Lengua de la pregunta y de la manipulaciÃ³n del conocimiento

The Histoire of the Belgium is traditionally divided into two great parts. On the one hand, that of the territories which will form, after 1830 the territory of Belgium itself (this one not having never been independent in a stable way lasting this period). And in addition Belgium according to 1830. This date being registered in the spirits since it is about the beginning of its independence Politique and territorial.

General information

This history is related to the other States of the Benelux. Gradually, the various States between future France and Germany will be gathered in only one state by the dukes of Burgundy. This unification will start in 1384 and will end in 1443. These territories will be named Netherlands ( Belgica in Latin).

At the 16th century, and following the Reform, the provinces of north will take their independence. One will distinguish consequently:

the Netherlands of North : State protesting and independent (the United Provinces); the futures Netherlands.
the Netherlands of the South : State catholic and controlled by foreign sovereigns until 1789 (the Habsbourg: initially the Spanish branch, then the Austrian branch). Between 1789 and 1830, these Netherlands of the South passed under French domination then Dutchwoman, before becoming independent as a " Belgique". Finally, in 1839, part of Belgium formed a new State: the Grand Duche du Luxembourg.

Prehistory and antiquity

The oldest trace of human presence in the territories which currently form Belgium was found in Hallembaye, around the Montagne Saint-Pierre (Province of Liege), it goes back to approximately 800.000 years. Then, around 400.000 front J. - C. of the men settle in edge of Meuse. From 250.000 with 35.000 front J. - C., these territories are populated of Néandertal iens especially in the Province of Liege and in the Province of Namur (man of Spy). Starting from 30.000 front J. - C., the man of Néandertal makes place to the modern man. It should not be forgotten that during the glacial maxima, the sea level was much lower and one could go from Belgium towards future England to dry foot. Vestiges of the Neolithic time exist with Spiennes where a prehistoric mine was of Silex.

The first signs of the Bronze Age go back to 1750 av. J. - C.. In 500 av. J. - C., inhabited by Celtic , these areas are subject to the influences and trade with the world the Mediterranean N. As of 150 av. J. - C., the first Monnaie S Celts make their appearance. The various Celtic tribes living on these territories at that time were the Éburons, the Aduatiques, the Nerviens, the Ménapiens, the Morins and the Trévires.

The writings of Jules César De Bello Gallico (I and II) form the beginning of the written history. “Of all the people of Gaulle, the Belgians are bravest”. Thus Jules César spoke about the tribes which gave such an amount of wire to retordre with its legions. It should be noted that this quotation is always present in the current school handbooks. Jules César thus justified the five years (as from 57 av J.C) which it had needed to make fold these wild warriors. Added to Gaulle by this same conqueror, the septentrional areas of the Gaulle will be separate as a Gaulle Belgium at the time of his reorganization by the emperor Auguste. This imperial province is much more important than current Belgium. It recovers all North-East of the current France, of the Picardy to the Franche-Comté, like all the west of the Suisse.

The Roman presence brings four centuries of Prospérité to the area. The safety of the borders vis-a-vis the Germains is ensured by the legions and the first transportation routes are created on the one hand between Boulogne and Cologne, on the other hand between Rheims and Trier. Several boroughs are created with the intersection of these axes, such for example Arlon and Bavay, or Tongres and Tournai. The Latin , used by the Roman civils servant, the merchants and the soldiers, becomes the common language and is essential vis-a-vis the dialects Celtes. Christianity is essential quickly on the 3rd century after the foundation of a évêché with Tongres.

See also: List of the Celtic people of Belgium

The the Middle Ages

After the Great invasions of the 5th century, the area frankly becomes the heart of the first kingdom , whose capital is Tournai. About the year 500, Clovis, king of the Francs, receives the Baptême, and gives up Tournai for Paris. The massive Christianisation begins in 630, with the support of the Celtic monks.

Under the impulse of Charlemagne, the valley of the Meuse becomes the political and economic center of the Carolingian Empire. At the time of the division of the empire of Charlemagne to the Treated of Verdun in 843, it is divided between the kingdoms of Charles II (Comté of Flanders, already divided by the linguistic Frontière between speeches Romance and German) and of Lothaire. The the Scheldt is used as border.

The Lotharingie is attached to the Saint Germanic Roman Empire, and on the future territory of Belgium, strongholds, nearly independent develop, the such duchies of the Brabant, Limbourg, Luxembourg, the counties of Hainaut and Namur, the Principauté of Liege. From the west, the County of Flanders, although lending homage, escapes the authority from king de France.

