History of Belgium
Flint knives discovered in Belgian caves date back to at least 100,000 BC. Neanderthal fossils were found at Engis between 1829 and 1830. The earliest farming technology of northern Europe reached the east of Belgium around 5000 BC. This expansion stopped in the Hesbaye region of eastern Belgium. Defensive walls surrounded villages in this early period. Limburg pottery and La Hoguette pottery styles stretched into northwestern France and the Netherlands. A slightly later culture called Groupe de Blicquy appeared in central Wallonia. The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes remain a notable archaeological site in that region. Farming failed to take permanent hold initially. Hunter gatherers of the Swifterbant culture remained in the sandy north of Belgium. They became increasingly influenced by farming and pottery technology. The population started to increase permanently with the late Bronze Age from around 1750 BC. Three European cultures arrived in sequence: the Urnfield culture, then the Hallstatt culture, and finally the La Tène culture. All three are associated with Indo-European languages. Celtic tribes settled in the region from 500 BC and traded with the Mediterranean world. Coins first came into use from about 150 BC.
The territory of present-day Belgium was fragmented into numerous feudal principalities during the Middle Ages. These included the Duchy of Lower Lorraine, the Duchy of Brabant, the County of Flanders, and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Coastal Flanders became part of the Saxon Shore. Franks from the Roman frontier re-settled in Toxandria in the 4th century. Clovis I conquered Romanized northern France before turning north to Austrasia. Christian missionaries preached to the populace and started a wave of conversion. King Charlemagne brought a huge part of Europe under his rule. He was crowned Emperor of the new Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III in 800. Vikings raided widely throughout this period until Arnulf of Carinthia defeated them at the battle of Leuven in 891. The parts of the County of Flanders west of the river Scheldt became part of France during the Middle Ages. The remainder of the Low Countries were part of the Holy Roman Empire. The northern part of present-day Belgium spoke Germanic languages while the southern part spoke derivatives of Vulgar Latin. As imperial power declined, the region divided into relatively independent feudal states including the Marquisate of Namur and the County of Hainaut. The coastal county of Flanders became one of the wealthiest parts of Europe in the late Middle Ages. It traded with England, France, and Germany. The Rheno-Mosan art movement flourished between the 11th and 12th centuries.
By 1433 most of the Belgian and Luxembourgish territory became part of Burgundy under Philip the Good. Mary of Burgundy married Maximilian I which made the Low Countries Habsburg territory. Charles V inherited several domains and unified the Holy Roman Empire with Spain. On the 25th of October 1555 Charles V abdicated Belgica Regia to his son who assumed the throne of Spain as Philip II in January 1556. Tournai, Bruges, Ypres, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp took turns being major European centers for commerce and industry during the 15th and 16th centuries. Bruges had a strategic location at the crossroads of northern Hanseatic League trade and southern routes. Entrepreneurs developed new forms of merchant capitalism including bills of exchange and letters of credit. Antwerp welcomed foreign traders notably Portuguese pepper and spice merchants. Flemish tapestries hung on walls of castles throughout Europe from the 16th and 17th centuries. The Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 established the Seventeen Provinces as an entity apart from the Empire and France. The northern part of Belgica Regia became increasingly Protestant while the larger southern part remained primarily Catholic. This schism launched the Union of Atrecht in Belgian regions followed by the Union of Utrecht in the north. When Philip II ascended the Spanish throne he tried to abolish all Protestantism.
The Belgian Revolution broke out in August 1830 when crowds spilled out onto streets after a performance of Auber's La Muette de Portici at the Brussels opera house of La Monnaie. Violent street fighting soon broke out. It is estimated that there were no more than 1,700 revolutionaries in Brussels facing over 6,000 Dutch troops. Dutch forces penetrated the Schaerbeek Gate into Brussels but the advance stalled under sniper fire in the Parc de Bruxelles. Royal troops elsewhere met determined resistance from revolutionaries at makeshift barricades. Dutch troops were ordered out of the capital on the night of the 26th of September. Eight Dutch warships bombarded Antwerp following its capture by revolutionary forces. In November 1830 the London Conference ordered an armistice on November 4. Britain and France proposed no military intervention and establishment of an independent kingdom. A protocol signed on the 20th of January 1831 stated Belgium would be formed of regions not belonging to the North in 1790. On the 21st of July 1831 the first King of the Belgians was inaugurated. The date of his acceptance of the constitution marked a national holiday. The liberal bourgeoisie hastily formed a provisional government under Charles Rogier to negotiate with the Dutch. They officially declared Belgian independence on the 4th of October 1830. The Belgian National Congress drew up a constitution making Belgium a sovereign state with constitutional monarchy.
