Southern Netherlands

The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). This region comprised most of modern Belgium (except the prince-bishopric of Liège, which was an autonomous, neutral part of the German Holy Roman Empire) and Luxembourg (including the homonymous present Belgian province) as well as, before 1678, much of north-western France.

Spanish Netherlands

The Spanish Netherlands in broad sense were the Seventeen Provinces, that came under Habsburg rule after 1482. After 1556 they were under the Spanish Habsburg branch. The northern provinces separated from Habsburg rule during the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) and became the independent United Provinces after the Oath of Abjuration of 1581. The southern provinces remained under Habsburg rule and formed the Spanish Netherlands in strict sense.

Related Topics:
Seventeen Provinces - 1482 - 1556 - Eighty Years' War - 1568 - 1648 - United Provinces - Oath of Abjuration - 1581

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The Spanish Netherlands originally consisted of the whole of the

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• county of Flanders, including French- and Walloon Flanders
• county of Artois
• city of Tournai
• Cambrai
• (As a rough guide, the territory concerned which now lies in France is the département of Nord and the northern half of Pas-de-Calais.)
• duchy of Luxembourg
• duchy of Limburg
• county of Hainault
• county of Namur
• manor of Mechlin
• duchy of Brabant
• the Upper Quarter (Bovenkwartier) of the duchy of Guelders (around Venlo and Roermond, in the present province of Dutch Limburg)

The capital was Brussels in Brabant.

Related Topics:
Brussels - Brabant

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In the early seventeenth century there was a flourishing court at Brussels, which was under the government of King Philip III's sister Archduchess Isabella and her husband, Archduke Albert. Among the artists who emerged from the court of the "Archdukes," as they were known, was Peter Paul Rubens. Under the Archdukes, the Spanish Netherlands actually had formal independence from Spain, but with Albert's death in 1621 they returned to formal Spanish control, although the childless Isabella remained on as Governor until her death in 1633.

Related Topics:
Brussels - Philip III's - Archduchess Isabella - Archduke Albert - Peter Paul Rubens - 1621 - 1633

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The failing wars intended to regain the 'heretical' Northern Netherlands meant significant loss of (still mainly catholic) territories in the north, which was consolidated in the 1648 Westphalian peace, and given the peculiar, inferior status of Generality Lands (jointly ruled by the United Republic, not admitted as member provinces) : Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (south of the river Scheldt), the present Dutch province of Noord-Brabant and Maastricht (in the present Dutch province of Limburg).

Related Topics:
Westphalian peace - Generality Lands - Zeeuws-Vlaanderen - Scheldt - Noord-Brabant - Maastricht

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In the wars between the French and the Spanish in the Seventeenth Century, the territory of the Spanish Netherlands was repeatedly nipped at. The French annexed Artois and Cambrai by the Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659, and Dunkirk was ceded to the English. By the Treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle (ending the War of Devolution in 1668) and Nijmegen (ending the Franco-Dutch War in 1678), further territory up to the current Franco-Belgian border was ceded, including most of Walloon Flanders (around the city of Lille), as well as much of Hainault (including Valenciennes). In the later War of the Reunions, and the Nine Years War France annexed other parts of the region.

Related Topics:
Artois - Cambrai - Treaty of the Pyrenees - 1659 - Dunkirk - Aix-la-Chapelle - War of Devolution - 1668 - Nijmegen - Franco-Dutch War - 1678 - Walloon Flanders - Lille - Hainault - Valenciennes - War of the Reunions - Nine Years War - France

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