Staging Nobility in Urban Space. The Nassau Dynasty and the Towns of the Low Countries (c. 1400 - c. 1570)

You will execute your doctoral research based on the research proposal approved by the NWO in the project Staging Nobility in Urban Space. The Nassau Dynasty and the Towns of the Low Countries (c. 1400 - c. 1570).

In 1403, the Nassau dynasty acquired the town of Breda and other lordships in the Low Countries. The rise of this high-ranking noble family had important consequences for this highly urbanized area. This project aims to demonstrate how the Nassaus used urban space to legitimate their privileged position and to represent their noble lineage and lifestyle. Moreover, it uncovers how, in their turn, the towns took advantage of the dynasty’s princely, noble, and religious networks in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.

This PhD project investigates how and why the Nassau dynasty impacted urban space in the Low Countries and how the towns in their turn benefited from the families’ princely, noble, and religious networks. To reach this research objective, it takes a threefold approach. The focus is, first, on the agency of six generations of noble men and women in the towns of the Low Countries: they are the starting point for uncovering the local, transregional, and international networks, social and gender relationships, and cultural transfer between noble and urban environments. Secondly, the viewpoint of the towns and the actions of urban elites will merit equal attention. This particularly concerns the towns that were part of their lordships (Breda and Diest), the two administrative centres of the Low Countries (Brussels and Mechelen) where the Nassaus had noble residences, and the economic metropole of Antwerp of which they were entitled viscounts. In addition to focussing on the Nassaus and urban elites as actors, this project also examines the agency of objects. As part of the overall research objective, the project will assess how objects were instrumental in building networks not only with local, regional and supra-regional ecclesiastical elites, but also with the urban populations.

In 1403, the Nassau dynasty acquired the town of Breda and other lordships in the Low Countries. The rise of this high-ranking noble family had important consequences for this highly urbanized area. This project demonstrates how the Nassaus used urban space to legitimate their privileged position and to represent their noble lineage and lifestyle. Moreover, it uncovers how, in their turn, the towns took advantage of the dynasty’s princely, noble and religious networks in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.