History of Belgium |
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Timeline • Military • Jewish history • LGBT Belgiumportal |
This is a timeline of Belgian history, including important legal and territorial changes and political events in Belgium and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Belgium. See also the list of Belgian monarchs.
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
57 BC | Roman General Julius Caesar invades and conquers the lands of the Belgae: Battle of the Sabis; Siege of the Atuatuci | |
56 BC | Julius Caesar campaigns unsuccessfully against the coastal tribes of the Morini and Menapii. [1] : 44 | |
55 BC | Julius Caesar subdues the Morini. [1] : 45 | |
54–53 BC | Revolt of the Eburones under Ambiorix and Cativolcus. | |
53–51 BC | Punitive campaigns subdue Nervii and Treveri; exterminate Eburoni. [1] : 44 | |
50 BC | Julius Caesar completes writing Commentarii de Bello Gallico , his account of his campaigns in Gaul. [1] : 45 | |
29 BC | Marcus Nonius Gallus suppresses revolt among Treveri. [1] : 48 | |
27 BC | Augustus creates the province Gallia Belgica. [1] : 48 | |
ca. 15 BC | Probable origins of the city of Tongeren. [1] : 49 | |
12 BC | Augusta Treverorum becomes a city. [1] : 49 | |
Nero Claudius Drusus, commander in chief of Roman forces in Gallia Belgica, has a series of canals dug in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. [1] : 49 | ||
ca. 10 BC | Probable origins of the city of Aarlen. [1] : 50 | |
9 BC | Nero Claudius Drusus dies after falling from his horse. Command of Rome's northern armies passes to Tiberius. [1] : 50 | |
4 BC | Monument honouring Tiberius erected in Bagacum. [1] : 50 | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
13 | Germanicus becomes commander of the Roman army of the Rhine. [1] : 51 | |
16 | Roman invasion of Germany under command of Germanicus launched from Fectio in Gallia Belgica. [1] : 51 | |
19 | 10 October | Death of Germanicus. [1] : 51 |
21 | Treveri revolt at high taxes. [1] : 52-53 | |
39 | October | Galba becomes commander of the armies in Lower Germany. [1] : 52 |
47 | Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo becomes commander of the armies in Lower Germany. Orders canals dug in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. [1] : 53 | |
47–48 | Roman law replaces customary law in Gallia Belgica; druids outlawed; Gaulish aristocracy given senatorial rank. [1] : 53-54 | |
69 | January | Armies of the Rhine proclaim Aulus Vitellius as emperor. [1] : 55 |
July | Batavian Revolt begins. [1] : 55 | |
70 | Treveri, Menapii, Nervii and Tungrii come out in support of the Batavian Revolt, some under compulsion. [1] : 56-57 | |
77 | Pliny the Elder starts writing his Historia Naturalis , book 4 of which contains a description of Gallia Belgica. [1] : 57 | |
ca. 85 | Northern border fortified with series of castra. [1] : 59 | |
ca. 90 | Domitian restructures provinces of the Roman Empire: Gallia Belgica divided into the provinces of Belgica Prima, Belgica Secunda, Germania Superior and Germania Inferior. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
172–174 | Chauci launch maritime raids on the coasts of Gallia Belgica. [2] | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
286 | Carausius, a Menapian general in the Roman army, declares himself emperor of Britain and Gaul. [3] : 9 | |
293 | Death of Carausius |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
343 | Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, attends the Council of Sardica. | |
357 | Land south of the Rhine delta ceded to Frankish foederati | |
359 | Servatius, bishop of Tongeren, attends the Council of Ariminum. [3] : 7 |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
431 | Salian Franks take possession of Tournai. [3] : 7 | |
482 | Childeric I buried in Tournai. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
561 | Sigebert I inherits the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
659 | 17 March | Death of Gertrude of Nivelles |
675 | Death of Amandus | |
679 | 23 December | Murder of Dagobert II in the Ardennes Forest. |
687 | Pepin of Herstal and his wife Plectrude found what will become the Abbey of Saint-Hubert. [4] | |
693 | 17 December | Death of Begga of Andenne |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
705 | 17 September | Death of Lambert of Maastricht: murdered at a site that would become Liège. [3] : 17 [5] |
717 | See of Maastricht moved to the location of Lambert of Maastricht's murder, now Liège. | |
727 | 30 May | Death of Hubertus, Bishop of Liège. [3] : 17 |
748 | 2 April | Birth of Charlemagne, first Holy Roman Emperor. [6] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
819 | 13 April | Louis the Pious confirms the liberties granted to St Bavo's Abbey by Charlemagne (oldest extant original charter in a Belgian archive). [7] |
820 | First recorded Viking raid on the Flemish coast. [3] : 38 | |
825 | 30 September | The remains of St Hubert (died 727) installed in the monastery that would become the Abbey of Saint-Hubert. [8] |
843 | August | Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire between the three sons of Louis the Pious: Lothair I, Louis the German and Charles the Bald, creating the kingdom of Middle Francia (including most of the Low Countries) for Lothair and assigning Flanders to Charles the Bald. |
850 | Norsemen raid Flanders. [3] : 38 | |
855 | Treaty of Prüm divides Middle Francia into the kingdom of Lotharingia (including most of the Low Countries), the Kingdom of Provence and the kingdom of Italy. | |
861 | Norsemen raid Flanders. [3] : 38 | |
864 | Norsemen raid Flanders. [3] : 38 | |
870 | Treaty of Meerssen partitions Lotharingia (including most of the Low Countries) between East Francia (Germany) and West Francia (France). | |
879 | Norsemen raid Taxandria. [3] : 38 | |
880 | Norsemen raid Tournaisis. [3] : 38 | |
881 | Norsemen plunder Cambrai and encamp near Maastricht, extorting tribute from Maastricht, Tongeren, Liège, Sint-Truiden, Malmedy, Stavelot, and Prüm. [3] : 38 | |
891 | September or October | Norse invaders defeated in Battle on the Dijle. [3] : 39 |
895 | Holy Roman Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia appoints his illegitimate son Zwentibold as king of Lotharingia. [3] : 42-43 | |
900 | 13 August | Zwentibold slain by Count Reginar I of Hainault; Lotharingia reincorporated into East Francia. |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
908 | Bishop of Liège granted right to levy a toll in Maastricht. [3] : 57 | |
910 | Count Reginar I of Hainault appointed margrave of Lotharingia; historically regarded as the first Duke of Lorraine. | |
915 | Death of Reginar, Duke of Lorraine, at his palace in Meerssen; succeeded by his son Giselbert. [3] : 45 | |
918 | 10 September | Death of Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders at Blandijnberg; succeeded by his son Arnulf. |
925 | Henry the Fowler invades Lotharingia and receives oaths of loyalty from the local aristocracy. [3] : 46 | |
936 | 7 August | Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine, attends the coronation of Otto I in Aachen. [3] : 47 |
939 | 2 October | Battle of Andernach: death of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine; end of independence of Lotharingia (referred to as "Belgica" in the 10th-century histories of Richer of Rheims). [3] : 46n2 [9] |
around 940 | Saint-Ghislain Abbey reformed by Gérard of Brogne | |
948 | Death of Isaac, Count of Cambrai; powers of count transferred to Fulbert, Bishop of Cambrai. [3] : 55 | |
953 | Bruno the Great, Archbishop of Cologne, appointed Duke of Lotharingia. [3] : 55 | |
954 | Hungarian attackers raid Lower Lotharingia, besiege Cambrai. [3] : 55 | |
959 | Bruno the Great divides Lotharingia into Upper Lotharingia (the later Duchy of Lorraine) and Lower Lotharingia (the later Duchy of Lothier). [10] : 318–319 | |
3 October | Death of Gerard of Brogne. | |
964 | Godfrey I, Duke of Lower Lorraine, dies in Italy; no immediate successor. | |
965 | 28 March | Death of Arnulf I, Count of Flanders; succession of Arnulf II, Count of Flanders |
2 June | Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, confirms Godfrey of Lower Lotharingia's gift to Saint-Ghislain Abbey of 18 mansi of land in Villers-Saint-Ghislain. [11] | |
11 October | Death of Bruno the Great, Duke of Lotharingia. | |
966 | 5 May | Lothar, King of the Franks, confirms the possessions of St. Peter's Abbey, Ghent, including those bequeathed by Arnulf I, Count of Flanders, and contested by his heirs. [12] |
968 | Richar, Count of Mons, appointed Duke of Lower Lotharingia. | |
973 | Richar, Duke of Lower Lotharingia, dies; no immediate successor. | |
977 | Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor, appoints Charles, brother of Lothair of France, as Duke of Lower Lotharingia. [10] : 319 | |
980 | Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor, confirms all previous endowments to Notker, Bishop of Liège, and issues a general immunity for the bishopric's lands: beginning of the establishment of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. [10] : 323 | |
985 | Otto III, King of Germany, endows Notker, Bishop of Liège, with the County of Huy: full establishment of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. [10] : 323 | |
987 | 30 March | Death of Arnulf II, Count of Flanders; succession of Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders. |
