Ghent is a city and port in East Flanders, north west Belgium. Ghent is the capital of the province of East Flanders, and is situated in a fertile plain at the confluence of the Lys with the Scheldt. The city is divided by canals into a number of islands connected with each other by bridges. Ghent has long been celebrated as a manufacturing town, especially for its cotton and linen goods and lace, and Ghent has been famous for its nurseries and flowertraffic.
Ghent is mentioned as a town in the 7th century. In the 9th century Baldwin, the first count of Flanders, built a fortress here against the Normans. Under the counts of Flanders Ghent continued to increase, and in the 14th century could send 50,000 men into the field. The wealth and liberty of its citizens disposed them to a bold maintenance of their privileges against the encroachments of feudal lords like the Dukes of Burgundy and the kings of Spain. Two great revolts took place under the leadership of the Van Arteveldes (in 1338 and in 1369) against Burgundy, and again in the 16th century against Charles V. But by this time the great municipalities of the middle ages were decaying in power and vigour, and the citizens of Ghent, besides losing their privileges, had to pay for the erection of a citadel intended to keep them in bondage. In 1792 the Netherlands fell under the power of France, and Ghent became the capital of the department of Escaut (Scheldt). In 1814 it became, along with Flanders, part of the Netherlands, until the separation of Belgium and Holland.
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Ghent
