Belgian history spans 2000 years — from Romans and Celts, medieval Flemish cities, the Holy Roman Empire, Spanish and Austrian Netherlands, to the modern Kingdom of Belgium (1830).
Romans and Gauls (BC – 5th c.)
Julius Caesar conquered the Belgae around 57 BC — "horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae" (Gallic Wars). Romans built cities like Tongeren (oldest Belgian city) and roads still existing.
Flemish Middle Ages (10th–15th c.)
Flanders became one of Europe's richest regions through cloth trade. Bruges, Ghent, Ypres — UNESCO. Burgundian Dukes (Philip the Good, Charles the Bold) united the Low Countries. Bruges centre of world trade — world's first stock exchange.
Habsburg and Spanish Netherlands (15th–17th c.)
Charles V (1500–1558) born in Ghent — ruled Spain, Austria, Netherlands. Split 1581: north became Protestant and independent, south (Belgium) stayed Catholic and Spanish. Spanish rule until 1714.
Austrian and French period (1714–1815)
Peace of Utrecht 1713 — Belgium to Austria. Maria Theresa + Joseph II. French Revolution 1795 — annexation by France until 1815.
United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Independence (1815–1830)
Congress of Vienna 1815 — Belgium to Netherlands. Disagreements (religion, language, economy) led to Belgian Revolution 1830. On October 4, 1830, declaration of independence. Leopold I first king.
Industrial Revolution and Colonial (19th c.)
Belgium was the 2nd country after the UK with industrial revolution (coal, steel, textiles). Leopold II — notorious Congo Free State (1885–1908), atrocities against 10 million Congolese.
Two World Wars
WWI — German invasion 1914 despite neutrality ("scrap of paper"). Verdun, Passchendaele terrible trench wars. WWII — Germany invaded again in 1940. Battle of the Bulge 1944. Liberation 1945.
Modern Belgium
EU co-founder (Treaty of Rome 1957). NATO headquarters Brussels. Three language communities: Flemish (60%), French (40%), German (<1%). Federal state since 1993. 11.5 million inhabitants.