Foundation

The priest Saint Gorik built a chapel on an island in the river Zenne around 580. The island was centrally located in present-day Brussels until the 19th century, when Zenne was covered. The island was called Saint Gorik Island / Sint-Gorik Island / île Saint-Géry, and Gorik’s chapel marked the start of those who would later grow into an actual settlement and city.

Saint Gorik’s chapel was located in the marshlands along the river, and the name Brussels is also believed to come from the old Dutch broeksel, which means the home of the marsh. Incidentally, the symbol of the Brussels region is an iris that was a typical flower in the surrounding area.

Although a chapel had already been erected, Brussels was first founded in 979, when Karl of Lorraine brought the relics of Saint Gudula from the city of Moorsel in Flanders to Saint Gorik’s chapel. On that occasion Karl made the first fortifications, and they brought about an actual settlement.

The city grows

Around 1000, Lambert I, Count of Leuven, gained control of Brussels, marrying Karl of Lorraine’s daughter. In the mid-1000s, the city’s defense works were expanded by Lambert II Baldric, who also erected the first of the city’s expanded defense works.

Brussels was centrally located with its location on the river Zenne and on the trade route between the cities of Bruges and Ghent in the west and Cologne in the east.

Trade flourished, and with Brussels’ natural location on the trade routes, many settled permanently in the city, which quickly spread from Saint Gorik Island to the districts that now form the city center. Among other things, these neighborhoods had the advantage of being protected from the floods that hit the flood-prone houses.

City walls

Throughout the Middle Ages, present-day Flanders was one of Europe’s most urbanized areas with almost unstoppable economic, cultural and population growth, and this also applied to Brussels.

In the 13th century, the city got its first city walls. They were raised by the rulers of Leuven, who had now become the duke. The walls created increased security, which in turn was the breeding ground for the influx of new migrants. There were so many people moving to the city that already 1356-1383 new and expanded city walls had to be built.

Many lows were formed during these centuries and businesses were established. The nobility also rebuilt the area with castles and defense works, so there was a time of great growth. Politically, Brussels’ first constitution was published in 1229 under Henri I, one of Brabant’s dukes.

Power change

The former rulers were from Brabant, but it was not to continue. Thus, in 1384-1477, Burgundy was in power in Brussels. The Burgundians were known for their gastronomy, and it can still be tasted in Belgian cuisine.

Through royal marriage, Brussels became part of the kingdom of the Habsburgs. The Habsburg emperors continued to expand the city; including large duct systems that provided further growth.

In 1516, Karl V was proclaimed Spanish King in Brussels’ Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral / Sint-Michiels-en-Sint-Goedelekathedraal / Cathédrale des Saints-Michel et Gudule. Karl had been heir to the Netherlands since 1509, and in 1519 he was crowned German-Roman emperor after the death of grandfather Maximilian Is.

In 1555, the Habsburgs surrendered to Charles V power over Brussels and left the country to Spain and King Felipe II. Resistance to the king of distant Madrid increased. Holland’s William of Orange assisted the Belgians, and the Spanish leader, the Duke of Alva, had to flee, however, to return eight years later.

The French arrive

During this time, Spain gradually became weaker, and in 1695 the French sun king Louis XIV attacked Brussels. More than 4,000 houses were damaged on that occasion and the Grote Markt/Grand Place was almost completely destroyed.

The Spaniards retained dominion until the Utrecht Agreement in 1713, ending the Spanish War of Succession. The Spanish Netherlands, including Belgium, were handed over to the Habsburgs in Austria.

In the same century, a new succession war broke out. This time it took place in Austria, and during the conquest of France Brussels in 1746. However, the French presence lasted only three years.

It was a tight deadline, for although the Austrians sought to strengthen the development of Brussels, the Austrians were weaker, and in France a revolution had brought new leaders and they sought expansion.

French troops invaded the city in 1794, and the following year they declared the area French. New departments were created and Brussels became the capital of the Dyle region. Brussels remained French until 1815, when Napoleon’s time in power had ceased.

After Napoleon’s fall in 1815 at Waterloo outside Brussels, the United Netherlands was established by Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Capital of independent Belgium

Already in 1830-1831 Belgium became independent after a freedom struggle against the Dutch leaders. Leopold I was declared the country’s first king in 1831, and Brussels became the capital.

19th century development

A large-scale construction of the new Belgium started. The old city walls were demolished and huge buildings were erected. At the same time, there was great enthusiasm in the city that wanted to hold international exhibitions, found scientific institutes and other things that could secure the country a place in Europe and the world. For example, it brought cultural figures such as Victor Hugo and Karl Marx to the city.

The latter half of the 19th century was also Belgium’s heyday as a colonial power with the royal power and Brussels at its center. The colonies spoke 70 times the area of ​​Belgium.

Belgium did not participate in the Franco-German War of 1870-1871, but the war contributed to rising nationalism in the Flemish and French parts of the country; a relationship that still characterizes the country and the common capital of Brussels.

Around the same time, the flow and pollution of the river Zennes through central Brussels had become too high a risk to public health, and the river was completely covered. On that occasion, Saint Gorik Island disappeared, but in turn new and wide boulevards could be brought.

Towards present day

Brussels, at the beginning of the 20th century, remained a mainly Dutch-speaking city. The language, culture and history had mainly come from other cities in Flanders, but it was formally changed in 1921, when the city and country were divided into zones. To the north lay the Dutch-speaking Flanders, to the south the French-speaking Wallonia, while Brussels as its capital officially became bilingual.

The two world wars in the 20th century did not significantly slow down the city’s development. Construction continued and international relations were constantly sought to be developed.

Among the successes were the very large exhibitions, and Brussels came twice to host world exhibitions. It happened in 1935 and again in 1958. The fifth Solvay Conference in Physics and Chemistry was also held here; it was in 1927.

In the 1950s, Belgium joined the Coal and Steel Union, a precursor to today’s European Union, which has greatly influenced the knowledge of Brussels internationally. The city is the main city for parts of the EU administration. The Commission, the Council of Ministers and one of Parliament’s buildings were put into place when the institutions were to be established, and in addition the NATO defense alliance was given administrative headquarters in the city.

The development of recent decades has primarily taken its pivotal role in the continued expansion of cooperation in the EU and the trade, economy and tourism it entails.