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cincinnatusvirtue · 4 years ago

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Unification of Germany, pt.1 An overview of European nationalism-stirred and suppressed (1803-1848)

-Romantic nationalism was in full swing within 19th century Europe. An outgrowth of the French Revolution and largely spurred on in the wake of initial French successes during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). One of the places this sense of nationalism was felt most was in the German speaking states of Central Europe. At the time, this was a collection of multiple states of varying sizes, an outgrowth of the ancient Holy Roman Empire with the two largest states of the time being the Kingdom of Prussia and the Hapsburg Austria.

-Traditionally since the Middle Ages, the Archduchy of Austria run by the Hapsburg dynasty had wielded the most power and authority becoming identified with the nominal title of Holy Roman Emperor. in 1806, following Austria’s defeat at the hands of Napoleon’s First French Empire and creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a rump collection of French satellite states in the western region of German speaking territory. The Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II dissolved the Holy Roman Empire officially. Instead he created officially the Austrian Empire, out of the Archduchy of Austria and its territory elsewhere in Central Europe. Francis II became Francis I, Emperor of Austria.

-Prussia had long sought to supplant Austria as the leading state in German lands and in the 18th century under Frederick the Great had attempted to do just that. Despite its hard earned military reputation by the Napoleonic era, Prussia was outdated and overtly bureaucratic in its structure and tactics. It also hadn’t fought war continuously for some time and was lead by old generations of generals. 1806 saw them taking on France largely by itself, following its resentment of French influence in German speaking territory. It proved to be an eye opening experience, within a month Napoleon defeated the bulk of Prussia’s army and occupied its capital, Berlin. In 1807, it finally surrendered and gave away a lot of territory in the process. Prussia was also forced to suffer an occupation by French troops. In the interim it began to reform its armies. Along with Austria, both nations rose up against Napoleon following the French retreat from Russia in 1812. By 1813, uniting with other Allied nations, they drove Napoleon from Germany following the October 1813 Battle of Leipzig, a key moment in the cultural memory of 19th century German peoples. 1814 saw Napoleon’s abdication and 1815 his brief return where he was finally defeated by a combined Anglo-Dutch-Prussian force at Waterloo.

-From that point on, the Congress of Vienna, orchestrated by Austrian Foreign Minister and later Chancellor, Klemens von Metternich sought to redraw Europe’s map to maintain a balance of power. Which weakened France and increased Austrian, Russian and Prussian power as a counterweight on the continent. German national feelings were stirred by the revolutionary ideas of the French Revolution which had shaken the monarchies of old, this coupled with resentment of French interference in their territory, signaled nationalism in its first throes.

-Metternich was convinced that expressions of nationalism would inevitably lead to the disorder of the French Revolution and to an inversion of the “natural order” of monarchical rule, this became the de-facto conservative position in Europe of the time, pro-monarchy where as a liberal position was to take the nationalist cause. One in which peoples united by ethnic and cultural ties of language, religion, tradition and geography would unite into a modern nation state, given to self-determination and possibly one that promoted the people en masse having a say in their governance rather coming from a monarch. Metternich was keenly aware in the multi-ethnic Austrian Empire of just how delicate a balance needed to be maintained, Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Croats, Serbs, Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Ukrainians and Romanians all were under the Hapsburg umbrella and all had some level of nationalist stirring as a result of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.

-The response of Metternich and other conservative reactionaries was to suppress the development of free press, closing newspaper and magazine publications that promoted ideas of nationalism, be they German or any other. Metternich himself was German and the the Germans de-facto ran much of Austria’s bureaucracy, but the notion of a united Germany, possibly bereft of a monarch, was abhorrent to his sensibilities. He proposed also maintained a robust domestic spying apparatus to jail any potential liberal or nationalist ideas that could oppose the monarchy. Which in turn fueled more anti-monarchical sentiment.

-Metternich had also orchestrated the Austrian dominated German Confederation to succeed the Confederation of the Rhine & Holy Roman Empire. The idea was that the 39 German states that were members would be unified in association against foreign attack, mainly aimed against France but all the states would retain their autonomy with Austria largely dictating events. Though an expanded Prussia also commanded influence which with France out of the way for now, saw the old Austro-Prussian rivalry again simmer underneath the veneer of unity. No member state could leave the association and its laws were ultimately limiting to its member states, again for the sake of unity.

