Belgium: timeline and key events
1st century BC
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War
Caesar subdues the Belgae
Julius Caesar conquered northern Gaul, home of the Belgic peoples, including the Nervii, defeated at the Battle of the Sabis. In his Gallic War, he called the Belgae the “bravest” of all the Gauls.
14th century
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War
Battle of the Golden Spurs
Near Kortrijk, the militias of the Flemish towns crushed the knights of King Philip IV of France. The spurs taken from the fallen knights were hung in a church in the town; 11 July is now the holiday of the Flemish Community.
15th century
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Politics
Birth of Charles V in Ghent
The future Charles V was born in Ghent, at the heart of the Burgundian lands. Heir to the Low Countries, Spain and the Habsburg territories, he would rule an empire “on which the sun never sets”.
16th century
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War
Fall of Antwerp
The Spanish troops of Alexander Farnese retook Antwerp after a long siege. Many Protestant merchants left what was then one of Europe's richest cities for the north, and the split between the Northern and Southern Netherlands, the future Netherlands and Belgium, took shape.
18th century
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Politics
The Spanish Netherlands become Austrian
At the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714) handed the Southern Netherlands to the Austrian Habsburgs, who held them until the French conquest of 1794.
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Politics
Annexation by France
Conquered by the revolutionary armies in 1794, the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were annexed by the French Republic and divided into departments. French rule introduced the Civil Code, which left a lasting mark on Belgian law.
19th century
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War
Battle of Waterloo
South of Brussels, Napoleon was finally defeated by the armies of Wellington and Blücher. A few days earlier, the Congress of Vienna had joined the former Austrian Netherlands to the northern Netherlands under King William I.
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Politics
Belgian Revolution
A performance of the opera La Muette de Portici in Brussels sparked the uprising against King William I. After the September fighting, the provisional government proclaimed Belgium's independence on 4 October 1830.
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Politics
Leopold I, first King of the Belgians
After the adoption in February of one of the most liberal constitutions of its time, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg took the oath as the first King of the Belgians. 21 July has become the national holiday.
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Politics
Treaty of London: neutrality guaranteed
The Netherlands finally recognised Belgian independence. In return, Belgium gave up part of Limburg and Luxembourg, and the great powers guaranteed its perpetual neutrality.
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Politics
The Congo, personal property of Leopold II
The Berlin Conference recognised the Congo Free State, the personal domain of King Leopold II. Rubber production there relied on forced labour and mass violence, condemned around the world in the early 20th century; Leopold II handed the Congo over to the Belgian state in 1908.
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Society
Equality Act: Dutch becomes an official language
The Coremans-De Vriendt Act put Dutch on an equal footing with French for the publication of laws. It was a milestone for the Flemish Movement at a time when French still dominated the state and the elites.
20th century
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War
German invasion
Germany violated Belgian neutrality, bringing the United Kingdom into the war. After the resistance of Liège and the massacres of civilians at Dinant and Leuven, King Albert I's army held a small strip of territory behind the Yser until 1918.
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War
1940 invasion and surrender
Germany invaded Belgium again. King Leopold III surrendered on 28 May and stayed in the occupied country, while the government continued the war from London, a split that gave rise to the “Royal Question”.
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Politics
Abdication of Leopold III
Approved by 57% of voters in the 1950 referendum but rejected in Wallonia, Leopold III's return sparked violent strikes. He abdicated in favour of his son Baudouin, who reigned until 1993.
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Politics
Founding member of the EEC
Belgium signed the Treaty of Rome with its five fellow founders. Brussels has hosted the European Commission since 1958, gradually becoming the de facto capital of the European Union, and has also been home to NATO's headquarters since 1967.
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Culture
World's Fair and the Atomium
Brussels hosted the first major World's Fair since the war, attracting more than 41 million visitors. Its landmark, the Atomium, which represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, became a symbol of the city.
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Politics
Independence of the Congo
The Belgian Congo gained independence in great haste. Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba's speech denouncing the humiliations of colonial rule in front of King Baudouin opened a period of crisis; Lumumba was assassinated in 1961.
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Politics
Belgium becomes a federal state
A decisive step in the reforms begun in 1970 to ease tensions between Flemings and French speakers, a constitutional revision declared that “Belgium is a federal state composed of communities and regions”. The same year, Albert II succeeded his brother Baudouin.
21st century
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Other
Brussels bombings
Suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group struck Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station, killing 32 people. They were the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country's history.