990 | Death of Hildegard of Flanders, daughter of Arnulf II, Count of Flanders, and wife of Dirk II, Count of Holland. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1008 | Baldrick II succeeds Notger as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1018 | 29 July | Battle of Vlaardingen: imperial forces commanded by Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine, and Baldrick II, bishop of Liège, defeated by the army of Dirk III, Count of Holland. Baldrick died after a sudden illness on the journey; Godfrey was captured in the battle. |
November | Wolbodo consecrated bishop of Liège. [13] | |
1021 | Durandus succeeds Wolbodo as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1025 | Reginard succeeds Durandus as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1035 | 30 May | Death of Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders; succession of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders |
1037 | Nithard succeeds Reginard as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1042 | Wazo succeeds Nithard as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1047 | Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, seizes control of the imperial castle at Ename | |
1048 | Theodwin succeeds Wazo as prince-bishop of Liège | |
1049 | 13 January | Forces of Theodwin of Liège defeat forces of Dirk IV, Count of Holland, killing Dirk and restoring imperial authority in the Rhine delta. [14] |
1060 | Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, becomes regent of France | |
1063 | Ename Abbey founded | |
1066 | Theodwin of Liège grants city rights to Huy, the oldest such charter to survive from what is now Belgium. [14] | |
1067 | 1 September | Death of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders; succession of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders |
c.1067 | Genealogia comitum Flandrensium compiled. [15] | |
1070 | 17 July | Death of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders; succession of Arnulf III, Count of Flanders |
1071 | 22 February | Battle of Cassel between Robert the Frisian and his nephew, Arnulf III, Count of Flanders. Arnulf was killed in the battle and Robert succeeded him as count. |
1074 | 29 April | Pope Gregory VII issues bull of protection for the Abbey of Saint-Hubert. [16] |
1075 | 23 March | Pope Gregory VII writes to Theodwin, bishop of Liège, urging him to leave the abbot of Saint-Hubert unmolested. [16] |
23 June | Death of Theodwin of Liège | |
1077 | 28 April | Pope Gregory VII issues bull of protection for Watten Abbey. [16] |
1081 | 1 February | Traditional date of the first apparition of Our Lady of Tongre. |
1087 | Godfrey of Bouillon becomes Duke of Lower Lorraine | |
1093 | 13 October | Death of Robert I, Count of Flanders; succession of Robert II, Count of Flanders |
1096 | August | Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine, sets off as one of the leaders of the First Crusade. [17] |
1100 | 18 July | Death of Godfrey of Bouillon |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1105 | Baldric of Noyon, Bishop of Tournai, awards the right of presentment for Tielt to the chapter of St Salvator in Harelbeke [18] | |
St Michael's church, Hekelgem becomes a dependency of Affligem Abbey | ||
1106 | 13 May | Godfrey I, Count of Louvain, invested as Duke of Lower Lotharingia in Worms Cathedral. [19] |
1107 | The hermit Ligerius founds a community that would become Ten Duinen Abbey (the Abbey of Dunes). [20] | |
1111 | 5 October | Death of Robert II, Count of Flanders; succession of Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders |
1119 | 17 July | Death of Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders; succession of Charles I, Count of Flanders (Charles the Good) |
1125 | Godfrey I, Count of Louvain confirms the agreement of Ava of Waver and her sons with the priory of Forest, transferring ownership of an allod in Woluwe. [21] | |
1127 | 2 March | Murder of Charles the Good, Count of Flanders |
30 March | William Clito claims countship of Flanders | |
1128 | 1 January | Albero I of Louvain, prince-bishop of Liège, dies; succeeded by Alexander of Jülich |
28 July | William Clito dies while laying siege to Aalst; Thierry of Alsace established his claim to the countship of Flanders | |
1129 | Foundation of Park Abbey. [22] | |
1139 | 25 January | Godfrey I, Count of Louvain, dies; succeeded by Godfrey II |
1141 | 17 August to 22 September | Siege of Bouillon Castle by Albero, prince-bishop of Liège. |
1142 | 13 June | Godfrey II, Count of Louvain dies; succeeded by Godfrey III |
1146 | 24 June | Pope Eugene III confirms Wibald, Abbot of Stavelot and Malmedy, in possession of the goods of the abbey. [23] |
1147 | after 11 May | Henry II of Leez, Bishop of Liège, confirms Affligem Abbey in possession of its property in the diocese of Liège. [24] |
Arnout IV, Count of Aarschot, and Christian of Ghistelles, leaders of forces from the Low Countries on the Second Crusade, are diverted to the Siege of Lisbon | ||
1159 | 1 October | Godfrey III, Count of Louvain, takes Grimbergen |
1163 | June | Henry the Blind, Count of Namur and of Luxembourg, being childless, names his sister Alice of Namur with her husband Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut, and their son Baldwin, as heirs of all his allodial possessions, "with sod and twig", retaining usufruct during his own lifetime. [25] |
1164 | 4 September | Henry II of Leez, prince-bishop of Liège, dies |
1167 | Rudolf of Zähringen becomes prince-bishop of Liège | |
1168 | 17 January | Death of Thierry, Count of Flanders; succession of Philip of Alsace as count of Flanders |
Godfrey, Duke of Lower Lotharingia, confirms the privileges of the borough of Tienen (oldest extant civic charter from the Duchy of Brabant) [26] | ||
1171 | 8 November | Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut, dies; succeeded by Baldwin V |
1178 | Gislebert of Mons becomes chancellor to Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut. [27] | |
1183 | Godfrey III, Count of Louvain, departs for Jerusalem | |
1184 | 1 April | Henry the Blind, Count of Namur and of Luxembourg, being childless, names his nephew, Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, already heir to all his allodial possessions, as heir equally to all his feudal possessions, "with sod and twig", retaining usufruct during his own lifetime. [25] |
1185 | 28 to 29 April | Saint Lambert's Cathedral, Liège, destroyed by fire. [28] |
1186 | July | birth of Ermesinde, later countess of Luxembourg, only child of Henry the Blind. As a female heir she would inherit his allodial possessions, but not his feudal possessions. [25] |
1190 | 21 August | Godfrey III, Count of Louvain dies; succeeded by Henry I, Duke of Brabant |
1191 | 1 August | Death of Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders; succession of his daughter Margaret I, Countess of Flanders, and her husband and co-ruler Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut |
5 August | Rudolf of Zähringen, prince-bishop of Liège, dies | |
8 September | Albert of Louvain elected prince-bishop of Liège | |
1192 | 24 November | Murder of Albert of Louvain, prince-bishop of Liège, by supporters of Emperor Henry VI |
1193 | 19 May | Relics of Saint Alena enshrined in Forest Priory. [29] |
1194 | 20 August | Peace treaty between Henry I, Duke of Brabant and Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, ending twelve years of conflict between the Duchy of Brabant and the County of Hainaut. [30] |
15 November | Death of Margaret I, Countess of Flanders; her husband Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut continues to rule as Baldwin VIII of Flanders | |
1195 | 17 December | Death of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut; succession of his son Baldwin VI as count of Flanders and Hainaut |
1197 | Henry I, Duke of Brabant, departs for Jerusalem. [28] | |
1198 | Baldwin VI, Count of Hainaut, donates all his possessions in the village of Horrues to the collegiate church of Soignies to endow a Lady chapel and a chantry. [27] | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1205 | 14 April | Battle of Adrianople: Baldwin I of Constantinople, count of Flanders and Hainaut, captured by the Bulgarians |
1213 | 22 April | Henry I, Duke of Brabant, marries Marie of France in Soissons. |
30 to 31 May | Battle of Damme: English fleet destroys French fleet at anchor near Damme. [31] | |
13 October | Battle of Steppes: army and allies of Hugh Pierrepont, Bishop of Liège, defeat the forces of Henry I, Duke of Brabant. [32] | |
1214 | 27 July | Battle of Bouvines: decisive French victory against the forces of Ferdinand, Count of Flanders, Henry I, Duke of Brabant, and Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Count of Flanders carried captive to Paris. [33] |
1224 | 12 August | Guy of Saint-Pol and his brother, Hugo of Saint-Pol, stand surety for a loan of 3693 pounds borrowed from citizens of Arras by Daniel, Lord of Béthune: an early example of the use of French rather than Latin in legal documents. [34] |
1229 | 10 June | Henry I, Duke of Brabant, issues charter of city rights for Brussels. [35] |
1232 | 20 September | Ferdinand, Count of Flanders and Joan, Countess of Flanders release inhabitants of the Brugse Vrije from the feudal relief of "best beast". [36] |
1235 | 5 September | Henry I, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by Henry II |
1236 | Statutes of the Ghent Leper Hospital translated from Latin: the earliest known example of a legal document entirely in Dutch. [37] | |
1237 | Charters of the city of Ghent translated into Dutch. [38] | |
