!!!Österreichische Niederlande

Netherlands, Austrian, name for the provinces of Brabant and Flanders, 
which had formerly constituted a major portion of the Spanish 
Netherlands awarded to the Habsburgs under the Peace of  Utrecht of 
1713 and which now form parts of Belgium and Luxembourg. The Austrian 
governors-general Prince  Eugène of Savoy, Prince Karl of 
Lorraine  Karl VI, Archduchess Marie Christine and  Albert 
Kasimir, Duke of Saxony-Teschen) ruled with the help of authorised 
ministers. While the historically established inner autonomy of the 
provinces ("Joyeuse Entree") remained untouched by the 
Austrian governors general, their economic expansion was blocked by 
the English and Dutch seafaring powers, who forced the dissolution of 
the Ostend Company ( Trading Companies, Privileged). During his reign, 
Karl VI introduced reforms inspired by the spirit of enlightened 
despotism, while measures taken by Joseph II. (Edict of 
Toleration of 1781, changes in the administration of state and church) 
led to resistance in 1787 which came to a head in the revolt of July 
1789 and a temporary declaration of independence of 11 provinces which 
joined together as the "United Provinces". The provinces 
were at odds amongst themselves, and consequently Austria managed to 
re-gain control in December 1790; this was, however, only temporarily, 
since the Austrian Netherlands were occupied by France in 1794.


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