From about 1100 AD onwards, they called themselves Dukes of Brabant.<br />
After the acquisition of Maastricht (1204), the County Daelhem (1244) and the Duchy of Limburg (Battle of Woeringen, 1288, won by Jan I, the Victorious of Brabant) they controlled the important trade-route Brugge-Köln (Bruges-Cologne). Apart from that also their port Antwerpen played an important role in world trade. //<br />
The relationship between the Duke and its subjects was arranged by ducal charter (de Blijde Inkomst)
See original: 
a short history of Brabant