1238 | Benedictine priory at Vorst, a dependency of Affligem Abbey, becomes the independent Forest Abbey. [29] | |
1245 | 14 June | Pope Innocent IV authorizes the canons regular of St Augustine to establish a grammar school in Leuven. [39] |
1248 | 1 February | Henry II, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by Henry III |
1255 | Gothic choir of Tournai Cathedral completed | |
1261 | 28 February | Henry III, Duke of Brabant, dies; succeeded by Henry IV |
1270 | 1 September | Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders, impounds wares of English merchants in Flanders in retaliation for their king's non-payment of a money fief, sparking a trade war between Flanders and England. [40] |
1272 | after 29 April | Henry IV, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by John I |
1274 | 28 July | Treaty of Montreuil-sur-Mer between Edward I of England and Guy, Count of Flanders, ending four years of economic warfare and providing for free movement of merchants between their territories. [40] |
1275 | 27 September | Future John II, Duke of Brabant, born. |
1281 | 21 August | Guy de Thourout does homage to Guy, Count of Flanders for lands in Wervik, Reninge and Rollegem. He also held land in Menen and Rekkem, a manor in Varsenare, and owned a number of houses within the city of Ypres. [41] |
1284 | 24 August | John of Enghien, prince-bishop of Liège, dies of wounds sustained during an abduction attempt. |
1288 | 5 June | Battle of Worringen |
1293 | 7 May | Aldermen of Nieuwpoort accept the mediation of Guy, Count of Flanders in their dispute with the abbeys of Duinen and Bourbourg concerning a dyke built near the town. [42] |
1294 | 3 May | John I, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by John II |
1295 | 16 August | John II, Duke of Brabant, recognises that Affligem Abbey by immemorial custom has the right to appoint a panel of seven aldermen for the village of Hekelgem. [43] |
1296 | 2 November | Edward I of England grants Flemish merchants the right to buy wool for export anywhere in the British Isles, rather than being limited to the wool staple. [44] |
1297 | 12 June | Treaties of alliance between Philip IV of France and John of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut, culminate in a trade treaty allowing merchants from Hainaut to trade freely in the kingdom of France. [45] |
5 November | Guy, Count of Flanders and Marquis of Namur transfers government of Namur to John of Namur, his eldest son by Isabelle of Luxembourg, breaking the personal union of Namur with the County of Flanders (which would pass to Robert, Guy's son by Matilda of Béthune). [46] | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1302 | 11 July | Battle of the Golden Spurs: Flemish forces defeat knights of Philip IV of France near Kortrijk |
1303 | 9 July | Aldermen of the city of Namur authorize formation of a butchers' guild with militia obligations, requiring members to arm themselves, follow their own banner, and bury their own dead. [47] |
1312 | 27 September | The Charter of Kortenberg finalised at Kortenberg Abbey, establishing fundamental rights for the inhabitants of the Duchy of Brabant such as no punishment without due process. Council of four knights and ten representatives of the boroughs established (beginnings of representative institutions in the duchy). |
27 October | John II, Duke of Brabant, dies; succeeded by John III | |
1313 | 24 August | Henry of Luxembourg died in Buonconvento while besieging Siena, reputedly of poison put in the chalice during mass. [48] |
1317 | 11 April | Works begins on a new cloth hall in Leuven, which is now University Hall. [49] |
1322 | 24 June | Joanna of Brabant born. |
1323 | June | Rebellion of the commoners in maritime Flanders, sparked by Louis I, Count of Flanders, ceding Sluis to John I, Marquis of Namur. [50] |
1327 | 30 August | Pope John XXII provides a dispensation for the marriage of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III of England. The marriage itself took place by proxy in Valenciennes in October. [51] |
1328 | 24 January | Marriage of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III of England celebrated in York Minster. [51] |
1328 | 23 August | Battle of Cassel: Philip VI of France defeats Flemish rebels led by Nicolaas Zannekin. [52] |
1339 | 3 December | Treaty of mutual support between John III, Duke of Brabant and Louis I, Count of Flanders, and the cities subject to them, providing for offensive and defensive alliance and free trade between their territories. [53] |
1340 | 24 June | Battle of Sluys |
1345 | 24 July | Jacob van Artevelde killed in Ghent. [54] |
1355 | 8 March | The boroughs of the Duchy of Brabant and the Duchy of Limburg undertake to remain united under a single prince after the death of John III, Duke of Brabant, not allowing the territory to be divided among his heirs. [55] |
5 December | John III, Duke of Brabant, died; succeeded by Joanna | |
1356 | 3 January | Joyous Entry of 1356: Joanna, Duchess of Brabant and her husband Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg sign the great charter of liberties of the Duchy of Brabant. [56] |
1370 | Extirpation of small Jewish population of Brabant after accusations of profaning eucharistic hosts. | |
1379 | Ghent Revolt led by Philip van Artevelde begins | |
1382 | 3 May | Battle of Beverhoutsveld – men of Ghent take Bruges and gain control over most of the county of Flanders |
27 November | Men of Ghent defeated in Battle of Roosebeke; Philip van Artevelde slain | |
1383 | 25 May | Battle of Dunkirk |
8 June to 8 August | Siege of Ypres | |
1384 | 30 January | Louis II, Count of Flanders, last count of the House of Dampierre, dies; succeeded by his daughter Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, whose husband Philip the Bold ruled on her behalf: beginning of period of Burgundian rule in the Low Countries |
1385 | 18 December | Peace of Tournai ends the Ghent Revolt |
1386 | 15 February | Philip the Bold founds the Lille Chamber of Accounts to audit the accounts of his functionaries in the county of Flanders. [57] |
1387 | 2 November | Oldest record of the incorporation of the Brussels guild of painters, goldbeaters and glassmakers. [58] |
1389 | John of Bavaria elected Prince-Bishop of Liège (resigned 1418). | |
1390 | 28 September | Joanna, Duchess of Brabant secretly relinquishes possession of the Duchy of Brabant to her niece, Margaret of Male, and offspring thereof. [59] |
1392 | 1 November | John of Bavaria, bishop-elect of Liège, writes to Philip the Bold to intercede for merchants from Liège arrested by the officers of Rethel. [60] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1408 | 9 September | John the Fearless takes fiscal measures to pay Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar's archers joining him on the Liège campaign. (Letter bearing only known surviving signature of John the Fearless). [61] |
28 September | Battle of Othée: forces of John the Fearless and John of Bavaria defeat Liège rebels. | |
1411 | Suppression of the Homines Intelligentiae in Brussels. [62] | |
1421 | 23 April | Philip the Good transfers usufruct of the County of Namur to John of Flanders, Lord of Béthune, for the duration of his life. [63] |
1425 | 9 December | Pope Martin V issues papal bull founding University of Leuven. |
1441 | Tapestry weavers of Oudenaarde form the Guild of St Barbara. [64] | |
1450 | 28 February | Tournament held on the main square in Leuven in the presence of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and Brabant. [65] |
1451 | 28 October | Guilds of Ghent take up arms against the Count of Flanders, Philip the Good. |
1452 | 31 May | Philip the Good declares war on the city of Ghent. |
7 September | Writer and translator Jean Wauquelin dies in Mons. | |
1453 | 23 July | Battle of Gavere: forces of Philip the Good defeat rebels of Ghent, ending their rebellion. |
1454 | 17 February | The Feast of the Pheasant, a banquet given by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, held in Lille. |
1458 | 3 August | Tower of St. Peter's Church, Leuven, catches fire. |
1464 | 9 January–12 February | Estates General of 1464: first joint meeting of representatives of various territories of the Burgundian Netherlands. [66] |
1465 | 20 October | Battle of Montenaken: forces of Philip the Good defeat Liège militiamen. [67] : 72–73 |
22 December | Treaty of Saint-Trond ends hostilities between Liège and Burgundy, subjecting the prince-bishopric of Liège to Burgundian control. [67] : 72-73 | |
1466 | 19 to 25 August 1466 | Dinant sacked by the forces of Philip the Good, commanded by Charles the Bold |
1467 | 15 June | Death of Philip the Good; Charles the Bold succeeds as Duke of Burgundy. |
28 October | Battle of Brustem: forces of Charles the Bold defeat forces of Liège. | |
12 November | City of Liège surrenders to Charles the Bold. | |
1468 | 3 July | Marriage of Charles the Bold and Margaret of York (Now commemorated with the five-yearly Procession of the Golden Tree) |
September | Liège again rises against Burgundian rule. [67] : 74 | |
27 October | Army of Charles the Bold reaches Liège. [67] : 78 | |
29 October | Six hundred Franchimontois raid the Burgundian encampment outside Liège, failing to dislodge besiegers. [67] : 79 | |
30 October to 2 November | City of Liège pillaged by Burgundian troops. | |
3 November | Charles the Bold orders the city of Liège systematically razed, sparing only the churches and the houses of canons. [67] : 84 | |
1469 | 1 July | Charles the Bold grants Prince-Bishop Louis of Bourbon permission to begin rebuilding Liège. [67] : 86-87 |
