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Belgium: the story on HearLore | HearLore
— Ch. 1 · Ancient Foundations And Roman Rule —
Belgium.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
In 54 BCE, Julius Caesar marched his legions into the northern part of Gaul to confront a people he called the Belgae. These tribes inhabited an area stretching from the Seine and Marne rivers to the Rhine, covering most of what is now modern Belgium. Caesar described them as the bravest of all the Gauls because they lived far from the Roman Province and had little contact with merchants bringing luxury goods. They maintained constant warfare with Germanic tribes across the Rhine river. Within this broad region, Caesar identified a specific political entity named Belgium that was dominant in what is now northern France. The tribes included the Morini, Menapii, Nervii, Germani Cisrhenani, and Aduatuci. After Caesar's conquests, the Romans established Gallia Belgica as a large province encompassing these lands. Later, Roman Belgica split into two parts, with areas closer to the lower Rhine frontier becoming part of Germania Inferior. As the Western Roman Empire collapsed, the provinces were inhabited by a mix of Romanized populations and Germanic-speaking Franks who came to dominate military and political spheres.
Medieval Prosperity And Burgundian Union
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the cloth industry boomed especially in the County of Flanders, making it one of the richest areas in Europe. This prosperity played a role in conflicts between Flanders and the king of France. Flemish militias scored a surprise victory at the Battle of the Golden Spurs against mounted knights in 1302, though France soon regained control. In the 15th century, the Duke of Burgundy took control of Flanders and proceeded to unite much of what is now the Benelux region. This union gave the area economic and political stability which led to even greater prosperity and artistic creation. Born in Belgium, Habsburg Emperor Charles V was heir of the Burgundians and also of royal families from Austria, Castile, and Aragon. With the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 he gave the Seventeen Provinces more legitimacy as a stable entity rather than just a temporary personal union. He increased the influence of these Netherlands over the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, which continued to exist as a large semi-independent enclave. The Eighty Years War triggered by Spanish government policy towards Protestantism eventually separated the rebellious northern United Provinces from the Southern Netherlands.
Revolution And Industrial Ascendancy
In 1830, the Belgian Revolution led to the re-separation of the Southern Provinces from the Netherlands and established an independent Belgium under a provisional government and national congress. Since the installation of Leopold I as king on 1831, now celebrated as Belgium's National Day, the country has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy with a laicist constitution based on the Napoleonic Code. In the early 19th century, Belgium became the first continental European country to undergo the Industrial Revolution. Areas in Liège Province and around Charleroi rapidly developed mining and steelmaking that flourished until the mid-20th century in the Sambre and Meuse valley. By the 1840s the textile industry of Flanders was in severe crisis, and the region experienced famine from 1846 to 1850. After World War II, Ghent and Antwerp experienced rapid expansion of chemical and petroleum industries. The 1973 and 1979 oil crises sent the economy into recession, particularly prolonged in Wallonia where the steel industry had become less competitive. From 1832 until 2002, Belgium's currency was the Belgian franc before switching to the euro in 2002.
World Wars And Colonial Legacy
Germany invaded Belgium in August 1914 as part of the Schlieffen Plan to attack France, and much Western Front fighting occurred in western parts of the country. The opening months were known as the Rape of Belgium due to German excesses. Belgium assumed control of German colonies Ruanda-Urundi during the war, and in 1924 the League of Nations mandated them to Belgium. In May 1940, German forces again invaded the country, killing 40,690 Belgians, over half of whom were Jews during the subsequent occupation and Holocaust. From September 1944 to February 1945, Allies liberated Belgium. Following World War II, a general strike forced King Leopold III to abdicate in 1951 in favor of his son Prince Baudouin since many Belgians thought he had collaborated with Germany. The Berlin Conference of 1885 ceded control of the Congo Free State to King Leopold II as his private possession. From around 1900 there was growing international concern for extreme treatment of Congolese population under Leopold II, for whom the Congo was primarily source of revenue from ivory and rubber production. Many Congolese were killed by Leopold's agents for failing to meet production quotas. A Belgian commission in 1919 estimated that Congo's population was half what it was in 1879. In 1908 this outcry led the Belgian state to assume responsibility for colony government, henceforth called the Belgian Congo.
