Coverdale Bible, compiled by Myles Coverdale and the first complete Modern English translation of the Bible, was published. The book was not printed in England, but in Antwerp by Merten de Keyser (and financed by Jacobus van Meteren)

Dame Sarah Mullally will be the first Archbishop of #Canterbury translated from London since Geoffrey Fisher who became Archbishop in 1945 (and crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953)

#OTD in 1470, English King Edward IV was forced to flee his realm and ended up in the County of Flanders, ruled by his brother-in-law Charles the Bold. He settled in Bruges where he was hosted in the palace of Louis, Lord of Gruuthuse.

On the 1st of October 1795, the Habsburg Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liege were annexed by France and reorganised as the ‘United Departments’. Ancient entities such as the County of Flanders or Duchy of Brabant Vessem to exist.

Wie nog twijfelt om ‘Coudenberg’ in huis te halen. Heden vind je een kortingsbon in de Knack om het boek met korting te kopen en er is zelfs meer voordeel te halen als je het boek in pakket met Johan Op de Beeks ‘Versailles’ aanschaft 🙂

The King of the Belgians’ son has been inaugurated as officer at the Belgian Army. Photo: @monarchiebe.bsky.social

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians recieved by the Austrian president and his wife. Note the portrait of Empress Maria-Theresia in the background: the great (x6) grandmother of Matilde’s husband, King Philippe of the Belgians.

No, no, no ! The Habsburg Netherlands were not occupied by the Spaniards and Austrians. It was its own political entity in the Habsburg monarchy with it own laws, legal system, institutions and vibrant court life in Brussels.

Dinner from hell ! #OTD in 1567, the Duke of Alva, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands, invited the counts of Egmont and Horne to his residence for dinner. On arrival both men were arrested and would be executed the following year.

Cool triptych featuring young Charles V and his many domains. Painted by Jan van Bettel (ca 1517) for the townhall of Mechelen, in the city where Charles was raised. Photo: @hofvanbusleyden

#OTD in 1312, Duke Jan II of Brabant and Limburg issued the Charter of Kortenberg, an institutional milestone in European history. It strenghtened the rule of law, gave more powers to the cities and included provisions its rights and privileges applied to both the rich and poor.

#OTD in 1275, Duke Jan II of Brabant and Limburg was born. In 1294, he succeeded his father Jan I and would rule till 1312. He is known for approving the Charter of Kortenberg, a constitutional milestone in European history.

Indeed, somewhat hidden

Another somewhat forgotten Palace in Brussels: the 18th c residence of Charles Alexander, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands (+1780). Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Philip’s oldest son Charles lived in Mechelen, Habsburg Netherlands, where he was proclaimed the new Lord of the Habsburg Netherlands after he rode to his father’s funeral ceremony on a little donkey.

#OTD in 1506, Philip the Handsome died in Burgos, aged 28. His wife, Joanna of Castile, did not want to part with his body which strengtened the case to declare his ‘insane

#OTD in 1830, the Provisional Government of Belgium was established. Some interesting members were a member of an old and influential aristocratic family and a liberal laywer from Liège

Musée de Mariemont

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