History Thursday: Writing the Prince. The Accession of Charles of Habsburg in the former Low Countries

On January 5, 1515, in the Great Hall of Coudenberg Palace, the young Charles of Habsburg celebrated his political coming of age. At just 15 years old, he became sovereign of the former Low Countries and began a meteoric rise that would ultimately lead him to the head of a continental empire.

Our History Thursday revisits this pivotal event in European history and the narratives surrounding this accession. How was Charles’s rise to power staged? What narratives shaped his image among his contemporaries?

Through the work of Rémi Dupuis, the last chronicler of Burgundy and a central figure of this period, Jonathan Dumont, holder of a doctorate in history, art and archaeology and a project manager at the University of Liège, sheds light on the writing and celebration strategies of princely power in the former Low Countries. A fascinating journey into the making of political storytelling on the eve of the imperial election of 1519.

Practical information

• Thursday 12.06.25 at 6.30 p.m.
• Length: 1 hr
• Lecture in French
• Free admission, reservation required via our platform
• Location: 2^nd floor of the Brussels City Museum – Maison du Roi/Broodhuis
• Please note: the lecture room is accessible by stairs only
• As part of the Brussels Renaissance Festival