1473 | 24 April | Charles the Bold appointed mediator in the peace negotiations between Poland and Hungary. [68] |
December | Charles the Bold overhauls the administrative structures of the Burgundian Netherlands: establishes Great Council of Mechelen; orders the chambers of accounts of Lille and Brussels be combined and sit in Mechelen. [69] | |
1477 | 5 January | Charles the Bold dies in the Battle of Nancy. |
29 May | Joyous Entry of Mary of Burgundy in Leuven as Duchess of Brabant. [70] | |
18 August | Maximilian of Austria makes his entry into Ghent. | |
19 August | Marriage between Mary of Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria celebrated. | |
1478 | 22 July | Birth of Philip the Fair |
1479 | 7 August | Battle of Guinegate: forces of Mary of Burgundy and her husband Maximilian I of Habsburg defeat forces of Louis XI of France. |
1480 | 10 January | Birth of Margaret of Burgundy |
1482 | 27 March | Mary of Burgundy dies as a result of having fallen from her horse while hawking some weeks earlier. Leaving an infant heir and a foreign husband, this set the scene for the Flemish revolts against Maximilian of Austria (1483–1485). |
3 April | Funeral of Mary of Burgundy in Church of Our Lady, Bruges | |
30 August | Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège assassinated by William de La Marck. | |
19 November | Six women burned at the stake in Bruges for having committed "sodomy" with women. [71] | |
23 December | Treaty of Arras between Louis XI of France and Maximilian I of Habsburg as heir of the Burgundian Netherlands, ceding Burgundy and Artois to France. | |
Oldest surviving parish register from the territory of what is now Belgium: marriage register from the Church of St Gudula in Brussels. [72] | ||
1493 | 23 May | Treaty of Senlis: Charles VIII of France cedes the County of Flanders and County of Artois to the House of Habsburg. [73] |
1495 | 20 January | Wedding contracts concluded for the double marriage of Philip the Fair and Margaret of Burgundy to Joanna of Castile and John, Prince of Asturias. [74] |
5 November | Double wedding by proxy of Philip the Fair and Margaret of Burgundy to Joanna of Castile and John, Prince of Asturias. [74] | |
1500 | 24 February | Birth of the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in Ghent. |
7 March | Christening of the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in Ghent, with Margaret of York, Margaret of Austria, Charles, Prince of Chimay, and John, Lord of Bergen op Zoom as godparents. [75] : 3 | |
May | Philip of Burgundy received as ruler in Béthune, Saint-Omer and Dunkirk. [75] : 4 | |
9 June | Conference outside Calais between Henry VII of England and Philip of Burgundy. [75] : 4 | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1501 | 18 July | Birth of Isabella of Austria, daughter of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna of Castile, future Queen of Christian II of Denmark. |
1509 | 25 June | Pope Julius II grants indulgence for those contributing to the rebuilding of the collegiate church of Dinant, equal to the indulgence for a pilgrimage to Rome. [76] |
1511 | 2 April | Érard de La Marck, Prince-Bishop of Liège, orders publication of Julius II's bull granting an indulgence for those contributing to the rebuilding of the collegiate church of Dinant. [76] |
1521 | 8 May | Charles V issues decree for the Habsburg Netherlands prohibiting Lutheran preaching, teaching, printing or disputation, largely parallel to the Edict of Worms that he was to sign for the Empire as a whole on 26 May but providing more repressive powers to secular authorities. [77] |
1523 | 1 July | Johann Esch and Heinrich Voes burned at the stake in Brussels for their adherence to Lutheran doctrines. [78] |
8 September | Pope Adrian VI draws up a last will and testament to dispose of his possessions in the Habsburg Netherlands, among other bequests founding a papal college for students of Theology at the University of Leuven. [79] | |
1526 | 14 January | Peace of Madrid temporarily ends the war between Charles V and Francis I of France, with France briefly relinquishing all claim to the County of Flanders, County of Artois, Tournai and the Tournaisis, and the Duchy of Burgundy. [80] |
1531 | 26 September | Mary of Hungary appointed regent over the Habsburg Netherlands. [81] |
1532 | 11 September | Charles V issues decree establishing protocols and procedure of the reorganized Council of Luxembourg. [82] |
1540 | 4 October | New edict requiring printers and booksellers to provide local magistrates with inventories of their stock. [78] |
1546 | 9 May | University of Leuven issues the first index of prohibited books. [78] |
1542 | August | French forces plunder Arlon. [83] |
1 September | Francis I of France appoints Claude, Duke of Guise as governor of the Duchy of Luxembourg. | |
1544 | Peace of Crépy ends the war between Charles V and Francis I of France, returning status quo of 1538: Duchy of Luxembourg restored to the Habsburg Netherlands. [83] | |
1549 | 12 September | Edict regulating the organization of markets throughout the Habsburg Netherlands. [83] |
1559 | 12 April | King Philip establishes the Royal Library of the Low Countries. [84] |
1566 | 5 April | Compromise of Nobles petition Margaret of Parma to suspend the laws on heresy. [85] |
31 July | Philip II of Spain authorises Margaret of Parma to abolish the inquisition in the Habsburg Netherlands. [85] | |
August to September | Iconoclastic Fury: churches and monasteries vandalised and plundered in many parts of the Habsburg Netherlands. | |
1567 | 15 March | Attempted Calvinist coup in Antwerp. [86] |
June | Margaret of Parma reinstitutes suspended edicts against heresy. [85] | |
1568 | 18 May | Duke of Alva banishes thirty inhabitants of the city of Antwerp and their spouses, with forfeiture of property, for supporting or disseminating Calvinism – including the pensionary of the city, Jacques van Wesenbeke, and the head of the Calvinist consistory in Antwerp, the Portuguese merchant Marcus Perez. [86] |
5 June | Lamoral, Count of Egmont, and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn, executed in Brussels. | |
20 October | Battle of Jodoigne | |
1569 | 17 May | Maximilien Morillon founds the first diocesan seminary in Mechelen. [87] |
1570 | 30 May | Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum published in Antwerp. |
1572 | 3 July | Gerard van Groesbeeck, Prince-Bishop of Liège, promulgates a new codification of the legal procedures in the principality's courts. [88] |
1574 | 6 June | Don Luis de Requesens, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, issues general pardon to rebels willing to return to loyalty. [85] |
1575 | 16 June | Philip II of Spain decrees that the change of year is to be counted from 1 January throughout the Habsburg Netherlands, rather than from Christmas (25 December), the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) or Easter day, as was the custom in various parts. [89] |
1576 | 4 November | Sack of Antwerp by Spanish mutineers from the Army of Flanders. |
8 November | Pacification of Ghent: alliance of the provinces of the Habsburg Netherlands to drive mutineers from the Army of Flanders from the country and promote a peace treaty with the rebellious provinces Holland and Zeeland. | |
1577 | 1 May | John of Austria makes his formal entry into Brussels as Governor General of the Low Countries. [90] |
1578 | 1 October | Governor General John of Austria dies near Namur. |
1579 | 6 January | Union of Arras concluded. [91] |
17 May | Treaty of Arras signed between the Union of Arras and Philip II of Spain. | |
1596 | 11 February | Archduke Albert arrives in Brussels to begin his administration as Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands. |
24 April | Archduke Albert takes Calais. [92] | |
18 August | Archduke Albert takes Hulst. [92] | |
1597 | 11 March | Army of Flanders takes Amiens. [92] |
10 September | Philip II of Spain decides to bequeath his lands in the Low Countries and Burgundy to his daughter, Isabella Clara Eugenia. [93] | |
1598 | 2 May | Peace of Vervins signed. [92] |
6 May | Philip II of Spain signs the Act of Cession bequeathing the Habsburg Netherlands to his daughter, the Infanta Isabella. [92] | |
13 September | Philip II of Spain dies. | |
14 September | Archduke Albert departs from Brussels to marry the Infanta Isabella. [92] | |
1599 | 9 February | Edict prohibiting all trade with the enemy issued. [94] |
18 April | Archduke Albert marries Infanta Isabella. [92] | |
20 August | Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella arrive in the Low Countries. [92] | |
28 August | Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella make their Joyous Entry into Brussels. [92] | |
1600 | 5 February | Battle of Lekkerbeetje in the countryside outside 's-Hertogenbosch |
28 April | Estates General meet in Brussels. [95] | |
2 July | Battle of Nieuwpoort between the armies of Maurice of Nassau and the Archduke Albert. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1601 | 5 July | Siege of Ostend begins. |
1602 | 7 January | General assault on Ostend launched. [96] |
July | Ambrogio Spinola arrives in the Low Countries with 8,000 men to reinforce the Army of Flanders | |
18 July to 20 September | Siege of Grave | |
September | Mutiny of Hoogstraten begins. | |
November | Military engineer Pompeo Targone arrives in the camp before Ostend. [97] | |
1603 | 26 May | Federico Spinola dies in the Battle of Sluis. [98] |
