The most common theory of the origin of Brussels' name is that it derives from the
Old Dutch Broekzele or
Broeksel, meaning marsh (
broek) and home (
zele /
sel) or "home in the marsh".
[18] Saint Vindicianus, the bishop of
Cambrai made the first recorded reference to the place "Brosella" in 695
[19] when it was still a hamlet.
History
Early history
The origin of the settlement that was to become Brussels lies in
Saint Gaugericus' construction of a chapel on
an island in the river
Senne around 580.
[20] The official founding of Brussels is usually situated around 979, when
Duke Charles of Lower Lotharingia transferred the relics of Saint
Gudula from
Moorsel
to the Saint Gaugericus chapel. Charles would construct the first
permanent fortification in the city, doing so on that same island.
Middle Ages
Lambert I of Leuven, Count of
Leuven gained the County of Brussels around 1000 by marrying Charles' daughter. Because of its location on the shores of the
Senne on an important trade route between
Bruges and
Ghent, and
Cologne, Brussels grew quite quickly; it became a commercial centre that rapidly extended towards the upper town (
St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral,
Coudenberg,
Sablon
area), where there was a smaller risk of floods. As it grew to a
population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to
allow for further expansion. The Counts of Leuven became
Dukes of Brabant at about this time (1183/1184). In the 13th century, the city got
its first walls.
[21] After the construction of the city walls in the early 13th century, Brussels grew significantly. To let the city expand,
a second set of walls was erected between 1356 and 1383. Today, traces of it can still be seen, mostly because the "
small ring", a series of roadways in downtown Brussels bounding the historic city centre, follows its former course.
No comments:
Post a Comment