Bruges: History, Former Names & Timeline
Medieval trading city of Flanders where the commerce of northern Europe met that of the Mediterranean; the Hanse kept an office here. It declined when the Zwin inlet silted up.
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Former names of Bruges
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| AD 850 | Brugge |
Timeline of Bruges
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1134 | A storm surge opens the Zwin inlet, linking Bruges to the sea |
| 1302 | The Bruges Matins uprising, followed by the Battle of the Golden Spurs |
| 1309 | Merchants trade outside the house of the Van der Beurse family, origin of the word ‘bourse’ |
| 1430 | Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founds the Order of the Golden Fleece here |
| 1500 | The Zwin silts up and trade moves to Antwerp (about this date) |
| 2000 | The historic centre becomes a World Heritage Site |
Who ruled Bruges
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 400 BC–324 BC | Hallstatt culture |
| 323 BC–2 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1 BC–299 | Roman Empire |
| 300–399 | Rome (Constantinus) |
| 400–499 | Western Roman Empire |
| 500–599 | Franks |
| 600–799 | Neustria |
| 800–899 | Carolingian Empire |
| 900–999 | West Francia |
| 1000–1299 | Kingdom of France |
| 1300–1599 | Holy Roman Empire |
| 1600–1649 | Habsburg Netherlands |
| 1650–1782 | Luxembourg |
| 1783–1814 | Austrian Netherlands |
| 1815–1879 | Austrian Empire |
| 1880–today | Belgium |
Battles and sites near Bruges
- Battle of Crécy · 1346
- Battle of Agincourt · 1415
- Battle of Gravelines · 1588
- Battle of Waterloo · 1815
- Battle of the Somme · 1916
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Bruges
What was Bruges called in the past?
Bruges has been known as Brugge (from AD 850). Its present name dates from AD 850.
Which states have ruled Bruges?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Bruges lies within 15 different states: Hallstatt culture, Roman Empire, Rome (Constantinus), Western Roman Empire, Franks, Neustria, Carolingian Empire, West Francia, Kingdom of France, Holy Roman Empire and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Bruges?
1134: A storm surge opens the Zwin inlet, linking Bruges to the sea. 1302: The Bruges Matins uprising, followed by the Battle of the Golden Spurs. 1309: Merchants trade outside the house of the Van der Beurse family, origin of the word ‘bourse’. 1430: Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, founds the Order of the Golden Fleece here. 1500: The Zwin silts up and trade moves to Antwerp (about this date).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.