Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/814

BELGIUM. united with Burgundy, whose dukes by the middle of the Fifteenth Century had come into possession of the greater part of the Belgian and Dutch Netherlands. The rulers of Burgundy iiimed at founding a powerful State between France and German3', and therefore endeavored to repress the free republican spirit which manifested itself in the rapidly rising towns; but the work of establishing an absolute monarchy was interrupted by the fall of Charles the Bold. By the marriage of Mary, daughter of Charles the Bold, with ilaxiniilian in 1477, the Burgundian realm, the most opulent in Europe, passed (with I lie exception of the Duchy of Burgundy itself) to tile House of Hapsburg. On the accession of Charles (the future Emperor Charley V.), grandson of ]Iary and Maximilian, to the throne of Spain in loKi, the Netherlands were united with that kingdom, and in 1549 their formal union Aith the Spanish Crown was decreed. The despotic measures of Philip II., the son and suc- cessor of Charles, e.xcited in the Netherlands a long and bloody war for civil and religious free- dom, which ended in the independence of the northern or Dutch Netberland, while in the southern provinces (modern Belgium) both the sovereignty of Spain and the rule of the Roman Catholic Church continued. In 1598 the Bel- gian Netherlands were ceded by Philip II. to the -Archduke .-Vlbert, who married Isabella, daugh- ter of the King, and for a brief time the coun- try became a distinct and independent kingdom. Several measures for the better I'egulation of in- ternal affairs, especially in the administration of justice, and for the revival of industry, which had been injured by the unenliglitened policy of Philip, were projected. Unfortunately, Albert died childless in 1621, and Belgium fell back into the hands of Spain, and became involved in the wars attending the decline of the Spanish monarchy. Peace generally was concluded at the cost of Belgium. By the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), the county of Artois, Thionville, and other districts, were given to France. Subse- quent conquests by the same powerful neighbor secured to it, at the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668), the possession of Lille, Charleroi, Oude- narde, Courtrai, and other places. These were partly restored at the Peace of Nimeguen (1678); but as a compensation, Valenciennes, Nieuport, Cambrai, Saint Omer, Charlemont, and other places, wore given up, and only partially regained at the Peace of Kyswick in 1697. After the conclusion of this treaty, at the close of the reign of Charles II. of Spain, some endeavors were made to create prosperity in Belgium by a new system of taxation and customs, and by the construction of canals to counteract the in- jury done to its commerce by the closing of the navigation of the Scheldt. But these projected improvements were interrupted by the War of the Spanish Succession, concluded by the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. By this treaty Belgium was given to Austria, Holland retaining the privilege of garrisoning the most inijiortant fortresses on the French frontier, and also of exercising a monopoly of the navigation of the Scheldt. The Belgian Commercial Company at Ostend, founded by Charles VI. in 1722, fell in 17.31 — another sacrifice to the cu])idity of Holland. During the AVar of the Austrian Succession (1744), almost the whole country fell into the hands of the French, but was peaceably restored to Austria by the Treaty of Ai.x-la-Cha'pclle (1748).

Belgium remained undisturbed by the Seven Years' War, and during the long peace following the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle prosperity was restored. Especially during the mild reign of Maria Theresa of Austria, measures of public improvement were promoted by Prince Charles of Lorraine, Governor of the Belgian provinces. Joseph IL, son and successor of Maria Theresa, sought to obliterate the line which William of Orange and Marlborough had drawn with so much pains between the Dutch Netherlands and the Austrian Provinces. He comjicUcd Holland to consent to the abolition of the barrier contract, and in consequence the Dutch garrisons were removed and several important fortresses demolished. The Dutcli strenuously resisted his attempt to restore tlie free navigation of the Scheldt, and as France supported them in their resistance the Emperor had to j'ield. Meanwhile his administrative reforms offended the people of his own provinces. In a short time discontent openly manifested itself. The Austrian authorities were attacked; Brabant refused to pay taxes, while the more violent lied into Holland and organized an armed expedition. In 1787 a Belgian republic was proclaimed ; but Leopold II. , who succeeded Joseph II. in 1790, suppressed this insurrection, agreeing, however, to a restoration of the old Constitution and privileges. The peace that followed was interrupted by the outbreak of the French Revolution. The Belgian Netherlands were conquered by Pichegru in the campaign of 1794, and ceded to France by the Treaty of Campo Formio. The country shared the fortunes of France during the Consulate and the Empire ; received the Code Napoleon, and in all political relations was a part of France. After the fall of Napoleon it was united with Holland, and its boundaries defined by the Congress of Vienna (1815).

The union brought into sharp relief the differ- ence between the Dutcli Protestant population, with their commercial habits, and the Catholic population of agricultural and manufacturing Belgium. FurtheruKU'c, the_ important provi- sions of the Constitution had regard chiefly to the interests of Holland. Attempts were made to make Dutch the official language, the privi- leges of the Belgian clergy were abridged, and the poorer classes were severely taxed, while the Government was almost e.xclusivelj' com- posed of Dutchmen. The Liberals and the Catho- lics both strongly resented the encroachments of Holland; the Liberals, from a desire to pre- serve the national .secular institutions; the Catholics, from a desire to preserve the National Church. When these parties showed signs of coalescing, the Government attempted conces- sions, which came too late to check the outburst of dissatisfaction ; then followed reactionary at- tempts at coercion and intimidation, which fanned the flame of discontent.

Inspired by the French Revolution of 1830, the Belgians revolted against the Dutch. The rising took place in Brussels, August 25, 1830, and soon spread over all Belgium. Finding that the revolt was spreading in spite of force. King William offered a separate government for the Belgians, and a personal union with Holland. The Belgians rejected this, declared their independence, October 4, organized a Provisional Government, and called a congress, which met in