2 June | Tanneken Sconyncx, suspected witch, dies under torture. [99] | |
October | Ambrogio Spinola appointed commander-in-chief of the army besieging Ostend. [100] | |
1604 | 19 May | Maurice of Nassau lays siege to Sluis. [101] |
20 September | Negotiations for the surrender of Ostend begin. [102] | |
22 September | Siege of Ostend concludes. [102] | |
1605 | 17 May | Don Íñigo de Borja repulses attempted Dutch landing at Blokkersdijk, near Antwerp. [103] |
1 July | Foundation of Liège College, Leuven | |
1607 | August | Beginning of a series of six witch trials in Laarne (ending May 1608). [104] |
1609 | 9 January | Death of Joannes Bochius, secretary to the city of Antwerp |
9 April | Twelve Years' Truce agreed in Antwerp | |
1611 | 12 July | Perpetual Edict (1611) reforming the basic rules of criminal and civil procedure in the courts of the Habsburg Netherlands. [105] |
1614 | 6 May | Aylid, wife of Giele le Hayverlin, sentenced to death for witchcraft by the magistrates of Ouffet: one of the first trials in a local spate of witchcraft accusations. [106] |
27 December | Death of Maximiliaan de Vriendt, secretary to the city of Ghent | |
1617 | Fund-raising lottery held to fund the opening of Mounts of piety in the Low Countries. [107] | |
1618 | 28 September | Opening of Mount of piety (low-interest loan bank) in Brussels, founded by Wenceslas Cobergher. [108] |
1619 | May to September | Tax resistance by Guilds of Brussels. [109] |
1620 | 19 February | First Flemish newspaper, Nieuwe Tijdinghen , begins regular publication. [110] |
3 May | Chamber of Rhetoric De Peoene hosts a rhetoric competition in Mechelen. [111] | |
1621 | April | Twelve Years' Truce expires. |
13 July | Death of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria; Spanish Netherlands revert to Philip IV of Spain; Isabella Clara Eugenia remains in Brussels as Governess General | |
1622 | 29 August | Battle of Fleurus: Army of Flanders defeats Protestant German invasion force. |
1624 | Lent | Fr Charles of Brussels preaches the Forty Hours' Devotion at the court chapel in Brussels. [112] |
9 November | Charles Alexandre de Croÿ, Marquis d'Havré shot through a window of his house in Brussels, dying the following day. [113] | |
1629 | 30 April to 14 September | Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch: one of the four chief cities of the Duchy of Brabant falls to the Dutch Republic. |
1632 | Political crisis: Conspiracy of Nobles and Siege of Maastricht prompt Isabella Clara Eugenia, Governess General of the Spanish Netherlands, to summon the final session of the Estates General. [114] | |
1633 | 1 December | Death of Isabella Clara Eugenia |
1634 | 4 November | Arrival of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria as new governor general. [115] |
1635 | May to July | Beginning of hostilities in the Franco-Spanish War (1635–59): Battle of Les Avins, Sack of Tienen, Siege of Leuven |
1637 | 17 April | Exiled Dutch nobleman René de Renesse, 1st Count of Warfusée, has the mayor of Liège, Sébastien de La Ruelle, murdered by Spanish soldiers. [116] |
1638 | 24 May to 16 July | Siege of Saint-Omer: French army fails to take the city of Saint-Omer |
20 June | Battle of Kallo: Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria prevents Dutch forces from encircling Antwerp. | |
1639 | 7 June | Relief of Thionville: imperial forces under Ottavio Piccolomini break the French siege of Thionville in the Duchy of Luxembourg |
1642 | 26 May | Army of Flanders victorious in the Battle of Honnecourt |
David Teniers the Younger, The Guard Room (painting) | ||
1643 | 19 May | Army of Flanders defeated in the Battle of Rocroi |
David Teniers the Younger, The Oude Voetboog Guild in the Grote Markt (painting) | ||
1644 | Pieter and François Hemony cast the first tuned carillon | |
28 July | Gravelines taken by the French after a two-month siege | |
1648 | 15 May | Peace of Münster ends the war with the Dutch Republic. |
1651 | 20 March | Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria lays the foundation stone of the Capuchin church in Brussels, designed by Fr Charles of Brussels. [117] |
1652 | 14 July | Jacobus de la Torre consecrates the new Capuchin church in Brussels, designed by Fr Charles of Brussels. [118] |
1658 | 14 June | Battle of the Dunes: the Army of Flanders and British Royalist allies fail to raise the French-Cromwellian Siege of Dunkirk, leading to the loss of the city. |
1666 | 2 October | Charles II of Great Britain issues the city of Bruges with a Fisheries Privilege in gratitude for the hospitality shown him by the city during his exile. |
1669 | 5 June | Death of Fr Charles of Brussels at the Capuchin house in Brussels. [119] |
1671 | 27 June | Marguerite Tiste, a native of Jemappes convicted of witchcraft, strangled and burned at the stake on the main square in Mons. [120] |
1675 | 13 November | Death of Leonard Voeller, secretary of state for German affairs 1642-1675. |
1695 | 2 July to 1 September | Siege of Namur |
13–15 August | Bombardment of Brussels by the army of Louis XIV | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1704 | 20 June | Edict in the name of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, reorganises office of notary in the Habsburg Netherlands. [121] |
1711 | 30 September | Art school established in Brussels, later to become the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Brussels. [122] |
1713 | 29 January | Second Barrier Treaty confirms the closing of the Scheldt. [123] |
1714 | 6 March | Treaty of Rastatt signed: hostilities between France and Austria arising from War of the Spanish Succession cease; Spanish Netherlands become Austrian Netherlands. [124] |
1715 | Start of Flemish China trade. [123] | |
1719 | 5 February to 3 August | The Saint-Joseph sails from Ostend to Canton. [123] |
19 September | Frans Anneessens, dean of the masons' guild, beheaded in Brussels for resisting innovations in city government detrimental to the power of the guilds of Brussels. [125] | |
1720 | 3 June | The Saint-Joseph reaches its home port of Ostend after a voyage to Canton, bringing a cargo of tea, porcelain, silk, and Chinese roots. [123] |
1722 | 19 December | Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor grants a charter to the Ostend Company to trade with the Indies. [126] |
1723 | 22 April | Work starts on Henri-Joseph Rega's new wing on the University Hall (Leuven). [127] |
11–12 August | Shares in the Ostend Company issued on Antwerp Exchange. [123] | |
1725 | 14 March | Henri-Joseph Rega's new wing on the University Hall (Leuven), taken into use. [127] |
1727 | 18 July | Ostend Company petitions for the harbour of Ostend to be deepened. [128] |
1734 | 16 February | Ostend Company officially ceases trading in accordance with the Treaty of Vienna (1731). [129] |
1737 | 16 February | Ostend Company officially wound up. [123] |
1738 | Henri-Joseph Rega establishes Leuven's botanical garden. [130] | |
1744 | Henri-Joseph Rega establishes Leuven University's anatomical theatre. [131] | |
1745 | 11 May | Battle of Fontenoy |
9 July | Battle of Melle | |
15 July | Fall of Ghent | |
August | Siege of Ostend | |
1746 | January to February | Siege of Brussels |
11 October | Battle of Rocoux | |
1748 | 24 April | Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle convenes in Aachen to negotiate an end to the War of the Austrian Succession |
18 October | Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ends the War of the Austrian Succession | |
1771 | 7 January | Privy Council grants necessary permits for artillery general Joseph de Ferraris to chart Mechelen and Brabant. [132] |
1775 | François-Charles de Velbrück establishes an academy of fine arts in Liège | |
1778 | 6 August | Government edict regulating registration of baptisms, weddings and funerals: parish priests ordered to ensure that registrations of baptisms include the child's date of birth and the parents' places of birth; of weddings include the full names, status, place of birth and place of residence of the parties; of funerals include the date and time of death; and that a copy of each year's new entries in the parish register be deposited with the provincial authorities every January. [72] |
1779 | 5 April | François-Charles de Velbrück founds the Société littéraire de Liège. |
1780 | 29 November | Death of Maria Theresa. |
1782 | 1 August | Council of Luxembourg becomes a "sovereign" court: its legal decisions can no longer be appealed to the Great Council of Mechelen. [82] |
1787 | 1 January | Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, decrees the abolition of the Council of Brabant and the institution of new law courts for the Duchy of Brabant, [133] to take effect from 1 May 1787. [134] |
20 April | Council of Brabant declares its abolition unconstitutional. [133] | |
21 September | Joseph II's interim minister plenipotentiary, Sir Joseph Murray, 3rd Baronet, postpones the abolition of the Council of Brabant. [133] | |
1788 | 22 January | Council of Brabant refuses to issue a new decree by Joseph II's minister plenipotentiary, Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff. [133] |
1789 | 26 August | Republic of Liège proclaimed. [135] |
October | Army of émigré volunteers invades the Austrian Netherlands. [133] Manifesto of the People of Brabant published. Government forces defeated in Battle of Turnhout (1789). | |
1790 | 4 January | Manifesto of the Province of Flanders: States of Flanders repudiate loyalty to the count of Flanders and the House of Austria and declare the old County of Flanders an independent sovereign state |