-Metternich proposed the Congress system in which the major powers of Europe would work in the so called Concert of Europe to suppress nationalist and liberal ideas that undermined the status quo. This involved a series of diplomatic summits from 1814 in Vienna until 1826 in St. Petersburg. The included the Holy Alliance of the Austria, Prussia & Russia maintaining their imperial partitions of Poland, suppressing a revolt in Spain in 1820 as well as Italian revolts during this era. The Quintuple Alliance of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Britain and a “reformed” Bourbon France also sought to maintain this balance of power through consultation.

-However, in the Ottoman Empire, nationalism was afoot in the Balkan states, first manifest in Serbia which got de-facto independence following a series of revolts (1804-1813) & (1815). Then in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), the success of these movements which included Russian and later Franco-British support weakened both the Ottoman Empire and inspired the nationalist movements of Europe, despite Metternich’s hopes to suppress the very flames his supposed partners has fanned.

-The divergent foreign policy ambitions of the major European powers began to undermine Metternich’s Congress system. Russia in particular sought to expand its territory and influence into the Balkans at the expense of the Ottomans, namely with control over Constantinople itself. This coupled with the religious solidarity of their Balkan coreligionists of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith showed the cracks in the Metternich’s plans. Britain and France likewise began to somewhat temper their old animosity with increased opposition to Russian expansion into the Balkans and in Central Asia.

-Another blow came in 1830 with the Belgian Revolution which separated Belgium from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Austria, Prussia and Russia remained unified in their opposition to the partition of the Netherlands fearful of any further revolution. Meanwhile, France which faced its own revolution that year had a new more liberal monarchy installed, sought to support it, since the revolution was largely made of the Catholic and Francophone Walloon people of the southern Netherlands. Britain was wary of French intentions to annex Belgium, but realized none of the other Great Powers were willing to intervene following French support to the Belgians and supported the establishment of a neutral Belgium. This lead to the 1830 London Conference, in which ultimately all five Great Powers agreed to recognize and independent and neutral Belgium which was to be respected by and guaranteed by the signatories of the agreement. The Netherlands wouldn’t agree to the protocol until 1839 which saw the recognize Belgian independence.

-Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali Pasha, Wali (governor) of Ottoman Egypt had been in effect independent from the Turks since the Napoleonic Wars and in the 1830′s with resentment over his losses in supporting the Turks against the Greeks, he sought compensation with control over the Levant, leading to military victories over the Ottomans proper, who saw Ali as further destabilizing the status quo, he was creating an Egyptian nationalism at the expense of Turkish rule and stability. The 1840 Oriental Crisis saw Austria, Prussia, Russia & Britain support the Ottomans and negotiate an arbitration. Only France, then in the throes of conquering the Regency of Algiers (Algeria) sought to support Egypt and Ali because it weakened Ottoman influence and expanded French colonialism in North Africa. This lead to yet another split in the rival ambitions and cooperation of the Great Powers. Eventually a London conference settled the matter for Egypt and the Ottomans. Ali and his descendants would be hereditary rulers of Egypt & Sudan, in exchange for him withdrawing his armies from the Levant and Crete. The Ottomans agreed to this position. However, this gave way to the Rhine Crisis involving tension over French claims to territory against the German Confederation, ultimately it was resolved diplomatically but underpinned the ongoing precarious situation in Europe.

-In Europe, including the German Confederation many rapid social and technological changes were occurring. Political ideologies like socialism and later communism were gaining some level of popularity among the industrial and rural working classes. While an increasing middle class bourgeoisie with capitalist aspirations also took hold with increased economic power and independence. While these classes were in philosophical competition with each other, the desire for increased constitutional rights for many if not all the populace were raising their collective voices. Universities throughout German territories were becoming hotbeds of discussion for German nationalism or at the very least calls for constitutional and political reform, the suppression of Metternich and his partners was increasingly fragile and dwindling in its effectiveness to drown out the cries of revolution. These cries across Germany and Europe more broadly resulting from a kaleidoscope of shifting and colliding ideologies, influences and peoples of varying backgrounds was coming to a tipping point on the horizon...1848...

