page_title: History of Sint-Oedenrode
section_title: Duchy of Brabant
hierarchical_section_title: History of Sint-Oedenrode / History / Duchy of Brabant
context_page_description: Sint-Oedenrode is a moderately urbanized city and capital of the municipality of the same name in the province of North Brabant. The city is located in the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch. Sint-Oedenrode counts 17,928 inhabitants and has an area of 64.25 km². The municipality has traditionally city rights since 1232, and was known as a "Vlek" in the past. Today it is still a large town. From southeast to northwest, the city is split by the river the Dommel.
context_section_description: With the sale of the county Rode by Otto II, Count of Guelders to Henry I, Duke of Brabant, due to an old agreement, in 1231 Sint-Oedenrode becomes a part of the Duchy of Brabant as a part of the Meierij (Bailiwick) of 's-Hertogenbosch. 
  As a consequence of this agreement and as a compensation of the loss of their sovereignty the city becomes the administrative capital of the first known quarter Peelland.
  In 1232 Sint-Oedenrode got freedom rights. From then on Sint-Oedenrode and the nearby located Eerschot is referred to as De Oude Vrijheid (The Old Freeheerlijkheid). The new town had good natural defenses, as it was situated in a bend of the Dommel and was surrounded by the marshy fields called the Dommelbeemden.
  During this era the Sint-Oedenrode as capital of Peelland prospers. In 1355 it joins a covenant of Brabant cities. 
  The city acquired rights and because of the administrative function Sint-Oedenrode attracted new craftsmen, who were especially settling around the large oblong marketplace. 
  Also the clergy and nobility built several castles and fortified farms in Sint-Oedenrode, which mainly served as country stays for various noble families of the Meierij. An important estate at that time was the "Hertog Jaaghuis" (Duke's hunting lodge), which is built on the site of the former castle. Its foundations were excavated in 2004.
  Economic growth is reflected in the creation of various structures, such as the Knoptoren of the Sint Maarten's church in Eerschot in 1410, the foundation of the Sint Paulus Gasthuis in 1434 and the construction of a new choir at the Oda church in 1498. 
  This chapter church was served by canons living in large private mansions. 
  The chapter joined in 1505 the Brabants chapter covenant.
  The booming economy of Sint-Oedenrode receives several blows during the 16th century. During the Guelderian Wars in 1542 Rode was plundered by the Guelder field marshal Maarten van Rossum and burned down, including the parish church.
  The Dutch War of Independence caused more suffering: 
  In 1572 State troops under the Duke of Holstein plundered the city.
  In 1576 the States occupier of Zaltbommel destroyed several houses in Rode.
  After which the States garrison of Heusden destroyed another hundred and ten houses in 1581.
  A disastrous year was 1583 when State troops under Baron of IJsselstein, after burning down the towns of Schijndel and Veghel, burnt down the entire city including the two churches on their passage. The people of Sint Michielsgestel, Gemonde, Heeswijk-Dinther, Erp, Veghel and Sint-Oedenrode had at the time already been given the order to thresh all the grain and bring it with peat and wood to Den Bosch, so it would not fall to the republic's hordes.
  In 1587 the city was again plundered by State troops under the Count of Hohenlohe.
  The consecutive disasters in the late 16th century were devastating to the development of the city.
caption: Location in North-Brabant
exif: {}