The Aunt of the King of the Romans, Karl of Austria, Margaret of Austria, has been given a task for aiding the lands of the Archduke of Burgundy in the wake of the myriad coronations of Karl. Indeed, since peace has been achieved, a spending plan to ensure his lands, under the wise counsel of Margaret, are able to be both rebuilt and further developed.

Southern Investment

Beginning in July of 1516, the Southern Lowlands have been decimated by war. Countless towns and cities across the region faced first hand devastation. In 1516, the County of Flanders fell, Ghent, Bruges, and Lille, and the city of Brussels in Brabant being occupied. In 1517 the war extended to Antwerp and the Northernmost stretches of Flanders. Additionally, fighting with the English out of Calais saw the French leave a trail of horrors throughout the West. By 1518 the war had reached the city of Liege. While by the end of 1519 the war was ending in the South, over the last three years the region had experienced a great deal of destruction.

To this end, the Emperor has seen fit to make investments into the redevelopment and reconstruction of these territories. Flanders, Southern Brabant, Hainaut, and Namur. The aim being to reconstruct defensive fortifications in the cities of Lille, Ghent, Bruges, Brussels and Antwerp. Work to return the countryside and rural realms of the provinces to order, and invest into the principal industries of the Southern Netherlands. In this way, the region may recover and prosper, reaching new heights.

The first principle of this endeavor will be a revision to the taxation of the region. For a period of five years, the repartition values are to be reduced from 35.5% to 25%, with rebates being offered against amounts already paid in excess of that since the region's liberation. In addition, extraordinary aides will be altogether abolished for a period of two years, with the same rebate being offered against the amount already paid. Moreover, toll revenues earned within the County of Flanders will be surrendered to their respective localities for a period of two years. However, it is important to acknowledge that taxation of these Burgundian territories is not uniform. So, special compensation will be made for the County of Flanders and Hainaut where provincial domain revenues make up significant portions of taxation. In these cases, there will be a reduction in such values from 67% to 45% for a period of five years.

Of course, this will require special considerations towards what is done with these rebates. To this end, there will be significant oversight mandated by the Chambres des Comptes, to ensure that the rebated tax sums do in fact go towards reconstruction efforts, and not into pockets. Finally, there is to be a series of grants offered to the economic boards of the affected territories. 75,000ƒ to Flanders, 15,000ƒ to Namur, 20,000ƒ to Hainaut, and 50,000ƒ to Brabant. A major focus of these sums is to be the reconstruction of damaged or destroyed defensive infrastructure.

As stated, in addition to the reconstruction efforts, there will be a general investment into the chief industries of the area, to improve the revenue base of the Southern Lowlands. The funding for this option of the project will be 50,000ƒ to Flanders, 5,000ƒ to Namur, 10,000ƒ to Hainaut, and 30,000ƒ to Brabant. The chief area of investment will be the development of textile manufacturing centres. Namely, Antwerp, Leiden, Lille, Ghent and Douai. As well as towards regional administrative centres such as Ypres.

The Emperor hopes that through these efforts, within a period of five years, the revenue base of the Southern Lowlands will have rebounded and recovered to levels higher than the 1515 baseline. As well as improved general defensiveness and productivity of these provinces.

Northern Investment

The lands in the North of the Low Countries faced a unique situation in the advent of the war. However, unlike occupation by the French, the lands were occupied by the Banned Karel van Gelre, who currently resides in England. Their occupation and goals were different to their supposed Frankish allies, and their occupations were north of the Waal-IJssel. Holland and Den Haag were so recently liberated, as was Amsterdam with it, and much would be needed to aid their lands, as was what happened in Flanders and Ghent.

Similarly to what was to happen in the South, fortifications are to be modernised in Zeeland and Holland. Moreover, work to return the countryside and rural realms of the provinces to order, and invest into the principal industries of the Northern Netherlands. In this way, the region may recover and prosper, reaching new heights in the wake of peace.

Less here will be spent on these sums of reconstruction and development, if only because of the safer situation of these lands with a friendlier Duke in Guelders. However, they will still be significant sums, with 30,000ƒ being spent in Zeeland and 50,000ƒ being spent in Holland. These will, of course, be subject to the same manner of specification done in the south of the Lowlands.

Furthermore, sums are to be spent in order to ensure the cities of Holland and Zeeland remain loyal, with grants being given to the varying leading men of the areas, summing 10,000ƒ in Zeeland and 20,000ƒ in Holland.

Finally, a sum of 35,000ƒ is to be granted to the head of the Burgundian Circle, Adolph van Gelre, in order to further aid with redevelopment, to be distributed as necessary.