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animaflandria · 5 years ago

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HISTORY OF CATHARINA’S LOYALTIES

(under read more bc it’s a long history)

pre-862: charlemagne & descendants. flanders is barely a thing yet but charlemagne appoints the forestiers dynasty as keepers of the flemish valley.

862 - 1119: house of flanders. baldwin i ‘iron arm’ becomes the first count of flanders after eloping with princess judith (daughter of charles the bald) and thus the county of flanders comes into existence. loyalty remains until its extinction

1119 - 1127: house of denmark. baldwin vii of flanders dies without heirs and he appoints charles the good, who was his cousin through adela of flanders, as next count. charles was assassinated and died also without heirs.

1127 - 1128: house of normandy (forced). king louis vi of france marched down after he supported the assassination of charles the good and forced the barons to approve of william i clito as new count of flanders.

1128 - 1194: house of alsace / metz. theoderic of alsace claimed flanders after his cousin charles was murdered. the house afterwards ruled flanders until 1194.

1194 - 1244: house of flanders. margaret i ( house of alsace ) marries baldwin viii of hainault and thus house flanders comes back into power.

1246 - 1405: house of dampierre. the succesion war of flanders and hainault came into play in 1244 due to two half-brothers fighting for flanders. in 1246, louis ix of france grants flanders to william iii of dampierre (one of the half-brothers) and so the reign of the house dampierre starts.

1405 - 1482: house of burgundy (reluctantly). marageret of dampierre marries philip the bold of burgundy in 1396 and rules with him. he ends the independence of flanders, which catharina hates and she acts out with revolts here and there. their son john the fearless becomes the first sole burgundian ruler.

1482 - 1797: house of habsburg. starts with philip the handsome, son of mary of burgundy and holy roman emperor maximilian i. house bourbon claims flanders too during the franco-dutch wars but catharina remains loyal to the habsburgs, though her anger when a large parts of flanders are annexed by france (in 1678, treaty of nijmegem) is great and she feels immensely betrayed. when these parts are returned to the austrian habsburgs after the war of the spanish succession in 1713 with the the treaty of utrecht, she still holds grudges against the habsburgs and even participates in the brabantine revolution of 1789-1790, which ultimately fails. later holy roman emperor francis ii loses flanders to france in the treaty of campo fornio.

1797 - 1815: french republic , house of bonapart ( but not really to either ). france gains flanders through the treaty of campo fornio and catharina hates it. she doesn’t cooperate at all and often refuses to go anywhere near those who now rule flanders.

1815 - 1830: house orange - nassau ( again, not really ). in the aftermath of the napoleonic wars, flanders is given the newly formed united kingdom of the netherlands (formerly the united netherlands). but the people of the south are not pleased with this new king and slowly becomes more and more estranged from the northern part. many tension arise and in 1830, with catharina’s help, a second revolution, the belgian revolution begins and this time it is entirely succesful. strangely it is france who comes to their aid as well.

1830 - present: kingdom of belgium / house of belgium ( used to be saxe-coburg belgian branch, but this title was changed to ‘of belgium’ after wwi due to strong anti-german sentiments). catharina is happily part of belgium, the kingdom composed of three region namely flanders, walloons, and brussels. belgium is officially recognised as a country by the majority of european powers in 1831 and even by the netherlands in 1839.

#all those tales and great stories of flanders (history)#all that i believe is true (headcanon)

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vasco-portable-translators · 2 years ago

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What Language Do the People in Belgium Speak?

Belgium is a country in Western Europe that is known for its rich culture and history.

The country has a population of more than 11 million people. And it’s the world’s only bilingual country, with French and Dutch being the two official languages.

Belgium’s capital, Brussels, is also home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union. And it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Are you planning a trip to Belgium? Or maybe you wish to communicate with your Belgian colleagues? Either way, you're probably thinking of learning a few words and phrases to be able to communicate with Belgians.

But what language is spoken in Belgium? Is it more than just one language? Are they easy to learn? Let's check!

What is the history of Belgium?

The history of Belgium can be traced back to the Roman era. The region was first inhabited by Celts, then Germanic tribes invaded the region, and it became part of the Roman Empire in 27 BC. After that, it was conquered by Germanic tribes again and eventually became part of Charlemagne's empire in 800 AD.

