Vincenzo DM
@vincenzodm.bsky.social
International politics i/t ´Brussels Bubble´. Historian (16th c. diplomacy). Also Teaching Assistant @VUBrussel (UK history). Belgian. My views are my own.
Doing research for a biography on Emperor Charles V means you encounter some books with cool covers.
November 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Doing research for a biography on Emperor Charles V means you encounter some books with cool covers.
One of the least flattering portraits of young Emperor Charles V. Note this pronounced chin, Flemish School (1516) / Royal Collection.
November 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM
One of the least flattering portraits of young Emperor Charles V. Note this pronounced chin, Flemish School (1516) / Royal Collection.
Gruuthuse resided at his grand city palace in Bruges where he also hosted king Edward IV of England during his exile (which earned him the title ‘Earl of Winchester)
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Gruuthuse resided at his grand city palace in Bruges where he also hosted king Edward IV of England during his exile (which earned him the title ‘Earl of Winchester)
#OTD in 1492, Lodewijk, Lord of Gruuthuse, died at his residence in Bruges. He was one of the most powerful men at the court of Philip the Good and Charles the Bold.
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM
#OTD in 1492, Lodewijk, Lord of Gruuthuse, died at his residence in Bruges. He was one of the most powerful men at the court of Philip the Good and Charles the Bold.
#OTD in 1965, Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians died at her residence, Castle Stuyvenberg, aged 89. Born Duchess in Bavaria, she married King Albert I in 1900. She was known for her deep love for music and her uncoventional actions (e.g. travelling to communist countries).
November 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
#OTD in 1965, Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians died at her residence, Castle Stuyvenberg, aged 89. Born Duchess in Bavaria, she married King Albert I in 1900. She was known for her deep love for music and her uncoventional actions (e.g. travelling to communist countries).
Uiteraard zal ook de Pragmatieke Sanctie ook uitvoerig besproken worden in mijn boek ‘Karel V’, de man die de Nederlanden wat kon omvormen tot een staatkundige eenheid (publicatie 13 maart 2026) !
November 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Uiteraard zal ook de Pragmatieke Sanctie ook uitvoerig besproken worden in mijn boek ‘Karel V’, de man die de Nederlanden wat kon omvormen tot een staatkundige eenheid (publicatie 13 maart 2026) !
This is so cool: the ‘Pragmatic Sanction’ (1549) issued by Charles V who decided that the Habsburg Netherlands can only be ruled by one monarch and cannot be divided (well, that did not work out). Photo shared by @karldrabbe.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This is so cool: the ‘Pragmatic Sanction’ (1549) issued by Charles V who decided that the Habsburg Netherlands can only be ruled by one monarch and cannot be divided (well, that did not work out). Photo shared by @karldrabbe.bsky.social
Cool: letter written and signed by Mary, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands. Notice the cool Habsburg seal. (sent from Bruges / 1545). Photo: VRT Nws
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Cool: letter written and signed by Mary, Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands. Notice the cool Habsburg seal. (sent from Bruges / 1545). Photo: VRT Nws
Mijn nieuwste boek ‘Karel V’ moet nog verschijnen (13 maart !!) en de eerste aanvragen voor een lezing lopen reeds binnen. De Habsburgse keizer blijft mensen zo’n 467 jaar na zijn overlijden nog steeds fascineren.
November 21, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Mijn nieuwste boek ‘Karel V’ moet nog verschijnen (13 maart !!) en de eerste aanvragen voor een lezing lopen reeds binnen. De Habsburgse keizer blijft mensen zo’n 467 jaar na zijn overlijden nog steeds fascineren.
During Leopold Wilhelm’s tenure the state rooms at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels were stuffed to the brim with paintings.
November 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
During Leopold Wilhelm’s tenure the state rooms at the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels were stuffed to the brim with paintings.
#OTD in 1662, Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria died in Vienna. He also served as Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands during which time he turned the Coudenberg Palace in Brussel into one of Europe’s premier art galleries.
November 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
#OTD in 1662, Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria died in Vienna. He also served as Regent of the Habsburg Netherlands during which time he turned the Coudenberg Palace in Brussel into one of Europe’s premier art galleries.
Een absolute schande. Het soms totale gebrek aan erkenning en eerbied voor oud-strijders - zelfs na hun dood - is stuitend.
November 20, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Een absolute schande. Het soms totale gebrek aan erkenning en eerbied voor oud-strijders - zelfs na hun dood - is stuitend.
