Utrecht is the fourth-largest city…

Utrecht is the fourth-largest city of the Netherlands. It has been the religious center of the Netherlands since the 8th century. It was the capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht from 1024 to 1528.

The Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht was conquered by Habsburg troops in 1528 and the bishop lost secular power to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. This ended the prince-bishopric of Utrecht, as the secular rule was now the Lordship of Utrecht, with the religious power remaining with the bishop.

The transition from independence to a relatively minor part of a larger union was not easily accepted. Charles V couldn't exert his power over the citizens who had struggled to gain a certain level of independence from the bishops and were not willing to cede it to their new lord.

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