In 1830 Belgium declared independence from The Netherlands and became an independent state.

Belgium's territory has expanded and contracted several times, but it was finally determined that Belgium would comprise the regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region.

Belgian Languages

Belgium is a multilingual country with three national languages: Dutch, French and German. The Dutch-speaking region of the country is called Flanders and the French-speaking region of Belgium is called Wallonia.

The official language of Belgium is Dutch, but there are also three other languages spoken within the borders of this small country: French, German and a small minority language called Limburgish.

It's also worth noting that Belgian French is different from the French spoken in France. The same goes for Belgian Dutch language that is slightly different from the Dutch spoken in the Netherlands.

Last but not least, Belgian speaking Dutch are a small part of this country population. If you're planning on learning languages, better to pick Belgian Dutch or French rather than Belgian German!

Conclusion: is learning Dutch and French a good idea?

The conclusion of this article is that learning Dutch and French is a good idea, and not just in terms of one trip to this country. There are many long term benefits to be gained from learning these languages, including the ability to communicate with people in Europe and Africa.

What's more, you'll be able to appreciate more culture text created in French and Dutch, and make new friends speaking those languages! Still, be prepared that the Belgian Dutch is easier than French. If you don't have time to learn both of them, you might want to choose the one that's easier to learn!

Read more: What was the first language and how it changed the world

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brookstonalmanac · 6 years ago

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Events 5.24

919 – The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom. 1218 – The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 – Magnus Ladulås is crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral. 1487 – The ten-year-old Lambert Simnel is crowned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, with the name of Edward VI in a bid to threaten King Henry VII's reign. 1567 – Erik XIV of Sweden and his guards murder five incarcerated Swedish nobles. 1595 – Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library. 1607 – 100 English settlers disembark in Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in America. 1621 – The Protestant Union is formally dissolved. 1626 – Peter Minuit buys Manhattan. 1667 – The French Royal Army crosses the border into the Spanish Netherlands, starting the War of Devolution opposing France to the Spanish Empire and the Triple Alliance. 1683 – The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum. 1689 – The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration protecting dissenting Protestants but excluding Roman Catholics. 1738 – John Wesley is converted, essentially launching the Methodist movement; the day is celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day and a church service is generally held on the preceding Sunday. 1798 – The Irish Rebellion of 1798 led by the United Irishmen against British rule begins. 1813 – South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador ("The Liberator"). 1822 – Battle of Pichincha: Antonio José de Sucre secures the independence of the Presidency of Quito. 1830 – "Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Sarah Josepha Hale is published. 1832 – The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference. 1844 – Samuel Morse sends the message "What hath God wrought" (a biblical quotation, Numbers 23:23) from a committee room in the United States Capitol to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland, to inaugurate a commercial telegraph line between Baltimore and Washington D.C. 1856 – John Brown and his men kill five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas. 1861 – American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia. 1883 – The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City is opened to traffic after 14 years of construction. 1900 – Second Boer War: The United Kingdom annexes the Orange Free State. 1915 – World War I: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary, joining the conflict on the side of the Allies. 1930 – Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight). 1935 – The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2–1 at Crosley Field. 1940 – Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight. 1940 – Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrates an unsuccessful assassination attempt on exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico. 1941 – World War II: In the Battle of the Atlantic, the German Battleship Bismarck sinks then-pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, killing all but three crewmen. 1948 – Arab–Israeli War: Egypt captures the Israeli kibbutz of Yad Mordechai, but the five-day effort gives Israeli forces time to prepare enough to stop the Egyptian advance a week later. 1956 – The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland. 1958 – United Press International is formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service. 1960 – Following the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the largest ever recorded earthquake, Cordón Caulle begins to erupt. 1961 – American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for "disturbing the peace" after disembarking from their bus. 1962 – Project Mercury: American astronaut Scott Carpenter orbits the Earth three times in the Aurora 7 space capsule. 1967 – Egypt imposes a blockade and siege of the Red Sea coast of Israel. 1976 – The Judgment of Paris takes place in France, launching California as a worldwide force in the production of quality wine. 1981 – Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential committee die in an aircraft accident while travelling from Quito to Zapotillo minutes after the president gave a famous speech regarding the 24 de mayo anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha. 1982 – Liberation of Khorramshahr: Iranians recapture of the port city of Khorramshahr from the Iraqis during the Iran–Iraq War. 1988 – Section 28 of the United Kingdom's Local Government Act 1988, a controversial amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, is enacted. 1991 – Israel conducts Operation Solomon, evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel. 1992 – The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protests. 1992 – The ethnic cleansing in Kozarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina begins when Serbian militia and police forces enter the town. 1993 – Eritrea gains its independence from Ethiopia. 1994 – Four men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in New York in 1993 are each sentenced to 240 years in prison. 1999 – The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands indicts Slobodan Milošević and four others for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo. 2000 – Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation. 2002 – Russia and the United States sign the Moscow Treaty. 2014 – A 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurs in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey, injuring 324 people. 2014 – At least three people are killed in a shooting at Brussels' Jewish Museum of Belgium.