Cool armour made for young Emperor Charles V. Photo: Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen / Sophie Nuytten
November 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Cool armour made for young Emperor Charles V. Photo: Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen / Sophie Nuytten
And we also know who designed the gate: one of the greatest architect of his age : Court Architect Wenzel Coberger
November 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
And we also know who designed the gate: one of the greatest architect of his age : Court Architect Wenzel Coberger
And the castle of Tervuren was quite something. Built in the middle ages and revamped several times before it was demolished by Joseph II in the 1780s.
November 18, 2025 at 7:18 AM
And the castle of Tervuren was quite something. Built in the middle ages and revamped several times before it was demolished by Joseph II in the 1780s.
Cool: an old gate, built in 1627, that once provided access to the royal domain of Tervuren (the castle was demolished in the 1780s) near Brussels will be restored to its former glory.
November 18, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Cool: an old gate, built in 1627, that once provided access to the royal domain of Tervuren (the castle was demolished in the 1780s) near Brussels will be restored to its former glory.
#OTD in 1522, Lamoraal, Count of Egmont was born. He would become one of the leading noblemen in the Habsburg Netherlands. In 1568 he ended on the block however after he was accused of high treason against Philip II.
November 18, 2025 at 6:46 AM
#OTD in 1522, Lamoraal, Count of Egmont was born. He would become one of the leading noblemen in the Habsburg Netherlands. In 1568 he ended on the block however after he was accused of high treason against Philip II.
#OTD in 1558, Mary Tudor, England’s first Queen-Regnant died. She was married to King Philip II of Spain (who held the title ‘King of England’) which made her the only English monarch who also served as Lady-Consort of the Habsburg Netherlands
November 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
#OTD in 1558, Mary Tudor, England’s first Queen-Regnant died. She was married to King Philip II of Spain (who held the title ‘King of England’) which made her the only English monarch who also served as Lady-Consort of the Habsburg Netherlands
The Royal Castle of Laken (residence of the King of the Belgians) anno 1785 when it was called the Castle of Schonenberg and served as summer residence of Archduchess Maria-Christina and Archduke Albert, Regents of the Habsburg Netherlands.
November 16, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The Royal Castle of Laken (residence of the King of the Belgians) anno 1785 when it was called the Castle of Schonenberg and served as summer residence of Archduchess Maria-Christina and Archduke Albert, Regents of the Habsburg Netherlands.
Isabella, Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands, in Canada.
Flemish paintings (including a few royal portraits) at the Royal Ontario Museum
November 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Isabella, Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands, in Canada.
Today is King's Day in Belgium (not to be confused with Belgium's National Day). The day will involve ceremonies in honor of the King. The 15th of November was chosen as it is the name day of St Albert and St Leopold 🇧🇪
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Today is King's Day in Belgium (not to be confused with Belgium's National Day). The day will involve ceremonies in honor of the King. The 15th of November was chosen as it is the name day of St Albert and St Leopold 🇧🇪
#OTD in 1559, Albert was born as son of Maximilian (II). He would become a Cardinal, Viceroy of Portugal, who blessed the Armada, and in 1598 Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands with his wife Isabella. Under their watch Brussels once again became a European centre of arts
November 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM
#OTD in 1559, Albert was born as son of Maximilian (II). He would become a Cardinal, Viceroy of Portugal, who blessed the Armada, and in 1598 Sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands with his wife Isabella. Under their watch Brussels once again became a European centre of arts
Imperial coat of arms at the entrance of the ‘Hof van Savoye’ in Mechelen, Belgium. Once the residence of Margaret of Austria, who raised her nephew Charles (V) at her magnificent court.
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Imperial coat of arms at the entrance of the ‘Hof van Savoye’ in Mechelen, Belgium. Once the residence of Margaret of Austria, who raised her nephew Charles (V) at her magnificent court.
- On the left: Ypres' medieval cloth hall - at some point one of the largest civic buildings in medieval Europe -
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
November 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
- On the left: Ypres' medieval cloth hall - at some point one of the largest civic buildings in medieval Europe -
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
- On the right: the same building almost completely destroyed during #WWI
Smoking room of Prince Philip, Count of Flanders (1837-1905) at his palace in Brussels in 1902. Note the bust of Emperor Charles V on the mantelpiece and the large portrait of his beloved son Boudewijn who died in 1891 aged 21.
November 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Smoking room of Prince Philip, Count of Flanders (1837-1905) at his palace in Brussels in 1902. Note the bust of Emperor Charles V on the mantelpiece and the large portrait of his beloved son Boudewijn who died in 1891 aged 21.