Adolescence

Mary of Burgundy inherited the immense empire in 1477 at the age of 19 but she could not inherit the trust of the Flemish cities. Bruges and Ghent saw their chance to regain lost privileges and revolted. It did not take long for Antwerp to follow in their footsteps. In an attempt to nip this rebellion in the bud as soon as possible, Burgundy sent a large professional army to force the rebellious Antwerpers to their knees. The historic battle that became known as the Quaeye Werelt revolt reasserted the Burgundian control of Brabant. Today the historic reenactment of the battle of the Quaeye Wereldt has grown into the largest medieval festival in the low countries.

As Bruges loses its direct connection to the sea, businesses, merchants & population move into the new trading & financial hub multiplying Antwerp’s size & importance. After the 1450s the city enters its Golden Age. The Guild of Saint Luke, a city guild for painters and other artists that would become a vessel of Renaissance spirit in the European continent and was first established in 1382 in Antwerp, gained its first special privileges by the city in 1442. It would give rise to new artistic movements like the Antwerp School which produced a series of painting masterpieces,  and new literary and humanistic societies like the Violieren rhetoric school and drama society.

The age of exploration favored international trade & Antwerp was among the cities of Northern Europe that would be benefited the most. Antwerp became the sugar capital of Europe importing the product from Spanish & Portuguese plantations, refining it & shipping it to Germany and other European countries. Hundreds of ships unloaded cargoes of spices like pepper & cinnamon day in and day out & American silver poured from the Spanish ships coming from Seville.

The bulk of the money from trade creates a surplus which in its turn helps money-lenders & financiers. Big banks are formed that loan huge amounts to governments like the English & new economical instruments such as the stakeholder ship or the stock market are established for the first time. The city is at its peak. By 1560 Antwerp is the 2nd largest city north of the Alps & the richest of all accounting for 40% of all world trade. The thriving city becomes the epitome of the European Renaissance with architecture & arts following the steps of the booming economy.