#Events

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paininmyassachusetts · 8 years ago

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Neutral Moresnet

(French) Moresnet Neutre

(German) Neutral-Moresnet

(Dutch) Neutraal-Moresnet

(Esperanto) Neŭtrala Moresneto

General information

Neutral Moresnet was a Prusso-Belgian (Before the independence of Belgium, Prusso-Dutch) Condominium that existed from 1816 to 1920. The population, in 1914, was about 4,500 people, and the area was 3.6 square kilometres (around 1 square mile).

Government

The country was run by two royal commissioners, one from Belgium and the other from Prussia. They appointed a mayor to run day to day things. The territory had no judicial system, and judges from Prussia and Belgium would be brought in whenever their services were needed. The nominal capital was the town of Kelmis. There were 7 mayors to hold the title from 1816 to 1920.

The small territory possessed a shared postal service with the two sovereign overlords of Prussia and Belgium.

Taxes in the territory were incredibly low, and it possessed little to no tariffs. The people of the territory were originally exempt from military service in the nations of birth (Belgium or Prussia), though after people began abusing this by moving there for the purpose of escaping service, this rule was amended and only the descendents of the original inhabitants were allowed to be exempt for military service. The territory had no military of its own.

Economy

The economy, from the beginning, was largely centred on the mining of Zinc at Vieille Montagne mine, crucial for the production of brass. The mine was responsible for making the population as large as it was, as the population was originally only about 250 people in 1815.

The territory possessed no domestic currency, and the French Franc was considered the official currency of trade, though the currencies of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands were also in circulation.

Demographics

The official languages were French, German, Dutch, and to a lesser extent Esperanto. The majority of inhabitants were born in either Prussia or Belgium.

History

The history of the territory began after the Congress of Vienna in 1814-5, when the borders of Europe were redrawn. The small zinc-mining area of Moresnet was a point of contention between the Netherlands and Prussia, and both of them decided to set up a joint administration to avoid conflict. After Belgium gained its independence in 1830, the Dutch claim to the territory was ceded to the newly-founded Kingdom of Belgium.

When, in 1885, the zinc mine became exhausted, the people of the territory began to worry about the continued existence of their land, and started to attempt to make their autonomy more complete. Germany was accused of trying to press the issue of sovereignty around 1900. Nothing serious would happen to the autonomy of the territory until the outbreak of WWI in 1914, when Prussia annexed the land.

After World War 1, the land was given to Belgium, who still own it. As of 2016, only one surviving inhabitant of the original territory is still alive.

Amikejo

In 1908, the chief medical doctor of the territory proposed making the territory a centre for the Esperanto language. This went so far as the World Esperanto Congress declaring Kelmis as the capital of Esperanto. The name given to it was “Amikejo”, which is also the name of a march. The name means “Place of Friendship” in Esperanto.