As from the 10th century, the cities start to develop, mainly in the Comté of Flanders and in country mosan. The woolen manufacturing industry develops it also, and later, the maritime trade, with the Hanseatic League. The area becomes one of the hearts of the European economy, with the Italy. The wools are imported of England, with which bonds are woven which will count during the conflicts between Capétiens and Plantagenêt.

The main cities are then, in the west, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres and Tournai, and in country mosan, Huy, Namur, Dining and Liege. The urbanization of the future Belgium average is slower, only Nivelles presents to the 10th century an urban character. Located more inside the country, the other brabançonnes cities like Brussels, Malignant Leuwen and , await the end of Xe century to extend. At that time, the affluents of the the Scheldt are navigable and the commercial traffic between the Meuse and the the Rhine increases.

Until 1300, the rise of the cities is fed by a favorable economic conjuncture. A second enclosure proves often necessary. This expansion is braked at the 14th century by many crises and epidemics of Peste. The number of townsmen stagnates or moves back. The majority of the cities do not find their level of population of the year 1300 qu ' at the 19th century.

Starting from the end of the 13th century several battles take place between the king of France and the communes of Flanders, the counts being sometimes on a side, sometimes of the other. The French garrison with Bruges is massacred at the time of the revolt of the Mâtines of Bruges the May 18th 1302, and the royal ost is crushed by the communal militia with the battles of Courtrai, known as of the gold spurs the July 11th of the same year. This battle is regarded today as the birth of the Flemish nation, although the current Flanders and the Comté of Flanders of the time are recovered only partially. Philippe Beautiful the will obtain his revenge with the Bataille of Mons-in-Pévèle the August 18th 1304.

Netherlands: 1384 - 1795

Burgundian Netherlands

At the conclusion of the War One hundred Year old, the territories of future Belgium (except for the Principality of Liege) and the current Netherlands are with the hands of the dukes of Burgundy. Burgundy is dismembered after the death of Charles Bold the in 1477, the Burgundian Netherlands fall to the Habsbourg. Charles Quint is born in 1500 in Ghent, heir at the same time to Habsbourg and Spain. He regards himself as Flemish and Burgundian. When it shares its fields between his brother and his son, the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands fall in Spain of Philippe II, and are consequently called Spanish Netherlands.

At the 15th century, following the stranding of the Zwin, but also for economic reasons and policies, Antwerp supplants Bruges as a main port of transit of Western Europe. Antwerp then becomes one of the capitals economic and financial of the North-West of the Europe.

Spanish Netherlands

Under Philippe II, the Netherlands of North, converts to the Calvinism, revolt and obtain finally their independence under the name of United Provinces. The territories which will form later Belgium and certain provinces of the South of the Netherlands remain Spanish possessions, after many disorders and the extermination of the Anabaptistes (see for example David Joris).

These disorders deprive Antwerp of its economic preponderance. The city empties majority of its population which flees towards the United Provinces or the Saint Germanic Roman Empire. It is a little later that Amsterdam will take its place.

During the 17th century the wars opposing France to Spain and the United Provinces draw about the current border between France and Belgium. Following military operations as the Battle of Peene to Noordpeene in 1677, the Traité of Nimègue in 1678 comes in particular to ratify fastening in France of the Châtellenie S of Cassel, Bailleul and Ypres. The latter will be returned with Furnes and Tournai with the Traité of Utrecht, in 1713.

At the time of this same treaty, the crown of Spain passes to the Capétiens, with Philippe V of Spain, grandson of Louis XIV. The Netherlands of the South , at this time under the control of the army Dutchwoman, return in Habsbourg of Austria and become the Austrian Netherlands.

Austrian Netherlands

Lode Wils, in its " History of the nations belges" present the Spanish/Austrian Netherlands like a catholic federal state, controlled by foreign kings. This feeling to belong to a state-nation will lead in particular to the emergence of a " national historiography of the southernmost Netherlands " , bearing on the history of the " Belges" (Of the Rocks in 1782, then Dewez in 1805 and De Smet in 1822).

This feeling " belge" is confirmed besides when, in 1757 in Vienna, the " Supreme council of the Countries-Bas" is removed (for reasons admittedly very other), and is replaced by a " Office belge" within the Austrian chancellery.