11 January | United States of Belgium proclaimed. | |
22 September | Battle of Falmagne: short-lived restoration of Austrian rule in the Low Countries | |
1791 | 13 February | Austrian military intervention restores César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck as prince-bishop of Liège |
1792 | 16 November | Battle of Jemappes: French gain control of Belgium and Liège. |
23 December | The men of the village of Hekelgem assemble and declare that they wish to remain Catholic and continue to live as a free people under the institutions of the Duchy of Brabant, rather than accept French rule. [136] | |
1793 | 18 March | Battle of Neerwinden: short-lived restoration of Austrian rule in the Low Countries. |
12–13 September | Battle of Menin between French and Dutch forces | |
15 September | First Battle of Courtrai between French and Austrian forces | |
1794 | 26 June | Battle of Fleurus: decisive French victory in the Flanders Campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars. |
17–18 September | Battle of Sprimont: final Austrian defeat in the Low Countries | |
1795 | 1 October | Former Austrian Netherlands and Prince-Bishopric of Liège unilaterally annexed to the French First Republic. [137] |
6 November | Decree of 14 Brumaire, Year IV brings into force in Belgium the Le Chapelier Law 1791 abolishing craft guilds and prohibiting membership of trade unions. [138] | |
1796 | 17 June | Decree of 29 Prairial, Year IV establishes civil registration of births, marriages and deaths throughout what is now Belgium. [72] |
August | Moveables and archives of the guilds of Brussels sold at public auction on the Grand-Place. [138] | |
1797 | Suppression of religious life begins in earnest. [137] | |
28 June | École Centrale for the Department of the Scheldt inaugurated in Ghent. [139] | |
18 October | By the Treaty of Campo Formio the Austrian monarchy accepts the French annexation of the former Austrian Netherlands. [140] | |
1798 | October to December | Peasants' War (Boerenkrijg) in Flanders and Brabant; peasant army defeated near Hasselt on 5 December. |
1799 | 21 June | Execution of Pieter Corbeels, one of the leaders of the Peasant Army, in Tournai. |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1801 | 9 February | Treaty of Lunéville reaffirms French annexation of the former Austrian Netherlands. [141] |
1806 | 27 May | Minor Seminary, Roeselare, opens. |
1810 | 2 May | Napoleon Bonaparte attends the launching of the warship Friedland in Antwerp. [142] |
1814 | 31 March | Battle of Courtrai between French and Saxon forces. |
21 July | Belgium made part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. [143] | |
1815 | 16 June | Battle of Ligny: Napoleon Bonaparte's last victory. |
18 June | Battle of Waterloo: final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. | |
1820 | Publication of J. B. Romberg's A New Picture of Brussels and its Environs [144] | |
1822 | Société Générale founded | |
1823 | Publication of Edmund Boyce's The Belgian Traveller (4th edition) [145] | |
1830 | 25 August | Belgian Revolution begins |
26 December | Allied powers recognise Belgian independence. [143] | |
1831 | 21 July | Leopold, Prince of Coburg, sworn in as king of the Belgians. [146] |
2–12 August | Ten Days' Campaign: Dutch attempt to re-establish rule over Belgium fails, but Dutch forces retain control of Antwerp Citadel. | |
1832 | 20 October | Albert Joseph Goblet d'Alviella replaces Félix de Muelenaere as Prime Minister |
15 November to 23 December | Siege of Antwerp by Belgian army with French support forces Dutch from Antwerp Citadel. | |
1834 | 4 August | Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt replaces Albert Joseph Goblet d'Alviella as Prime Minister |
1835 | 9 June | Partial legislative elections held. |
1836 | 18 June | Belgium adopts the metric system. [1] : 627 |
1837 | 28 December | Pastoral letter of Belgian bishops deprecates Catholic membership of masonic lodges. [1] : 628 |
1838 | Hendrik Conscience's De Leeuw van Vlaenderen published. | |
1839 | 4 February | The Kingdom of the Netherlands recognises Belgian independence. [146] |
19 April | Treaty of London signed, finalising international guarantees of Belgian independence and neutrality. [147] : 39 | |
1840 | 18 April | Joseph Lebeau replaces Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt as Prime Minister |
1841 | 13 April | Jean-Baptiste Nothomb replaces Joseph Lebeau as Prime Minister |
1845 | 30 July | Sylvain Van de Weyer replaces Jean-Baptiste Nothomb as Prime Minister |
1846 | 31 March | Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt replaces Sylvain Van de Weyer as Prime Minister |
1847 | 12 August | Charles Rogier replaces Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt as Prime Minister |
1848 | 1 April | French Republican agitators seeking to foment revolution in Belgium arrested at Quiévrain. [147] : 244 |
13 June | Belgian general election, 1848 | |
1850 | 5 May | National Bank of Belgium founded |
11 June | Partial legislative elections | |
1851 | 27 October | Commercial treaty between Belgium and the United Kingdom concluded in London. [147] : 338 [148] |
1852 | 8 June | Partial legislative elections of 1852 |
31 October | Henri de Brouckère replaces Charles Rogier as Prime Minister | |
1853 | 22 August | Marriage of Leopold, Duke of Brabant, heir to the Belgian throne, and Marie Henriette of Austria. [147] : 389 |
1854 | 27 February | Commercial treaty with France on tariffs, transit and navigation for five years. [149] |
13 June | Partial legislative elections of 1854 | |
1855 | 30 March | Pierre de Decker replaces Henri de Brouckère as Prime Minister |
1856 | 10 June | Partial legislative elections of 1856 |
1857 | 9 November | Charles Rogier replaces Pierre de Decker as Prime Minister |
10 December | Belgian general election, 1857 | |
1859 | 18 April | Five-year commercial treaty with France (1854) extended for two more years. [150] |
14 June | Partial legislative elections of 1859 | |
31 August | Lower House of the Belgian Parliament passes a motion for the fortification of Antwerp. [147] : 556 | |
1860 | 9 July | Belgian consulate in Damascus destroyed during anti-Christian pogroms. [147] : 577 |
18 July | Civic customs duties abolished. [151] | |
1861 | 11 June | Partial legislative elections of 1861 |
1863 | 12 May | Dutch government agrees to perpetual abolition of tolls on the Scheldt river in return for a payment of 17 million guilders [152] |
9 June | Partial legislative elections of 1863 | |
1864 | 11 August | Belgian general election, 1864 |
1865 | 10 December | Death of Leopold I; succeeded by Leopold II |
1866 | 12 June | Partial legislative elections of 1866 |
1867 | 13 February | Work begins on covering of the Senne in Brussels. [153] |
1868 | 3 January | Walthère Frère-Orban replaces Charles Rogier as Prime Minister |
9 June | Partial legislative elections of 1868 | |
1869 | April | Violent repression of strikes in Belgium inspires Karl Marx to write The Belgian Massacres . |
1870 | 11 June | Partial legislative elections of 1870 return a hung parliament |
2 July | Jules d'Anethan replaces Walthère Frère-Orban as Prime Minister | |
2 August | Belgian general election, August 1870, to break impasse of hung parliament | |
23 September | Sumptuous public celebration of the 40th anniversary of Belgian independence. [147] : 949 | |
1871 | 21 February | Regular railway services between France and Belgium resumed. [147] : 985 |
7 December | Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt replaces Jules d'Anethan as Prime Minister | |
1872 | 11 June | Partial legislative elections of 1872 |
1874 | 9 June | Partial legislative elections of 1874 |
21 August | Prime Minister Barthélémy de Theux de Meylandt dies in office; succeeded by Jules Malou | |
1875 | 8 April | Birth of future king Albert I of Belgium |
1876 | 13 June | Partial legislative elections of 1876 |
1878 | June to July | Partial legislative elections of 1878 |
19 June | Walthère Frère-Orban replaces Jules Malou as Prime Minister | |
1880 | 8 June | Partial legislative elections of 1880 |
25 December | Pope Leo XIII issues a breve to establish a new chair in Thomist philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain. [154] | |
1881 | 6 March | Review L'Art Moderne begins publication. [155] |
1882 | 6 May | North Sea Fisheries Convention signed, to come into effect in 1884. |
13 June | Partial legislative elections of 1882 | |
31 July | Désiré-Joseph Mercier appointed to the new chair in Thomist philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain. [156] | |
1883 | 28 October | Founding meeting of the art association Les XX |
1884 | 16 June | Jules Malou replaces Walthère Frère-Orban as Prime Minister |
June and July | Belgian general election, 1884 | |
26 October | Auguste Beernaert replaces Jules Malou as Prime Minister | |
1885 | 6 April | Inaugural meeting of the Belgian Labour Party held in Brussels |
2 May to 2 November | World Exhibition in Antwerp | |
1886 | 18–29 March | Series of strikes and disturbances in industrial areas of Wallonia |
8 June | Partial legislative elections of 1886 | |
1888 | 12 June | Partial legislative elections of 1888 |
1889 | 15 April | Death of Father Damien |
1890 | 10 June | Partial legislative elections of 1890 |
8 November | Composer César Franck dies | |
1892 | 14 June | Belgian general election, 1892 |
1893 | 12–18 April | General strike demanding an extension of the franchise |
15 April | Inaugural meeting of the Christene Volkspartij held in Okegem, with a party programme drafted by Adolf Daens | |
