That did not prevent the citizens from unjustly rebelling against him in 1540, after the suppression of which revolt Charles is said to have ascended the cathedral tower, while the executioner was putting to death the ringleaders in the rebellion, in order to choose with his brother Ferdinand the site for the citadel he intended to erect, to overawe the freedom loving city.  He chose the Monastery of St. Bavon as its site, and, as we have seen, built there his colossal fortress, now wholly demolished.  The palace in which he was born and which he inhabited frequently during life, was known as the Cour du Prince.  It stood near the Ancient Grand Beguinage, but only its name now survives in that of a street.

BRUSSELS[A]

[Footnote A:  From “The Belgians at Home.”  Published by Little, Brown & Co.]

BY CLIVE HOLLAND

The great commercial and material prosperity of the place dates from the commencement of the rule of the House of Burgundy.  It was then, in the fifteenth century, that the most beautiful of its many fine buildings were erected.  The Church of St. Michael and St. Gudule has its great nave and towers dating from this period; the Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame du Sablon, the Nassau Palace, the Palace of the Dukes of Brabant, and many other buildings were commenced then.  Manufactures and commerce commenced to flourish, while the liberties of the municipality were extended considerably.

It was undoubtedly under the rule of Charles V. that Brussels reached its zenith of ancient prosperity.  Then, with the era of Philip II. of Spain, came a long period of bloodshed, persecution, and misery.  The religious disputes and troubles afflicting the Netherlands had their effect upon the life, prosperity, and happiness of the Bruxellois.  The whole country was running with blood, and ruin stalked through the land.  But during this tragic period of Netherlands’ history Brussels saw several glorious events, and did as a city more than one noble deed.  It was in Brussels that the compromise of the nobles took place, after which those who were rebelling against the cruelties of the Inquisition were given the name of “Gueux,” which had been bestowed upon them contemptuously by the Comte de Barlaimont....  It was Brussels which led the revolt against the most bloodthirsty of the rulers sent to the Netherlands by Spain, the Duke of Alva, and successfully resisted the imposition of the notorious “twentieth denier” tax which it was sought to impose upon it, a tax which led ultimately to the revolt of the whole of the Belgian provinces.