Ravenstein is a city and a former municipality in the south of the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, in the province of

North Brabant North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to t ...

. The former municipality covered an area of 42.68 km² (of which 0.96 km² water). In 2003 it was incorporated into the city of

Oss OSS or Oss may refer to: Places * Oss, a city and municipality in the Netherlands * Osh Airport, IATA code OSS People with the name * Oss (surname), a surname Arts and entertainment * ''O.S.S.'' (film), a 1946 World War II spy film about ...

. Ravenstein was founded by Walraven van Valkenburg. It received city rights in 1380. From 1631 until 1796, Ravenstein and the surrounding area were part of the Duchy of

Palatinate-Neuburg Palatinate-Neuburg (german: Herzogtum Pfalz-Neuburg) was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire, founded in 1505 by a branch of the House of Wittelsbach. Its capital was Neuburg an der Donau. Its area was about 2,750 km², with a population of ...

and was a Catholic enclave within the

Dutch Republic The United Provinces of the Netherlands, also known as the (Seven) United Provinces, officially as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands ( Dutch: ''Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden''), and commonly referred to in historiograph ...

Land van Ravenstein

In 1360, Ravenstein became part of the , and received

city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the traditio ...

in 1380.

Philip of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein Philip of Cleves (1459 in Le Quesnoy – 28 January 1528 in Wijnendale Castle), Lord of Ravenstein, Wijnendale and Enghien, was a nobleman from the Low Countries and army commander, first for Maximilian of Austria, then for Flemish rebels an ...

died in 1528 without successors, and the land became part of the

Duchy of Cleves The Duchy of Cleves (german: Herzogtum Kleve; nl, Hertogdom Kleef) was a State of the Holy Roman Empire which emerged from the medieval . It was situated in the northern Rhineland on both sides of the Lower Rhine, around its capital Cleves ...

. In 1609, it became part of the

Margraviate of Brandenburg The Margraviate of Brandenburg (german: link=no, Markgrafschaft Brandenburg) was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806 that played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe. Brandenburg developed out ...

who sold the

the right to fortify Ravenstein and maintain troops in the city. In 1631, it changed hands to the Duchy of

, and became a Catholic enclave within the

. The Land van Ravenstein was conquered by France in 1794, and sold to the

Batavian Republic The Batavian Republic ( nl, Bataafse Republiek; french: République Batave) was the successor state to the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on 19 January 1795 and ended on 5 June 1806, with the accession of Louis Bon ...

(the predecessor of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) in 1800. In 1814, it became part of the province of

History

In 1360, Ravenstein was founded by Walraven van Valkenburg who moved his castle from Herpen to the bank of the river Maas. In 1380, it received city rights and a wall was built around the city with three gates. The fortification were renewed between 1522 and 1526, but demolished in 1543 by order of

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) fr ...

. Around 1621, the city was refortified by the

. In 1630, the city became part of the Duchy of

, and a catholic enclave within the Dutch Republic. In 1635, a

garrison A garrison (from the French ''garnison'', itself from the verb ''garnir'', "to equip") is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a mili ...

of the Dutch Republic was stationed in Ravenstein and stayed until 1672. In 1794, Ravenstein was conquered by France and sold to the

in 1800. In 1818, the castle was demolished. In 1872, a railway station was built in Ravenstein and the city started to industrialise. Ravenstein was home to 875 people in 1840. It was an independent municipality until 2003 when it was merged into

Former municipality

Ravenstein also included the following towns, villages and townships: Demen, Dennenburg, Deursen, Dieden, Herpen, Huisseling, Keent, Koolwijk, Neerlangel, Neerloon, Overlangel. Dieden, Demen en Langel was a separate municipality until 1923, when it was merged with Ravenstein.

Transport

* Ravenstein railway station Ravenstein lies directly to the A50, the highway from Eindhoven to Nijmegen. Close is Paalgraven junction, where the A59 divericates to 's-Hertogenbosch (25 km) and the A2 (20 km), the main road from north to south in the Netherlands.

Gallery

File:5371 Ravenstein, Netherlands - panoramio (50).jpg, Street in Ravenstein File:32337 Sint Luciakerk 3.jpg, St Lucia Church File:Ravenstein Rijksmonument 518222 Maasdijk 36.JPG, Building in Ravenstein File:5371 Ravenstein, Netherlands - panoramio (9).jpg, Bulwark of Ravenstein

References

External links

Tourist information about Ravenstein
{{Authority control States and territories established in 1360 States and territories disestablished in 1528 Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2003 Lordships of the Holy Roman Empire Former polities in the Netherlands Former municipalities of North Brabant Populated places in North Brabant Oss