1894 | 26 March | Jules de Burlet replaces Auguste Beernaert as Prime Minister |
5 May to 5 November | International Exposition (world's fair) in Antwerp | |
14 October | Belgian general election, 1894 | |
1896 | 25 February | Paul de Smet de Naeyer replaces Jules de Burlet as Prime Minister |
5 and 12 July | Partial legislative elections of 1896 | |
1897 | 10 May to 8 November | Exposition Internationale (world's fair) held in Brussels |
1898 | 22 May | Partial legislative elections of 1898 |
1899 | 24 January | Jules Vandenpeereboom replaces Paul de Smet de Naeyer as Prime Minister |
5 August | Paul de Smet de Naeyer replaces Jules Vandenpeereboom as Prime Minister | |
3 December | Antoon Stillemans, bishop of Ghent, suspends Adolf Daens as a diocesan priest due to his political activism [157] | |
1900 | 27 May | Belgian general election, 1900 |
2 October | Wedding of King Albert I of Belgium and Elisabeth of Bavaria. |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1901 | 3 November | Birth of future king Leopold III of Belgium. |
1902 | 25 May | Partial legislative elections |
15 November | Italian anarchist Gennaro Rubino attempts to assassinate Leopold II | |
1904 | 1 May | Belgium national football team play their first official game, against France. |
29 May | Partial legislative elections | |
1905 | 27 April to 6 November | Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Liège takes place. [158] |
1906 | 27 May | Partial legislative elections |
1907 | 23 July | Port of Zeebrugge formally opened. |
1908 | 24 May | Partial legislative elections |
15 November | Belgium assumes sovereignty of the Congo under the Colonial Charter on the Belgian annexation of the Congo Free State | |
1909 | 17 December | Death of Leopold II, King of the Belgians |
23 December | Accession of Albert I as King of the Belgians | |
1910 | 23 April to 1 November | Exposition Universelle et Internationale (world's fair) held in Brussels. |
22 May | Partial legislative elections | |
1911 | Stoclet Palace completed | |
Maurice Maeterlinck awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature | ||
1912 | 2 June | Belgian general election, 1912 |
1913 | 6 April to 31 October | Exposition universelle et internationale (1913), World's Fair in Ghent. |
1914 | 24 May | Partial legislative elections |
4 August | German invasion with attendant atrocities: beginning of Belgian involvement in the First World War. | |
1918 | 11 November | Armistice ends First World War. |
1919 | 16 November | Belgian general election, 1919 |
1920 | 14 August to 12 September | 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp. |
1921 | June | Crown Prince Hirohito's official visit to Belgium. [159] [160] |
20 November | Belgian general election, 1921 | |
1923 | 23 May | Sabena is founded at Brussels Airport |
1925 | 6 March | Annexation of Eupen and Malmedy to the Kingdom of Belgium. |
5 April | Belgian general election, 1925 | |
Henri de Baillet-Latour is elected President of the International Olympic Committee | ||
1926 | 20 October | Labour Treaty establishing free movement of labour between Belgium and Luxembourg signed at Luxembourg. [161] |
10 November | Wedding of King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden. | |
1929 | 10 January | The Adventures of Tintin first published in Le Petit Vingtième |
26 May | Belgian general election, 1929 | |
1930 | 3 May to 3 November | Exposition internationale held in Liège |
7 September | Birth of future king Baudouin of Belgium | |
1931 | 12 May | Eugène Ysaÿe dies. |
1932 | 27 November | Belgian general election, 1932 |
1933 | 20 February | Convention regarding Establishment and Labour signed at Geneva, establishing free movement of labour between Belgium and the Netherlands. [162] |
1934 | 17 February | Death of Albert I, King of the Belgians. |
6 June | Birth of King Albert II of Belgium | |
1935 | 27 April to 6 November | Brussels International Exposition (1935) held in Heysel, near Brussels. |
29 August | Queen Astrid dies in a car crash | |
1936 | 24 May | Belgian general election, 1936 |
1937 | 22–25 May | King Baudouin makes a state visit to Britain. [163] |
1939 | 2 April | Belgian general election, 1939 |
30 July | Exposition internationale de l'eau opens in Liège. | |
1940 | 10 May | German invasion: beginning of Belgian involvement in the Second World War. |
1941 | 11 September | King Leopold III secretly marries Lilian Baels |
1944 | 17–18 August | courcelle massacre. |
1944 | 4 September | Liberation of Brussels and Antwerp. |
5 September | Customs Convention between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed. [164] : 978 | |
16 December | German reinvasion: the Battle of the Bulge begins. | |
1945 | 25 January | Liberation of Belgium completed. |
8 May | End of World War II in Europe. | |
1946 | 17 February | Belgian general election, 1946 |
12 April | Flemish nationalist leader August Borms executed by firing squad as a collaborator | |
1947 | 8 September | Victor Horta dies. |
1948 | 1 January | Customs Convention between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg comes into force. [164] : 978 |
17 March | Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Brussels, establishing the Brussels Pact for economic, social and cultural collaboration and collective self-defence. [164] : 905 | |
25 August | Treaty of Brussels, establishing the Brussels Pact for economic, social and cultural collaboration and collective self-defence, comes into effect. [164] : 905 | |
1949 | 26 June | Belgian general election, 1949 |
1950 | 12 March | Royal Question brought to a head with Belgian monarchy referendum, 1950 |
4 June | Belgian general election, 1950 | |
1951 | 18 April | Treaty of Paris signed, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. [164] : 655 |
16 July | King Leopold III abdicates | |
17 July | Baudouin of Belgium sworn in as king | |
1952 | 25 July | Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community comes into force. [164] : 655 |
1953 | 31 January to 1 February | North Sea flood damages Belgian coastal defences, killing 28 |
1954 | 11 April | Belgian general election, 1954 |
23 October | Paris Protocol agreed, transforming the Brussels Pact into the Western European Union (with Germany and Italy joining). [164] : 905 | |
1955 | March–July | First phase of the Second School War |
1956 | 7 June | Labour Treaty signed at The Hague establishing free movement of labour between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to come into force 1 November 1960. [165] |
8 August | Mining accident of Marcinelle claims 262 lives, including 136 Italian foreign workers | |
1957 | 25 March | Belgium a signatory to the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community. |
1958 | 17 April to 19 October | Expo 58, the first major World's Fair since the Second World War. |
1 June | 1958 Belgian general election | |
1960 | 15 April | Birth of future King Philippe of Belgium |
June | Belgian Congo becomes independent; on the eve of the celebrations Ambroise Boimbo snatches the ceremonial sabre of King Baudouin. | |
1 November | Treaty establishing Benelux Economic Union comes into force, providing for the free movement of persons, goods, capital and services between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. [164] : 978 | |
1961 | 17 January | Patrice Lumumba killed in Congo |
26 March | 1961 Belgian general election | |
1962 | 14 October | Rioting in Brussels between Flemish nationalist and Francophone demonstrators. [166] |
1963 | Jeanne Deckers, the Singing Nun, becomes world famous. | |
1964 | Salvatore Adamo becomes one of the most commercially successful musicians in the world. | |
1965 | 31 March | Treaty to establish a Benelux Court of Justice signed. [164] : 978 |
23 May | 1965 Belgian general election | |
1966 | 10 February | Belgium ratifies London Fisheries Convention. |
15 March | London Fisheries Convention regulating fisheries in the North Sea comes into force. | |
1968 | 31 March | 1968 Belgian general election |
24 June | Split of the Catholic University of Leuven announced. | |
1971 | 29 September to 1 October | Emperor Hirohito's state visit to Belgium. [167] |
7 November | 1971 Belgian general election | |
1974 | 10 March | 1974 Belgian general election |
1977 | 17 April | 1977 Belgian general election |
11 October | Award of Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Ilya Prigogine announced [168] | |
1978 | 9 October | Jacques Brel dies. |
11 October | Leo Tindemans resigns as Prime Minister after the failure of the Egmont pact. | |
17 November | 1978 Belgian general election | |
1981 | 8 November | 1981 Belgian general election |
1985 | 16 to 21 May | Pope John Paul II visits Belgium. |
13 October | 1985 Belgian general election | |
1986 | 3 May | Sandra Kim wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 singing "J'aime la vie". [169] |
1987 | 13 December | 1987 Belgian general election |
1988 | Stella Artois merges with Piedboeuf Brewery to form Interbrew | |
1990 | 4–5 April | Constitutional crisis: King Baudouin suspended as king for 36 hours after refusing to sign a law legalising abortion |
1991 | 18 July | Assassination of Socialist politician André Cools. [170] |
24 November | 1991 Belgian general election | |
1992 | Dirk Frimout is the first Belgian in Space | |
1993 | 31 July | King Baudouin of Belgium dies in Motril |
9 August | Albert, Prince of Liège becomes 6th King of the Belgians | |
1995 | 21 May | 1995 Belgian federal election |
June | Pope John Paul II visits Belgium. | |