#neutral moresnet #Neŭtrala Moresneto #landinformasjon

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aerotrekka · 6 years ago

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Bruges is one of the largest preserved medieval-era cities in Western Europe, and was part of the Hanseatic League network of trading cities that stretched east to Tallinn. Bruges fell into economic neglect in the later medieval period, in part as it’s North Sea access via the River Zwin was lost in the early 1500s. The Southern Netherlands (which was mostly today’s Belgium) was ruled under the dead hand of the Spanish and then Austrian Habsburg Empire from the 1550s until seized by the French in 1794, and faced neglect and Napoleonic warfare until becoming part of the United Netherlands in 1815 and Belgium’s formation as an independent state in 1830. In contrast, the provinces of Holland to the northeast were able to gain independence in the late 1500s from the Spanish Habsburg Empire and started a period of independent prosperity. The Southern Netherlands also suffered from numerous wars, such as the Thirty Years War (1618-48), that devastated the region. Bruges avoided significant damage in the wars of the 20th century, although, less romantically in WWI, the canals that connect Bruges with the industrial seaport of Zeebrugge were used to refit German U-Boats that went out to wreak havoc on Allied shipping. History’s loss is today’s gain however, in terms of a preserved medieval city.

Bruges is also the setting for the 2006 Irish black comedy, In Bruges, which you should see before you go, if not to practice the varieties of Irish and Thames Valley swearing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp50aAVNc-U The tourist office will provide an In Bruges itinerary where you can follow the heroes as they swear and sightsee their way around the city. Bruges gets A LOT of visitors into a fairly confined area, although if you work around weekends and the mid-morning to 4pm day tripper avalanche, and avoid the summer in general, that will help.

Bruges has a very well established itinerary that you can take as you wish – I did not go up the Belfort Tower (dating from around 1480), or spend much time at all in the busy main square, or get on a canal boat, but things that worked out well include the following.

Early Starts and Late Strolls. Bruges empties out and shows it’s earlier self. It’s not hard to get a quiet view of what is a fairly intact medieval city. Bruges had a population of over 200,000 in the 14th century, while the city center population today is about one tenth of that, so it has a somewhat deserted feel to it once the daytrippers have cleared off.

You can also stroll round the grounds of the Beguin House (Begijnhof), a still operating medieval womens’ community dating from 1245, which sits across the canal from the gathering site of Bruges’ famous swans, just north of the Minnewater, which was a city harbor in medieval times.

Groeninge Museum. As with most Flanders towns, you couldn’t swing a renaissance-era cat without hitting a Flemish painter. The Groeninge has a great collection of medieval religious and renaissance era Flemish art as well as more recent 18th-20th century Belgian art, and is a must for Hieronymous Bosch fans or those looking for Magritte.

Basilica of the Holy Blood. A very ornate chapel that claims to hold a phial of Jesus Christ’s blood, said to be brought back from Crusades in Palestine around 1150, or just obtained from the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. The phial is taken around town in a religious procession every mid-May. Faith is a beautiful thing, but from a reality check standpoint this ranks up there with the remains of St. James being located in Santiago de Compostela. You can walk in any time to see the upper chapel, whose original interior dates from the 15th century, with major renovation in the 19th. The lower chapel is less ornate and dates from the original 12th century construction.

Jerusalem Chapel. Off the beaten track, the 15th century Chapel, a copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, has an ornate macabre sculpted marble altarpiece and the tomb of it’s founders, Anselm and Margaretha Adornes, in the center. Also used in the movie to highlight themes of death and damnation.

Day Bike Trip. Renting a bike and heading out along the canals or even into Holland is a good way to enjoy some peace while the town fills up. The route Bruges – Damme (7km) – Sluis (Holland 11km) – Knokke-Heist (10km) – Oostkerke (9km) – and home (10km) is a flat but scenic ride along excellent bike trails (with some roadway bike paths) that you can break up with some interesting towns. Sluis is a good-sized town for a break; Knokke-Heist is on the ocean although pretty functional; and Oostkerke is a neat medieval village.

Heading northeast for Damme (your first stop), the bike path takes you along canals that originate from around the 1200s, when Bruges and the surrounding towns were important trading and industrial areas. The canal to Damme gave Bruges sea access in the 1300s, with Damme acting as Bruges’ seaport. Damme was the location of a combined naval and land battle in 1213, where the English sailed into the town and sacked the 300-strong French fleet that was at anchor. The French army was able to return from besieging Ghent to drive the English off, but the seizure of ships and general looting was a disaster for the French.

From Damme, you can cycle over the Dutch border to the commercial center of Sluis, which has plenty of lunch options, a windmill and fortifications. The nearby 14th century church of Sent Anna ter Maiden is very tall.

