Why did popular uprisings take place in medieval Brussels?

In medieval Brussels, popular uprisings were primarily driven by the exclusionary and plutocratic nature of the city's governance. During the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, the city's economy was dominated by the manufacture of luxury fabrics, which generated significant wealth for a small group of merchant families.1

These seven dynasties consolidated political mastery with the support of the dukes of Brabant. They controlled municipal affairs and acted as magistrates, effectively monopolizing power and ruling over the inhabitants' disputes. This concentration of authority and the resulting abuse of power by the patrician elite provoked violent popular uprisings in 1280, 1303, 1360, and 1421.1

The 1421 upheaval was particularly significant, as it forced a shift toward a more equitable government that divided local power between the patrician families and the emerging guilds of craftsmen and workers. Despite these efforts to reform the system, the patrician elite frequently regained control, leading to continued tensions and further revolts, such as the one led by Frans Anneessens in 1719.1