It should however be recalled that this word " belge" refers to the Netherlands of the South, the exclusion thus of the Principality of Liege. Thus, in 1792, the patriots inhabitant of Li2ege and Belgians taken refuge in Paris will meet in a " Committee of the Belgians and Unis" Inhabitant of Li2ege; (under the direction of Walckiers). But the Inhabitants of Li2ege however quickly will be considered as Belgians with the wire of the revolutions.

The Principality of Liege: 985 - 1795

The current territory of Belgium included/understood two countries: Netherlands of the South and the Principality of Liege.

Revolutions: 1789 - 1830

The revolution inhabitant of Li2ege

detailed Article: the Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege

The Révolution inhabitant of Li2ege is the period which goes from 1789 to 1795, and which will involve the disappearance of the Principauté of Liege after 8 centuries of existence.

According to certain historians, the revolution proceeded for the period when the prince-bishop was absent, as of its departure during the night from August 26th to 27th 1789 until its return on February 12th, 1791. In this interpretation, the Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege was the counterpart of the Révolution brabançonne in the Austrian Netherlands, which failed.

According to others, the Revolution inhabitant of Li2ege was a mirror of the French revolution or of it was even a part. The Revolution in France started simultaneously in 1789 and in this interpretation the revolution with Liege continued after the temporary return of the prince; she knew a second phase with the entry of the revolutionary troops in 1792, and a third phase in 1794 with the second return of the French. Then, the revolution finishes in 1795 by the disappearance of the principality and its incorporation with the French Republic.

During this phase, the revolution showed extreme episodes, for example the demolition of the cathedral Saint-Lambert, even also of the promising episodes: the deputies of Convention inhabitant of Li2ege, who will decide fastening of the Principality in France, were elected in 1792 with the Vote for all.

See also: François-Charles de Velbruck & César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck

The revolution brabançonne

In 1789, the political reforms and nuns which the emperor Joseph II wants to impose cause the insurrection. The General states do not recognize any more its authority. This rising is accompanied by disintegration by the imperial army after the defeat with Turnhout the October 24th 1789. This Révolution brabançonne gives place to proclamations of independence of the various “States”, and creation, the January 11th 1790, confederation of the plain States Belgium . The discord between the parties catholic and liberal obstructs however considerably the defense of the country and supports the return of the Austrian troops which restore their authority as of October of the same year.

At that time, Louis de Potter, a critical Belgian journalist of the " Mail of the Countries-Bas" , was imprisoned in Lille for its writings relatively anticlericals and republicans. During several years, since its jail, he wrote many works diffused secretly in the Belgian provinces. Corollary of the Revolution Brabançonne, professor Harsin of the university of Liege noted that a short Flemish revolution occurred and allowed the release of Louis de Potter of the bars hollando-Spanish in France, under the nose of the Austrians.

Pushed by people of Courtrai, Roubaix and neighborhood, Louis de Potter was then taken along out of carriage towards Brussels and, the history described by Prof Harsin describes that, from Ghent, the population detached the horses and drew the carriage to Brussels. Then carried on the shoulders of the revolutionists and ovationné like the " true chief of the revolution belge" , Louis de Potter pronounced the sentence which became the currency of the Belgians: " The Union makes the force".

Louis de Potter had of cease only to criticize the capacity imposed by thirds for the joined together Belgian provinces. He was to some extent the inventor of the " Liberal movement social" and, named by its pars with the head of the provisional government (due to seniority), became thus very first the " Prime Minister président" Belgian. When the nations decided, with the support of the " large familles" , to name a reigning royal family, Louis de Potter was deposed of its popular capacities and flees in exile in Italy where he died.

ThePlain ones

Article details: State-Belgium-Plain
external Bond: Treaty of union of the Provinces Belgium (January 11th, 1790)

Following this first Belgian revolution, a first independent state is born thus. Its flag consisted of three horizontal bands red-black-yellow. This flag will be taken again at the time of the second revolution of 1830.

The French period

See also: the War of the Peasants
external Bond: Meeting of Belgium and the country of Liege in France

In 1792, the Principality of Liege, at the “request” of patriots inhabitants of Li2ege taken refuge with Paris, and the Netherlands of the South are released by troops of the French revolution after the Bataille of Jemmapes. The French organize Belgium under the direction of Louis-Ghislain de Bouteville of Metz which begins a systematic plundering of the country, in particular to give to flood finances of the young republic. The Belgian provinces are reconquered temporarily in 1793 by Austria with the approval of the Belgian people, exceeded by the French exactions.

