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A Short History of Belgium
Belgium declared its independence on October 3, 1830 although July 21 is its National Holiday. Before then, as we have seen, it was continuously occupied by foreign powers; a part of Rome, Germany, Holland, France, Spain; in other words, it was more or less the "doormat" of Europe... Why was it that way? One of the most sensible explanations is that the area now called Belgium was like a buffer between what was Great Britain, France, The Netherlands and Germany. This is where all the "final" battles between those and other countries were fought, even as late as World War II (i.e. the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium's Ardennes, 1944-45). Well, here we go... ...One of the oldest independent tribes, known as the "Belgae" are overpowered by From Clovis in 481 A.D. through Philip the Bold and succeeding Burgundian Dukes, the French hold power over the small autonomous principalities which will later become the Lower Provinces. In 1477, power passes to the Austrian House of Hapsburg. In 1519, Charles V, born in Ghent, "Holy Roman Emperor", organizes the principalities into the seventeen provinces of the "Nether Lands". In 1556, Charles' son Philip II of Spain inherits the provinces and enforces his power through the "good" offices of the most cruel of his nobles, the Duke of Alba, a.k.a. "The Bloody Duke". Later, William the Silent resists Spanish rule but the lower provinces (now Belgium and Luxembourg) conclude a separate peace with Spain (These provinces are mainly Catholic and fearful of Calvinist growth under William). In 1702, during the war of Spanish Succession, the Belgian provinces are again thrust under the rule of Austria. In 1796, revolutionary French armies invade and incorporate the provinces in the French First Republic.
After Leopold's death in 1865, his eldest son becomes King Leopold II. In 1885, with the help of Henry Stanley, he personally takes control of a central African area and names it the Congo Free State. In 1908 the Belgian government takes over and the Free State officialy becomes the Belgian Congo. Upon the death of Leopold in 1909 the throne passes to his nephew (Leopold died childless), King Albert I.
His life is brought to an early end on February 18, 1934, when he goes rock climbing alone in Marche-les-Dames and falls to his death. King Albert's eldest son becomes King Leopold III. History repeats itself in 1940 as Germany sidesteps the French "Maginot" fortifications and invades France through Belgium. Leopold becomes a prisoner of the Germans to the consternation of Belgians who expected him to flee to Great Britain. Again a four year occupation full of hardships and untold numbers of art treasures destroyed by bombings.
In 1960 Baudouin declares the independance of the Belgian Congo, which becomes known as Zaïre. Also in 1960, he marries a Spanish aristocrat - Fabiola y Aragon. Albert II is married to an Italian princess, now Queen Paola. He works to promote the economy and is interested in environmental issues. He created a stir in the 1990s by speaking out about governmental scandals rocking the country and calling for reform of the justice system to make it more humane and effective. It was Julius Caesar who, referring to Belgium in his "Commentaries", said:"...Throughout a great number of events, a constant ripple appears on its territories, which crosses the commercial routes of the whole world, its varying civilizations and great political currents..." Little did he realize that by the year 1987, Belgium would become the 9th commercial power in the world, that it would export more than the erstwhile U.S.S.R. (50% of its industrial output), would be the second largest producer of iron, would become the largest exporter of cut and industrial diamonds as well as of sheet and reinforced glass. It now also leads the world in the production of copper, germanium, cobalt and radium. Neither did Caesar foresee that after the Roman defeat in the 5th century, Belgium would start a long period of splendor and become a land of nobility. The long lasting political turbulence did nothing to prevent Belgium from becoming fertile ground for artistic activity. A Christian culture was already present during the early 4th century A.D. and Flemish architecture started blossoming shortly thereafter. Only a few of the great buildings of the "Carolingian" (8th century) period remain, among others the church of St. Bavon in Ghent (see chapter on Ghent). Municipal institutions such as the town halls of Brussels, Ypres, Mechelen, Leuven and others are good examples of that period. Painting also started to flourish and Belgium gave us such artists as Jan Van Eyck, Roger van der Weiden (his "Descent of the Cross" is now in the Prado Museum in Madrid), Hans Memling (German by birth but established as a painter in Bruges), Quinten Matsys, Pieter Brueghel ("Census at Bethlehem" in the Musees Royaux des Arts in Brussels), Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyk (both of Antwerp), to name just a few of the many eminent painters who were inspired by the life of splendor in the Belgium of yore. It is only toward the middle of the 17th century that art lost its preeminence and was replaced by a surge of industrialism that would, in a short two hundred years, propel Belgium to the lofty heights of world leader in commerce. No wonder then that Belgium is "slightly different"! It has three languages and three cultures: Flemish in the north, French in the south and German in the eastern part of the country. (The German-speaking districts of Eupen and Malmedy were first awarded to Prussia in 1815 by the Treaty of Vienna, then transferred back to Belgium in 1919 by way of the Treaty of Versailles).
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Julius Caesar's legions in 57 B.C. From then until the third century A.D., the Romans hold sway over the provinces of "Gallia Belgica". These provinces are given Roman laws and are part and parcel of the Roman Empire until the Germanic tribes known as the "Franks" successfully invade Gallia Belgica and overpower the Roman defenders.
After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo (on Belgian soil!) in 1815, the Northern and Southern Provinces all unite into the Kingdom of the Netherlands under William I of Orange but in 1830 the Belgian (Southern) provinces revolt and declare Belgium an independent monarchy. Leopold I, Duke of Saxe-Cobourg will be crowned King in 1831.
The outbreak of World War I sees the German armies invade the country to facilitate their overpowering of France. Throughout the World War, Albert and his army fight for the Allied cause. King Albert is recognized as one of the heroes of the war. The occupation lasts until Germany's defeat in 1918.
To further alienate the populace, Leopold, in 1941, marries a commoner. (His first wife, beloved by all Belgians, had tragically died in a car accident in 1935). After the war he goes into exile in Switzerland leaving his brother 
Charles as Regent. In 1950 the Belgians vote for him to resume his role but his opponents continue to protest and in 1951 he abdicates in favor of his eldest son Baudouin (Leopold dies in 1983).