Federal Complexity And Linguistic Tensions
In the 19th century it was necessary to speak French to belong to governing upper class, and those who could only speak Dutch were effectively second-class citizens. Late that century and continuing into 20th century, Flemish movements evolved to counter this situation. While people in Southern Belgium spoke French or dialects of French, most Brusselers adopted French as first language, but Flemings refused to do so and succeeded progressively in making Dutch equal language in education system. Following World War II, Belgian politics became increasingly dominated by autonomy of two main linguistic communities. Intercommunal tensions rose and constitution amended to minimize potential conflict. Based on four language areas defined in 1962-63, consecutive revisions of country constitution in 1970, 1980, 1988 and 1993 established unique form of federal state with segregated political power into three levels: federal government based in Brussels, three language communities, and three regions. The structure is intended as compromise allowing different cultures to live together peacefully. By December 2011, Belgium set new world record for elapsed time without official government following 2010 federal election, previously held by war-torn Iraq. Finally in December 2011 Di Rupo Government led by Walloon socialist Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo was sworn in.
European Integration And Global Diplomacy
Because of location at crossroads of Western Europe, Belgium has historically been route of invading armies from larger neighbors. With virtually defenseless borders, Belgians have traditionally sought to avoid domination by more powerful nations through policy of mediation. Headquarters of NATO and several institutions of European Union located in Belgium. In March 1948 Belgium signed Treaty of Brussels then joined NATO in 1948. However integration of armed forces into NATO did not begin until after Korean War. Belgians along with Luxembourg government sent detachment of battalion strength to fight in Korea known as Belgian United Nations Command. This mission was first in long line of UN missions which Belgians supported. Belgium became one of six founding members of European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and of European Atomic Energy Community and European Economic Community established in 1957. The latter has now become European Union for which Belgium hosts major administrations including European Commission, Council of European Union and extraordinary committee sessions of European Parliament. Since 1922, through Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, Belgium and Luxembourg have been single trade market with customs and currency union.
Scientific Innovation And Cultural Output
The 16th century Early Modern flourishing included cartographer Gerardus Mercator, anatomist Andreas Vesalius, herbalist Rembert Dodoens, and mathematician Simon Stevin among most influential scientists. Chemist Ernest Solvay and engineer Zenobe Gramme gave names to Solvay process and Gramme dynamo respectively in 1860s. Bakelite developed in 1907-1909 by Leo Baekeland. In 1911 he started series of conferences called Solvay Conferences on Physics and Chemistry that had deep impact on evolution of quantum physics and chemistry. Monsignor Georges Lemaître from Catholic University of Louvain credited with proposing Big Bang theory of origin of universe in 1927. Three Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Belgians: Jules Bordet in 1919, Corneille Heymans in 1938, Albert Claude together with Christian de Duve in 1974. François Englert won Nobel Prize in Physics in 2013. Ilya Prigogine won Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977. Two Belgian mathematicians awarded Fields Medal: Pierre Deligne in 1978 and Jean Bourgain in 1994. The Mosan art, Early Netherlandish, Flemish Renaissance and Baroque painting major examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture are milestones in history of art.
When did Julius Caesar first march his legions into the northern part of Gaul to confront the Belgae?
Julius Caesar marched his legions into the northern part of Gaul in 54 BCE. This campaign targeted tribes inhabiting an area stretching from the Seine and Marne rivers to the Rhine.
What year did Belgium gain independence through the Belgian Revolution?
The Belgian Revolution occurred in 1830, leading to the re-separation of the Southern Provinces from the Netherlands. An independent Belgium was established under a provisional government and national congress that same year.
Who became king of Belgium after the installation on 1831 and what is celebrated as National Day?
Leopold I was installed as king of Belgium in 1831. His coronation date is now celebrated annually as Belgium's National Day.
Which German colonies did Belgium assume control of during World War I?
Belgium assumed control of the German colonies Ruanda-Urundi during the war. The League of Nations mandated these territories to Belgium in 1924.
When did Belgium switch its currency from the Belgian franc to the euro?
Belgium used the Belgian franc as its currency from 1832 until 2002. The country officially switched to the euro in 2002.