Page 36 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

34  INTRODUCING BRUSSELS

from England which were crucial to their
cloth-based economy. The subsequent
depression marked the begin ning of
decades of conflict between the craftsmen
and merchant classes. In 1356, Jeanne,
Duchess of Louvain, gained control over
Brussels, and instituted the workers’ Charter
of Liberties. Craftsmen were finally given
some polit ical powers in the city. Trade
resumed, attracting new peo ple to Brussels.
Nineteenth-century painting of the Battle of the Golden Spurs As the popu lation grew, new streets were
built outside the city walls to accommodate
The Craftsmen’s Rebellion them. Between 1357 and 1379, a second
Over the next two hundred years, Brussels town wall was con structed around these
became one of the foremost towns of the new districts.
Duchy of Brabant. Trade here specialized in
fine fabrics that were exported to lucrative The House of Burgundy
markets in France, Italy and England. A The new town walls were also built in reply
handful of merchants became rich and to the invasion of Brussels by the Count of
exer cised political power over the towns. Flanders. However, in 1369, Philip, Duke
However, conflict grew between the of Burgundy, married the daughter of the
merchants, who wanted to maintain good Count of Flanders, and when the count
relations with England, and their autocratic died in 1384, the Low Countries and
French rulers who relied upon tax revenue eastern France came under the couple’s
from the towns. Burgundian rule.
The 14th century witnessed a series of In the 1430s, Brussels became the capital
rebellions by the craftsmen of Bruges and of Burgundy, a situation that was to change
Brussels against what they saw as the the city forever. Brussels was now an
tyranny of the French lords. In May 1302, administrative and cultural centre, famous
Flemish craftsmen, armed only with spears,
defeated the French at the Battle of the
Golden Spurs, named for the humiliating
theft of the cavalry’s spurs. Encouraged by
this suc cess, the Brussels craftsmen revolted
against the aristocracy who controlled their
trading economy in 1356. They were also
angered by the Hundred Years’ War
between England and France, which began Richly detailed Brussels tapestries such as this Allegory of Hope
in 1337. The war threatened wool supplies (1525) were prized commodities

1225 Construction 1302 Battle of the 1356 Craftsmen’s leader
of Cathédrale Sts Medieval Golden Spurs – Everard ‘t Serclaes expels
Michel et Gudule helmet Flemish defeat of Flemish from Brussels
French cavalry
1200 1250 1300 1350
1229 Brussels granted its 1338 Flemish towns become
St-Micbel first charter, and relations allied to England for the
statue between England and Hundred Years’ War
Flanders break down
1356 Duchess Jeanne of Louvain grants
Charter of Liberties

034-035_EW_Brussels.indd 34 10/01/17 10:54 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
History Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm