SOUTH-EAST-FLANDERS ----- ZUID-OOST-VLAANDEREN
FLEMISH ARDENNES ----- VLAAMSE ARDENNEN
FLANDERS - BELGIUM ----- VLAANDEREN - BELGIE
Next Page Historical Overview Homepage Created 2001/03/17 |
1625 - 1800 The Southern Netherlands belonged to the Spanish crown till 1700. After that, the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs governed the region till 1794. The centralized, royal authority strenghened further, to the disavantage of the regional autonomy. The colletaral councils, which Charles V established, remained: the Raad van State (Council of State) for political advise, the Raad van Financien (Council of Finance) for budget control, the Geheime Raad (Secret Council) for administration of justice and government. However, the Council of State in particular lost much influence. The State General, the assembley of the regions, met for the last time in 1632, and after the Conspiracy of the Nobles had failed , the nobility lost quite some privileges. A governor ruled over the Southern Netherlands, though during the Austrian regime the center of power moved towards the minister plenipotentiary appointed by the emperor. Jozef II replaced the collateral councils by the Algemene Regeringsraad (General Government Council) in order to govern the country more efficiently, but -as an enlightened despot- he kept himself the main executive and legislative powers. Source: Koenraad DE WOLF, Architectuurgids Zuid-Oost-Vlaanderen. Barok, Rococo & Classicisme (1625-1800), 1998, p. 7. (English translation: Architectural Guide of South-East-Flanders. Baroque, Rococo & Classicism.) |
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