1996 | 20 October | White March: approximately 300,000 people demonstrate to protest police and judicial inefficiency and demand improved child protection in the wake of the Dutroux affair |
Famous cyclist Eddy Merckx created baron by King Albert | ||
1999 | 13 June | 1999 Belgian federal election |
12 July | Verhofstadt I Government sworn in | |
4 December | Wedding of Prince Philippe and Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz | |
2000 | 22 September | Stock exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris merge as Euronext. [171] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
2001 | 25 October | Elisabeth, duchess of Brabant is born in Anderlecht. |
6 November | Belgian national airline Sabena declared bankrupt | |
2002 | 1 January | Euro enters into circulation to replace the Belgian franc |
November | Frank De Winne is the second Belgian in space | |
Strépy-Thieu boat lift is completed | ||
2003 | 18 May | Belgian federal election, 2003 leads to formation of Verhofstadt II Government (sworn in 12 July) |
2004 | 1–22 March | Trial of serial killer and child molester Marc Dutroux, sentenced to life imprisonment |
2005 | Celebration of 175 years of Belgian independence and 25 years of federalism | |
2006 | 8 October | 2006 Belgian local elections |
2007 | 10 June | Belgian federal election, 2007 |
2008 | 20 March | Leterme I Government sworn in |
30 December | Van Rompuy Government sworn in following Yves Leterme's resignation as Prime Minister | |
2009 | 4 January | Johan Bonny consecrated as bishop of Antwerp |
11 October | Father Damien canonised by Pope Benedict XVI | |
December | Herman Van Rompuy becomes the first President of the European Council | |
2010 | 27 February | André-Joseph Léonard succeeds Godfried Danneels as archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels |
22 April | Fall of Leterme II Government | |
23 April | Pope Benedict XVI accepts the resignation of child molester Roger Vangheluwe as bishop of Bruges | |
13 June | Belgian federal election, 2010 leads to formation of Di Rupo Government 541 days later | |
2011 | October | Sixth Belgian state reform finalised |
6 December | Di Rupo Government sworn in 541 days after the Belgian federal election, 2010 | |
2012 | 24 October | Closure of Ford Genk announced, to be completed in 2014 with loss of over 4,000 jobs. [172] |
2013 | 21 July | Philippe becomes 7th king of the Belgians |
2014 | 24 May | Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting kills four |
25 May | Belgian federal election, 2014 | |
2015 | 6 November | Jozef De Kesel succeeds André-Joseph Léonard as archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels |
21 to 25 November | Brussels lockdown | |
2016 | 22 March | 2016 Brussels bombings |
20 December | Publifin scandal breaks in Le Vif/L'Express | |
2017 | 31 May | Samusocial scandal breaks in Brussels parliament |
2018 | 9 December | Michel I Government splits, to be succeeded by Michel II Government, after division over endorsement of the Global Compact for Migration |
2019 | 26 May | 2019 Belgian federal election |
2020 | 4 February | Public confirmation of first patient tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium [173] |
2021 | 4 to 5 May | DDOS attack on Belnet disrupts accessibility of websites using the .be domain, including those of the Belgian government, parliament, police, educational and research institutions, health care, and public broadcasters, [174] [175] forcing the postponement of parliamentary hearings relating to the persecution of Uyghurs in China. [176] |
2022 | 8 June | King Philippe of Belgium condemns the racism of Belgium's colonial history in Congo. [177] |
2023 | 18 December | Largest criminal trial in Belgian history begins in Brussels. [178] [179] |
2024 | 9 June | 2024 Belgian federal election |
The Ostend Company, officially the General Company Established in the Austrian Netherlands for Commerce and Navigation in the Indies was a chartered trading company in the Austrian Netherlands in the Holy Roman Empire which was established in 1722 to trade with the East and West Indies. It took its name from the Flemish port city of Ostend.
Léon Spilliaert was a Belgian draughtsman, illustrator, lithographer and painter. In his early career, he contributed to the development of symbolism in the visual arts in Belgium. He frequented the milieu of Belgian symbolist writers, of which Maurice Maeterlinck and Émile Verhaeren were the best known members. His work was inspired by visual and literary works by Edvard Munch, Fernand Khnopff, Edgar Allan Poe, Nietzsche and Lautréamont.
Gislebertof Mons was a clergyman in the administration of the County of Hainaut and a chronicler whose Chronicon Hanoniense is an essential eyewitness source for events affecting his patron Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut.
Jules, Baron de Saint-Genois was a Belgian liberal politician, historian, librarian and professor at the University of Ghent. He was the first President of the Willemsfonds and a prolific contributor to the early volumes of the Biographie Nationale de Belgique, serving as president of the editorial committee.
The 2013–14 Basketball League Belgium Division I, for sponsorship reasons the 2013–14 Ethias League, was the 87th season top tier basketball league in Belgium. The season started on October 4, 2013 and finished on June 9, 2014. Telenet BC Oostende won their 3rd straight title by beating Okapi Aalstar 3–2 in the Finals. Dušan Djordjević was named Most Valuable Player.
Edouard Jean Conrad Hamman was a Belgian painter and engraver who specialized in portraying scenes from the lives of famous artists, scholars and the nobility.
The Council of Brabant was the highest law court in the historic Duchy of Brabant. It was presided over by the chancellor of Brabant. One of its functions was to determine that new legislation was not contrary to the rights and liberties established in the Joyous Entry.
The Perpetual Edict of 12 July 1611 was a decree of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella governing legal process in the Southern Netherlands. It consisted of 47 clauses laying out the basic rules of criminal and civil procedure. It was printed in both Dutch and French by Rutger Velpius, printer to the court. The edict had a fundamental impact on the codification of customary law, which it did much to encourage. It also placed a legal obligation on parish churches to register births, marriages and deaths, and on local magistrates to ensure that the secular authorities obtained a copy of such registers each year.
Saint-Ghislain Abbey was a monastery founded by Saint Ghislain around 650, located in Wallonia on the Haine. It became a Benedictine monastery around 940, when reformed by Gérard of Brogne, and was suppressed in 1796.
The Guilds of Brussels, grouped in the Nine Nations of Brussels, were associations of craft guilds that dominated the economic life of Brussels in the late medieval and early modern periods. From 1421 onwards, they were represented in the city government alongside the patrician lineages of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels, later also in the States of Brabant as members of the Third Estate. As of 1421, they were also able to become members of the Drapery Court of Brussels. Together with the Seven Noble Houses, they formed the city's bourgeoisie. Some of their guildhouses can still be seen as part of the Grand-Place/Grote Markt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Events of 1531 in the Habsburg Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège, predecessor states of modern Belgium.
Events in the year 1789 in the Austrian Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège.
Johan Decavele is a Belgian historian and archivist who worked as head of the Culture Department of the City of Ghent. He has mainly published on the history of Ghent and of the Reformation. He contributed to the Algemene Geschiedenis der Nederlanden, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, Monasticon belge, The Golden Delta of the Low Countries and The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation.
Baldric or Balderic was the forty-second bishop of Tournai and Noyon (1099–1112). He was born in Artois and was a canon and cantor in the dioceses of Cambrai and Thérouanne prior to becoming bishop.
Events in the year 1601 in the Spanish Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège.
Events in the year 1835 in Belgium.
Events in the year 1899 in Belgium.
The Malines Congresses were a series of Catholic Congresses held in Mechelen, Belgium, with the purpose of bringing together Catholics with leading roles in all walks of life, on the model of the German Katholikentage. The first three, held in 1863, 1864 and 1867, had considerable cultural, social and political impact. They lay at the foundation of the future development of a Catholic Party in Belgian politics, as well as a nascent Social Catholicism. The first congress saw the establishment of the Guild of Saint Thomas and Saint Luke, which shaped Belgian Gothic Revival architecture and art education. The main organiser of the first three congresses was Édouard Ducpétiaux, who died in 1868. They were hosted in Mechelen by the archbishop, Engelbert Sterckx, who died in December 1867, although much of the practical management fell to Isidore-Joseph du Rousseaux, a teacher at the junior seminary where many of the sessions were held.
Events in the year 1719 in the Austrian Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège.