fjt_907611 - NETHERLANDS - BRUXELLES JEAN COOLS 1677

NETHERLANDS

The Southern Netherlands was also called throughout history the Southern Netherlands, or the Catholic Netherlands or the Belgian Netherlands, or Belgium Regium or Belgica Regia. Initially, the different principalities were unified by the Dukes of Burgundy, by inheritance or acquisition: these are the Seventeen Provinces of the Burgundian Netherlands. Under Philip II of Spain, the States General of the Greater Netherlands opposed royal attempts to restrict local rights acquired over the ages by provinces and cities. But, after the Eighty Years' War, in 1581, by the Act of The Hague, the seven northern provinces seceded and formed the United Provinces. After a long conflict, the ten southern provinces remained under Habsburg control and constituted the Southern Netherlands; two States will follow one another: the Spanish Netherlands from 1581 to 1713 then the Austrian Netherlands from 1713 to 1795. The Belgian Provinces have always legally been part of the Holy Empire until 1806, even when they were possessions Habsburgs of Austria who were sovereigns in a personal capacity..