Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

THE HIST OR Y OF BRUSSELS  37

Austrian Succession over whether his daughter Maria Theresa
Subsequent decades were dogged by war should be allowed to inherit the crown. It
as Austria and England sought to stave off was not until 1748, with the signing of the
French ambitions. When Philip of Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, that Maria
Anjou succeeded to the Spanish Theresa gained control. The endless
throne, it looked as if the fighting took its toll, and Brussels
combined threat of Spain and was impoverished. The majority
France would over whelm of the population were still ruled
the rest of Europe. Emperor by feudal laws: they could not
Leopold I of Austria, together change jobs or move home
with England and many without permission; only three
German states, dec lared war per cent were literate.
on France. The resulting 14-year Governor of Brussels, Duke
War of the Spanish Succession Charles of Lorraine The Workers’ Revolt
ended with the Treaty of Utrecht In the 1750s, Empress Maria
in 1713, which ceded the Netherlands, Theresa of Austria installed her brother,
including Brussels, to Austria. Charles of Lorraine, in Brussels. Under
The treaty did not end the conflict. the influence of the Enlightenment, his
Emperor Charles VI of Austria ruled after court attracted European artists and
Leopold, but failed to produce a male heir. intellectuals, and Brussels became the
His death in 1731 sparked another 17 years most glamorous city in Europe. Indus try
of war – The War of the Austrian Succession – also boomed with the construction of
new roads and waterways. Brussels
was transformed as the Place Royale
and Parc de Bruxelles were laid out.
But while the aristocracy and new
middle classes flourished, the workers
of Brussels were suffering. As the city’s
popula tion grew, there were more
workers than jobs: wages plummeted
and fac tory conditions were harsh. When
Joseph II succeeded Maria Theresa in 1780,
he enforced a series of reforms including
freedom of reli gion; however, he also
cancelled the 500-year-old Charter of
Liberties. Influenced by the ideas of the
French Revolution of 1789, the Belgians
now demanded reform. Their rebellion
French prince Philip of Anjou became Philip V of Spain, sparking the
War of the Spanish Succession was to result in an independent state.
Ceramic
1695 French 1713–14 Treaties of Delft plate 1760s Brussels 1788 Joseph II cancels
Bombardment Utrecht and Rastadt is cultural and Charter of Liberties
of Brussels mark beginning of artistic centre which results in liberal
Austrian period of Europe opposition
1700 1725 1750 1775
1748 Treaty of 1789 Belgian
1697 Willebroek 1731 Beginning Aix-la-Chapelle 1753 New roads and revolt for
Canal completed, of the 17-year- restores the canals constructed, independence
links Brussels to the long war against Netherlands to which boosts industry fired by French
sea via Antwerp Austrian rule Austrian rule in Brussels Revolution

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