Duchy of Brabant GIS Collection

The boundaries GIS contains the borders of the Brabantine quarters, both in 1374 and 1437. Two special additions are the GIS layer of all religious institutions within Brabant, as well as a few religious institutions outside the duchy that contributed in the ducal aids. The dataset combines the total population living within the walls of the institutions in 1526 (including professed and non-professed members, lay persons, secular priests, and personnel), and information on the institutes participation in the Estates and/or contribution to the ducal taxes.

Please note that each administrative quarter interpreted the 1526 census slightly differently. Two examples make this clear. Whereas refuge houses are included in the quarter of Louvain, they are absent elsewhere.

The quarter of 's-Hertogenbosch does include much more detailed information on hospices than the other quarters. More regular monastic convents are included in all four quarters. Last but not least, the dataset includes a complete list of towns, noblemen, and prelates listed in the convocation of 1406.

This list was created together with Dr. Mario Damen, based on a pre-existing edition and justification by Mario Damen which can be found here. It includes, when possible, the suspected place of origin of the person mentioned in the convocation lists.

In many cases, only the bailiwick or quarter could be identified. In those cases, the person is listed in the capital of the bailiwick or quarter. This is clearly marked in the dataset.

All files are coupled with a QGIS symbology file, which provides the user with an example of how the GIS layers can be visualised.