In 1794, the Belgian States become again part of the French Republic on October 1st 1795 and the Principality of Liege becomes definitively “Belgian” via its incorporation in three departments (Ourthe, Meuse-Lower and Sambre-and-Meuse). This disappearance will be ratified in 1801 by the Legal settlement between Bonaparte and the pope Pie VII.

Thus, the reorganizations systematic and organized by the Directoire begin again. When Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Consul, the “joined together departments” of future Belgium as one (first) part of the Batavian République are integrated in the French empire. These departments corresponded about to old the " états" from the Austrian Netherlands, even if some were created ex nihilo (like those of Limbourg and Ourthe, consequences of the dismemberment of the old Principality of Liege).

For the French period, the Walloon coal basin makes its Industrial revolution and becomes one of the most industrialized areas Europe. The remainder of Belgium, particularly the Flanders, are industrialized little.

Belgium knows at this time the whole of the institutions of the French revolution: administration, Code Napoleon, imposition, Justice reformed. However, the people suffer, in particular on the religious level and because of the Conscription. Thus, on the current province of Liege, 6% of the population die on the battle fields (6500 men). The use of the local languages, like the Flemish speeches, is repressed and the publications in this language are prohibited with the introduction of the Décret of Thermidor 2 year II.

The French period ends in 1815 with the defeat of Napoleon to Waterloo.

The Dutch period

With the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the three large winners divide Europe without taking account of the incipient national feelings, and without consultation of the populations. Thus the territories of future Belgium are joined together with those of the Netherlands to form a Buffer state in the north of France. With the head of this the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, Guillaume Ier d' Orange.

July 18th, 1815, the king publishes a constitution for the fusion of the 2 Netherlands. In north, the General states accept it unanimously. To the south, it is submitted to 1603 notable Belgians. 527 will vote " pour" and 796 " contre" (including 126 for religious reasons). The result was thus " contre" to 60%. However, in the calculation of the voices, the 280 abstentions will be regarded as votes " pour" , and the same will apply to the 126 votes " contre" with religious reasons. The result became 933 " then; pour" and 670 " contre". And thus, on August 24th, the government proclaimed the acceptance of the constitution with 58%.

Opposition to the " Hollandais" was however already obvious. Thus, on March 6th, 1814, more than one year before the birth of the United Kingdom, a British agent reported that in Belgium " near total of the classes of the company (…) in a very clear way Holland and the House of Orange" reject;.

In the facts, the population thus attends the re-establishment of the Netherlands of before 1581, but this time in the form of a Protestant State.

The first antagonism is thus logically monk, and the situation reversed compared to 1581. The 3.5 million Belgians of the provinces of the south is Catholique S and integrated in a state directed by the 2 million Protesting S of the provinces of north and their king. Moreover, the equality of the religions is issued: the catholic clergy feels then threatened and supports the opposition in the campaigns. This opposition is especially marked in Flanders, and is carried out by the bishop of Ghent (of Broglie). Thus, as in 1581, the religion will be a direct cause of the scission of the Netherlands.

The second antagonism is economic: the liberals do not have any more access to the French market, while they must face free trade with England, and its extremely advanced industry. Moreover, the government supported the investments in north and the king will go even until slowing down the development of the wearing of Antwerp to support the ports of north. For these reasons, in 1816, the ambassadors of Austria, Russia and Prussia already lost any confidence in the meeting of the 2 Netherlands.

Parallel to these two antagonisms, the government became increasingly authoritative, with respect to freedom of the press (under cover of disorders of the law and order) and of the catholic clergy. Thus, the opponents with this despotism gather, claiming the ministerial responsibility in front of the Parliament and freedom for teaching.

This opposition catholic-liberal will be only Belgian: the catholics of north do not have any influence (since 1581) and few liberals of north join there, preferring to remain faithful to the king. That can be explained by favoritism pro-Dutch of the kingdom (in the public office and the army), but also by the fact why the Belgians were majority. Their to do too many concessions would amount letting them control the country, which neither the king nor the population of north would accept. Fidelity with the king will remain very present at the Netherlands besides: no the royal Question with the Belgian, even under the reign of the antidemocrat Guillaume III

The rising of the Belgians is then inevitable, and the element release will be the second wave of the revolutions in Europe (in 1830). The middle-class will seize the power in August 1830 then and, vis-a-vis the foreign absolutist sovereign, will be supported by all the layers of the company (of the nobility to the peasants).