King Leopold II named the territory Congo Free State after it was personally assigned at the Berlin Conference of 1884, 1885. The area included just under 1 million square miles almost 80 times the size of Belgium. Since it was a business venture run by a private company headed by Leopold it aimed to gain as much money as possible from primary exports. King Leopold's personal fortune increased through proceeds of selling Congolese rubber to growing tire markets. Between 1885 and 1908 as many as eight million Congolese died of exploitation and disease while birth rate dropped. To enforce rubber quotas the Force Publique created imprisonment rape abduction forced labor or summary executions. Severing of limbs was sometimes used. A Belgian captain Leon Rom ornamented his flowerbeds with heads of 21 natives. Following reports from missionaries growing moral outrage emerged particularly in Britain and United States. The Congo Reform Association led by Edmund Dene Morel published numerous best-selling tracts including Red Rubber which reached vast public. King Leopold appointed and financed commission to put accusations to rest but it confirmed atrocities. In 1908 Belgian parliament annexed the Free State following international pressure. Political rights not granted to Africans until 1956 when Évolué received franchise. Economy remained relatively undeveloped despite mineral wealth of Katanga.
When World War I began Germany invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg as part of Schlieffen Plan trying to take Paris quickly. Threat to France caused Britain to enter war using 1839 agreement as justification. Belgian army held up German offensive for nearly a month giving French and British forces time to prepare Marne counteroffensive. Around tenth size of Germany Army stubborn resistance characterized early days. German invaders treated any resistance such as sabotaging rail lines as illegal subversive and shot offenders burning buildings in retaliation. After four years of occupation country emerged in poor state though few deaths occurred on Belgian soil. Germans brutally stripped country bare machinery spare parts whole factories disappeared eastward. In 1919 80 percent workforce unemployed. During 1940 invasion quick surrender by Leopold III drove wedge between King and people. King's attempt to return led to constitutional crisis in 1950 which resulted in abdication favoring son Baudouin. Historic neutrality violated in each World War. The violation of Belgium's neutrality became stated Casus belli of Britain entry into World War I. Construction chain of forts along border intensified including National redoubt at Antwerp designed by Henri Alexis Brialmont.
Brussels serves as seat of many European Union institutions today. Domestically country faced divisions over language differences and unequal economic development. Ongoing antagonism caused far-reaching reforms since 1970s. Now divided into three regions: Dutch-speaking Flanders north French-speaking Wallonia south bilingual Brussels middle. Since 1990s Belgium involved in several international conflicts under United Nations peacekeeping forces including Rwandan Civil War Kosovo War. Environmental concerns came head in Dioxin affair bringing down Jean-Luc Dehaene premiership. Political landscape increasingly fragmented after 2010 Belgian federal election took nearly year form government. Growing right-wing Flemish nationalist movement strong influence domestic politics. Belgium entered second half twentieth century showing unprecedented era economic growth. Active role formation Benelux customs union neighbors. Benelux union served model for European Economic Community precursor to European Union. Liberal bourgeoisie initially forefront burgeoning revolution appalled violence willing accept compromise with Dutch. French-speaking Walloons felt ostracised majority Dutch-speaking country. Significant religious grievances felt majority Catholic Belgians. Dutch became language government education courts northern provinces East West Flanders Antwerp Limburg eastern Brabant. French remained official language Wallonia.
Common questions
When were the earliest Neanderthal fossils discovered in Belgium?
Neanderthal fossils were found at Engis between 1829 and 1830. Flint knives discovered in Belgian caves date back to at least 100,000 BC.
Who unified the Low Countries under Burgundy rule by 1433?
Philip the Good brought most of the Belgian and Luxembourgish territory under Burgundy control by 1433. Mary of Burgundy later married Maximilian I which made the Low Countries Habsburg territory.
What caused the Belgian Revolution to break out in August 1830?
The Belgian Revolution broke out in August 1830 when crowds spilled onto streets after a performance of Auber's La Muette de Portici at the Brussels opera house of La Monnaie. Violent street fighting soon broke out with an estimated 1,700 revolutionaries facing over 6,000 Dutch troops.
How many square miles did the Congo Free State cover compared to Belgium?
King Leopold II named the territory Congo Free State after it was personally assigned at the Berlin Conference of 1884, 1885. The area included just under 1 million square miles almost 80 times the size of Belgium.
Why did Germany invade neutral Belgium during World War I?
Germany invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg as part of Schlieffen Plan trying to take Paris quickly. The violation of Belgium's neutrality became stated Casus belli of Britain entry into World War I.