Margraviate of Antwerp

The Margraviate of Antwerp (or Mark of Antwerp) consisted since the eleventh century of the area around the cities of Antwerp and Breda.

Margraviate of Antwerp
969–1406
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalAntwerp
GovernmentMargraviate
Margrave of Antwerp 
 969-1002
Godfrey I (first)
 1142-1190
Godfrey III (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
 Established
969
 Merged into Lower Lorraine
1106
 inherited by Brabant
1190
 Peace of Ath
1357
 Reunited with Brabant
1406
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Lower Lotharingia
Duchy of Brabant
Today part of

Origin

Under Otto II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, several marches were created along the border with West Francia (this border coincided with the river Scheldt). Originally the mark was restricted to the borders of the Scheldt, in 994 Ansfried of Utrecht added Toxandria to the mark.

History

the Marquess of Antwerp symbolised in the funeral procession of Albert VII

In the 11th century the mark of Antwerp was one of the fiefs of the duke of Lower Lorraine. Godfrey of Bouillon received the mark in 1076 from emperor Henry IV. After his death in the Crusader state of Jerusalem in 1100, Henry I of Limburg was appointed as margrave.

In 1106 the duchy of Lower Lorraine and the margraviate were united. After the Diet of Schwäbisch Hall by Emperor Henry VI, in 1190, the duchy was abolished and its titles were given to the duke of Brabant, who continued to use the title of "Margrave of the Holy Roman Empire".

In the 1357 Peace of Ath the margraviate went to Louis II, Count of Flanders and then his daughter Margaret. In 1405 its guardianship fell to her son Anthony, who reunited it with Brabant when he became duke the following year.

The margraviate was often listed separately as one of the Seventeen Provinces in the 16th century.

After the Eighty Years' War the margraviate was part of the Spanish Netherlands, where the title of margrave continued to exist as an honorary title for the representative of the governor.

Composition

The margraviate consisted (after the loss of Breda) of the cities of Antwerp, Herentals and Lier and the quarters of Arkel, Rijen, Geel, Zandhoven, Turnhout and Hoogstraten.

Margraves of Antwerp

Counts of Louvin:

Dukes of Brabant:

Counts of Flanders:

Dukes of Brabant:


References

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