To conclude over this period, still let us specify which so today the linguistic question is dominating, it of it was nothing at the time. In the facts, the royal decree of September 15th 1819 established Dutch like official language (in the Dutch-speaking provinces) for justice and the administration, and the popular languages were not protected (thus it of German will go from there to Luxembourg). Moreover, the Walloons do not feel not threatened for as much, and due: Guillaume I {{er}} itself, although king of the Netherlands, was French-speaking (just like a good part of the European middle-class woman of the time).

The establishment of a linguistic policy pro-Dutch was so gradual, that there existed besides very little of cultural bonds between the Flanders and the Netherlands itself. And linguistic objections showing the king to impose the use of the Dutch on the elites and all the administration (justice, police force…) will appear truly only in 1829. It should be said that on this date, one could not even write his French will…

The revolution of 1830 and independence

Belgium: 1830 - 1914

A State in formation

The October 4th 1830, independence is proclaimed by the provisional government, and the November 3rd a National congress is elected by 30 000 voters. The February 7th 1831 it approves a Constitution. The majority of these voters coming from the middle-class, the French is selected like only official language. The common opinion was that there was a majority of French-speaking people in Belgium, since French was, at the time, the language of the elites, that of the dominant class which seized the capacity in 1830. In Flanders as in Wallonia and in Brussels, the people use of regional languages.

The November 4th 1830 a conference opens with London on the future of the Belgium: the great powers finally decide to recognize independent Belgium the January 20th 1831. A kingdom is founded whose throne is offered by defect to German prince Léopold of Saxony-Cobourg-Gotha (uncle of the Victoria queen), which will become Léopold I {{er}}, first king of the Belgians, the July 21st 1831. Belgium is declared neutral.

History of the borders

See the detailed article History of the borders of Belgium.

The borders were definitively fixed only in 1839, with the scission of Limbourg (province created in 1795 on the territory of the Principality of Liege) and the independence of part of Luxembourg as a Grand Duchy (to there all Luxembourg was Belgian, except Luxembourg-city).

The industrial revolution

At the 19th century, having of coal and Iron, Belgium knows the industrial revolution and was even a time the second industrial power world, behind England.

The essence of the industrial power of the country was however in Wallonia, where existed already a secular tradition of the work of the Fer and extraction of the coal. The area became thus the second world producer of Acier and coal.

Colonial empire

The king Léopold II (successor and wire of Léopold Ier, 1865) directs on a purely private basis the colonization of the Congo with an aim of ensuring a colony Belgium. Current the Democratic republic of Congo (Congo Kinshasa, ex-Zaire) becomes her personal field. In 1885 Léopold II becomes officially chief of the State independent of Congo, he will yield this one to Belgium only in 1908, under the pressure of the international public opinion.

The exploitation of the richnesses of Congo will then be entrusted to independent government officials or dealers whose exactions will sadly become famous. To provide rubber, the rubies, gold, diamonds and the ivory in great quantities, the natives are subjected to the forced labor and a mode of terror (massacres of whole villages). The number of indigenous victims can be the subject only of estimates (see Phantoms of the king Léopold, to also see the opinion of Jean Stengers). Deaths entered in these estimates include as well the direct victims of the massacres as those which are caused by the major destabilization of food agriculture, the escapes of whole populations etc the estimates vary between 6 to 10 million.

In 1908, under the international pressure, Belgium inherits Congo. The Belgian constitution prohibited in Belgium to spend of the money for its colonies. All the achievements must thus be financed by private funds or the colony itself. In 75 years Belgium will make of Congo an agricultural and mining giant source of raw materials and currencies. The Congolese populations are however excluded from the economic growth. Their wages are weak, the traditional system of formation is replaced by elementary schools, while there are no academics. The way in which the coexistence between Noirs and White is organized strongly separates them in fact, but this separation is less rigorous than in South Africa and is not supported by a clear ideology sacrificing to the Racisme as in the Apartheid. Moreover, in the Christian world inter alia, of critical sharp protest against this system in fact, in particular in the new Review . Finally these are certain White and unquestionable Black which, together, posed gestures preaching for the future the independence of Congo, in particular the Manifeste of African Conscience , written by the cardinal Joseph-Albert Malula.

