joyeuse entrée act

The "Joyeuse Entrée" was a ceremonial first visit of a prince to his country during the Middle Ages and ancien régime, often used to grant or confirm privileges. The most famous instance is the charter of liberties confirmed on January 3, 1356, for the duchy of Brabant. This charter, also called the Joyeuse Entrée, was presented by Johanna and her husband Wenceslas. It confirmed Brabant's traditional liberties, stipulating that the duchy could not be divided, that public offices were reserved for Brabanters, and that Brabant must be consulted on matters of coinage, foreign alliances, and declarations of war. This charter became a model for other Low Country provinces and a cornerstone of their liberties. The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, agreed upon in 1950, is a significant European charter for human rights, establishing enforcement mechanisms and a body of case law.12