home » europe » belgium » history

a short history of Belgium

Brief History of Belgium

The first signs of life on the territory of todays Belgium date back to 800 000 BC and the first inhabitants in the area were the Belgae, wherefrom comes the name of the country. The area where now Belgium is has undergone a series of important political, demographic and cultural changes.

During the first century, the Romans who were very powerful defeated the local tribes and formed the Gallia Belgica province. Four centuries later many German Frankish tribes came and settled in the region, which brought the area under the Merovingian kingdom rule. Later, during the eight century, this turned into the Carolingian Empire. Many small feudal states were formed during the Middle Ages and soon most of them joined into the Burgundian Netherlands.

In the 1540s the union of the Seventeen Provinces was completed by Emperor Charles V. In year 1568 started the eighty-year war, which divided the country into the Southern Netherlands or the royal part, and the United Provinces or the federate part. The Southern Netherlands part was successively ruled by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and now forms a greater part of Belgium. Considered an appealing territory by the French, the area was often fought about during the 17th and the 18th century (to be mentioned the Franco - Spanish and the Franco - Austrian wars).

After the French Revolutionary Wars, the Low Countries were recognized as parts of the First French Republic ruled by the Spaniards and Austrians. In year 1815, the First French Republic was dissolute and the Low Countries united forming the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Fifteen years later, in 1830, after the Belgian Revolution, was established an independent and neutral country, which formed a government and a national congress. Leopold I was proclaimed king the next year and thus Belgium became a constitutional monarchy with parliament.

Unfortunately, Belgium could not escape the tragic and suffrage of the World Wars when it was occupied by the Germans, first in year 1914 and second time in year 1940. An interesting fact would be that during the Berlin Conference of year 1885, the Congo Free State was given to King Leopold II and in 1908 was ceded to Belgium as a colony only to gain its independence in 1960 during the Congo Crisis. When the World War II ended, Belgium became a founder a member of NATO organization, which headquarters is at Brussels. During that period Belgium also formed the Benelux group of nations along with the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Along with six other members, Belgium found the European Coal and Steel Community in year 1951, which later transformed and is now known as the European Union. As a founding member Belgium is now hosting all major institutions and administrations, including the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. Today Belgium is a prosperous and modern country, which is appealing tourist destination for many travellers.