In Belgium will reign for a long time a paternalist colonial propaganda ( Tintin in Congo ), glorifiant the “civilizing mission” of Belgium. This “paternalist” vision was very widespread in Europe, until in the years 1930.

Belgium: 1914 - 1945

The First World War

In 1914, pursuant to the Plane Schlieffen, the Germany, in war against the France invades Belgium to circumvent the French Armies by north. The violation of Belgian neutrality starts the entry in war of the the United Kingdom. As opposed to what discounted the German soldiers, the resistance of the Belgian army is strong: initially the army of invasion must even move back. However the condition of success of the Plane Schlieffen, it was the speed . It will take fifteen days for an army of 100.000 men to reduce the Forts of Liege. The Belgian Armée ordered by the king Albert I {{er}} moves back as a combatant, and even while counter-attacking starting from Antwerp in September on the German side. This unforeseen resistance thwarts the plan of the Germans seriously, seems to them illegitimate (objectively it serves the French), very quickly will make be born in their spirit the mechanism which will bring them to the distorts sincere belief according to which franc-tireurs assailleraient their troops as during the Franco-German Guerre in 1870 and finally cause famous the German Atrocités of August and September 1914.

The country will be finally entirely occupied during all the war safe behind the frontline of the Yser. The government is constrained to take refuge with Holy-Addresses, in the suburbs of the Havre. However the police force of Congo, the colonial army gains at the prices of heavy sacrifices of bright victories under Belgian command against the German colonies in Cameroun and in Eastern Africa with the assistance of the French, British and Portuguese colonies. After the war, Belgium obtains - Company of the Nations - the supervision of old German colonies, the Ruanda and the Burundi.

In the Inter-war period, Belgium as the remainder of the Europe was reached by a major economic crisis.

The Second world war

In 1940, Belgium is again occupied by Germany. After having carried out a combat, sometimes considered as despaired, during 18 days, in particular with the battles of the Lily where perished half of the engaged Belgian soldiers, the king Léopold III decides the capitulation, against the opinion of the government which takes refuge with London. This decision of the king will be regarded by certain as a treason, by others like a will to solidarize itself with its troops captured by the invader. The king remains in Belgium as prisoner of war, refusing to exert official functions, even if it meets (in a kind of secrecy), the chancellor Adolf Hitler at the end of 1940. He also remains in contact with the General secretaries which were charged by the government with Hubert Pierlot, to maintain in functioning order the bureaucratic machinery even in country occupied in matters like the maintenance of law and order, the supply, the economy, interior matters etc He will also marry Lilian Baels - a badly perceived decision - while its Walloon soldiers will remain in captivity until the end of the war (the Flemish prisoners, as for them, all were almost released very quickly).

The current rexist lost his influence in Wallonia (it passes from 15,6% of the voices in 1936 to 6,19% in 1939) and in Brussels (it passes from 18,5% of the voices in 1936 to 8,5% in 1939), while the VNV (nationalist Flemish with currents close to Fascism), still progresses to Flanders (it passes from 13,56% of the voices in 1936 to 15,05% in 1939). If military collaboration is illustrated by the Division S Wallonia, political or intellectual collaboration is on the whole a little more important in Flanders than in Wallonia where Resistance seems stronger if one in any case measures it with the number of recorded sabotages. It is true that, in Flanders, certain idealists count on collaboration to advance the objectives of the Flemish movement. It is true that Resistance in more industrialized Wallonia in theory has to carry out direct military actions against strategic objectives. It is clearly also that the political and ideological configuration of the Flanders (more preserving, influenced by Flemish nationalism) less lays out it to fight the Germans, whereas it is precisely the reverse in Wallonia. It is sure finally that the maintenance of the Walloon prisoners in Germany and the release of the Flemish prisoners by Hitler create different frames of mind in North and the South. See for this Histoire of Belgium of 1914 to 1945. Let us note that Belgian Congo will provide raw materials to allied during all the second world war and in particular l´uranium for the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which will put an end to the second world war.

Belgium: since 1945

European and international role

After the second war, Belgium becomes founding member of NATO and the European Economic community, today European Union.

