 Between 1554 and 1556, Charles V gradually divided the Hapsburg empire between a Spanish line and a German-Austrian branch.His abdications occurred at the Palace of Coudenberg and are therefore known as "Abdications of Brussels" ("Abdankung von Brüssel" in German and "Abdicación de Bruselas" in Spanish).First he abdicated the thrones of Sicily and Naples, both fiefs of the Papacy, and the Imperial Duchy of Milan, in favour of his son Philip on 25 July 1554.