In the 11th century the mark of Antwerp was one of the fiefs of the duke of Lower Lorraine.

After his death in the Crusader state of Jerusalem in 1100, Henry I of Limburg was appointed as margrave.

In the 1357 Peace of Ath the margraviate went to Louis II, Count of Flanders and then his daughter Margaret.

In 1405 its guardianship fell to her son Anthony, who reunited it with Brabant when he became duke the following year.

The margraviate consisted (after the loss of Breda) of the cities of Antwerp, Herentals and Lier and the quarters of Arkel, Rijen, Geel, Zandhoven, Turnhout and Hoogstraten.