The royal Question

See detailed article royal Question

In 1950, a Référendum on the question of the return of the king gives a majority for the return on the whole of Belgium, but in Wallonia a majority decided against the return, more precisely in the provinces of Liege and the Hainaut. The decision of Léopold III to return despite everything causes insurrectionary disorders in Wallonia. The Abdication of Léopold III in favor of his/her son Baudouin makes it possible to save the Belgian unit and the return to a state of calm, but what one called the royal question will definitively mark a rupture in the unitarianism.

The independence of Congo

After four years of nationalist effervescence and the riot of the January 4th 1959 the Belgian government announces to want to grant independence to Congo and fixes the date at June 30th, 1960 after the negotiations of the Roundtable of Brussels. The anticoloniaux parties gain the elections legislative and presidential. Joseph Kasa-Vubu is elected President and Patrice Lumumba Prime Minister. The June 30th 1960, the colony of Belgian Congo reaches independence after only six months of hasty preparation.

In the disorders which follow, Belgium fearing a nationalization of the natural resources will support the secessions of two mining provinces the Katanga and the South-Kasai. Joseph-Desired Mobutu will seize the capacity, and will send Lumumba in prison to Katanga, where he will be assassinated with the complicity of the Belgian secret services. As from 1980 the corruption and the bad management of the mode of Mobutu will plunge Congo in misery and the civil war. Since 2005 Belgium endeavors to help the Democratic republic of Congo in her walk towards a real democracy.

Economic evolution

The Sixties and Seventies were remembered by an economic change of fortune. The Flanders became gradually the most productive area and then richest of the country. During this time, English tends to replace French like first foreign language in Flanders.

Walloon side, one notes, among the causes of the Walloon decline, a relative investment withdrawal by large the holdings of the private sector, a trade unionism which frightened many companies and of the public authorities not very dynamic and strong interventionists.

Community federalism and tensions

See detailed article Community Problems in Belgium
Under the joint pressure of the Flemish movement and regionalistic Walloon, Belgium evolves gradually to a more and more federalized State. Several institutional reforms are carried out transforming the old unit State into an increasingly federalistic structure, to see even confederalist. In fact initially the linguistic laws voted in 1963 will define the framework of use of the three official languages of the country. The Constitution of 1994 will supplement these reforms by a new structure of the Federal state. Ten years later, the Flanders showed its wish of, already, modifying this constitution for the establishment of a confederal state.

Death of Baudouin Ier of Belgium

July 31st, 1993, occurred the unexpected death of the king Baudouin in Motril, in the south of Spain. All country into sudden a major shock: one estimates at 500 000 the number of people who made the file lasting of many hours to incline itself in front of her coffin with the palate of Brussels. Its funeral gathers very many heads of state and government, as well as members of Gotha. For the first time, the Queen Elizabeth II of England and the Akihito emperor of Japan witness funeral abroad! According to the will of the Fabiola queen, one celebrated a mass of hope and the Queen wore a white dress which marked the observers. One will retain also the testimony of a prostitute of Antwerp met by king Baudouin at the time of his visit to the asbl Payoke. Following the death of Baudouin, his younger brother becomes king of the Belgians under the name of Albert II. With his wife the Paola queen, they had three children: prince Philippe, the princess Astrid and prince Laurent. If the king Albert II preserved the same values and the same combat that his predecessor, it considerably modernized and refreshed the image of the monarchy, which was considered to be dull and austere under Baudouin and Fabiola. With his children, beautiful-children and grandchildren, it also gave him a family key.

See too

Internal bonds

History of Belgian monarchy & royal Question
Treated of the XVIII articles & Treated of the XXIV articles
David Joris

History of some of the Belgian cities:

Lists in connection with the history of Belgium

List of the kings of the Belgians
List of the prince-bishops of Liege
List of the governors of the Spanish and Austrian Netherlands

Old Belgian nations

The County of Artois and the county of Zutphen also formed part of the Netherlands of the South.

the Duchy of the Brabant
the Duchy of Limbourg
the Duchy of Luxembourg
the County of Flanders
the County of Hainaut
the County of Namur
the Marquisat of Antwerp
the Seigniory Malignant

Auquelles it is necessary to add these 2 independent nations:

the Principality of Liege
the Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy

External bonds

Independence of Belgium
Louis Bertrand, the Belgian Revolution of 1830
Belgium or Austrian Netherlands in 1777
did Belgium exist before 1830?
In images: a short history of the territory and Belgian nation of the 16th century at our days

On the federal Gate:

History: Belgium before and starting from 1830
great feudal principalities

Random links: