The Southern Netherlands, also called the Catholic Netherlands, were part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (1556–1714), Austria (1714–94) and annexed by France (1794–1815). This region comprised most of modern Belgium excepting the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, the Imperial Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy, and the County of Bouillon. The region did include Luxembourg (including the homonymous present Belgian province), and in addition some parts of the Netherlands (namely the Duchy of Limburg, now divided between the Dutch province of Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège and Limburg) as well as, until 1678, most of the present Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. The Southern Netherlands remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until its annexation to France in 1794.
Read more about Southern Netherlands: Place in The Broader Netherlands, Spanish Netherlands, Austrian Netherlands, French Annexation
Famous quotes containing the words southern and/or netherlands:
“As it grew darker, I was startled by the honking of geese flying low over the woods, like weary travellers getting in late from Southern lakes, and indulging at last in unrestrained complaint and mutual consolation. Standing at my door, I could hear the rush of their wings; when, driving toward my house, they suddenly spied my light, and with hushed clamor wheeled and settled in the pond. So I came in, and shut the door, and passed my first spring night in the woods.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Greece is a sort of American vassal; the Netherlands is the country of American bases that grow like tulip bulbs; Cuba is the main sugar plantation of the American monopolies; Turkey is prepared to kow-tow before any United States pro-consul and Canada is the boring second fiddle in the American symphony.”
—Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko (1909–1989)