From Sluis, you could either head back to Ghent or alternatively go north to the seaside town of Knokke-Heist. Knokke-Heist is actually quite drab and modern but has a bracing seafront. After that, head south to the now rather isolated town of Oostkerke, which has a large medieval church (destroyed in WWII and reconstructed) and a scenic medieval manor house out in the middle of the fields. From there you can go south to regain the Damme-Bruges canal road and head back.

Subterranean Beer Bars. Bruges has an excellent selection of beer bars as well as the nationally recognized De Halve Maan brewery, whose blonde (Brugse Zot) and tripel (Straffe Hendrik) beers are worth trying. Pubs to consider include:

Le Trappiste, 33 Kuipersstraat. Widest draft selection, although it’s Belgium so bottles are still a good way to go to try the national selection.

‘t Brugs Beertje, Kemelstraat 5. A bit more local with a large bottle selection, and serves meals as well.

Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, Walplein 26. You can tour or just beer. Food served also.

‘t Poatersgat, Vlamingstraat 82. Another subterranean medieval beer joint.

Logistics

I stayed at the Hotel Lucca, Naaldenstraat 30, which had large, comfortable, traditional rooms and was close to the center.

Food-wise, the further away from the main square is as always a good idea. The Sint-Anna area in the northeast of town has a couple of good choices that are a bit more local, including Lion Belge (Langestraat 123) and ‘t Gezelleke (Carmersstraat 15). Belgian cooking is filling and flavorful, and best accompanied by a local beer.

The railway station is located about a 30-minute walk south of the main square, so be ready to drag your rollaboard across cobblestones and through the crowds, or just get a rucksack. While it is an idea to base in say Ghent and just day trip it the 30-minute rail journey into Bruges, since both Ghent and Bruges railway stations are both about 30 minutes south of their respective centers, it does add an hour to what is a short rail trip; frankly it’s better to just stay overnight in both places.

Bike rental. I rented from Bruges Bike Rental, Niklaas Desparsstraat 17, which had a decent range of bikes. The tourist office will provide recommendations. The standard bikes are more the urban upright seated configuration, although you can request road bikes. Always take a trip round the block to make sure the gears work etc as most of the renting is intended for short trips around town.

Bruges: How Can a ****ing Fairytale Town not be Someone’s ****ing Thing? Bruges is one of the largest preserved medieval-era cities in Western Europe, and was part of the Hanseatic League network of trading cities that stretched east to Tallinn.

#Belgium #Bruges #Flanders #In Bruges

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oliviassummerabroad-blog · 6 years ago

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Journal Entry #11

Greetings from a new city, Antwerp, Belgium! Today, we got an extensive overview of Belgian history and toured Antwerp as well. I’ll try my best to stay in the word count because we learned so much today! We started our day with the history of Belgium.

Professor Dewulf‘s history lecture began with the late 16thcentury division of the Netherlands. William of Orange led a successful revolt against Spain to make the Netherlands independent from Spanish, thus Catholic, control. This division explains the cultural differences between the Netherlands and Belgium. The Netherlands’ Protestant culture, more austere and frugal greatly differed from the more extravagant Catholic culture in Belgium. I’ll be looking out for more examples of these differences-and similarities-in the coming weeks.

Another aspect of Belgian history from today’s lecture I found interesting was Napoleon’s reunification of the Netherlands and current-day Belgium from 1815-1830, which was unsuccessful due to the clash of cultures between the two countries that had developed since its initial division in the 16thcentury. This reunification ultimately ended with current-day Belgium successfully revolting for independence. Following independence, to gain legitimacy in the international community, Belgian leaders established the first Belgian monarchy as a figurehead with little to no power.

Belgium continued to try to gain legitimacy during period by beginning their own industrial revolution, particularly in the south of Belgium, or Wallonia. According to page 144 of the reader, with the rise of production and cheap labor, discontentment over the wage gapes grows and popularity of socialism begins to rise.

In the meantime, the cultural differences between North and South Belgium began to exacerbate as the Industrial Revolution did not occur to the same extent in the North. Rather, the North was primarily agricultural, considered to be less elite, and spoke Dutch, in comparison to the South, which spoke French. This division would color much Belgian history to come but took a halt once World War I began, as Germany attempted to invade Belgium in order to get more easily to France. This war was characterized by trench warfare, many deaths due to diseases, and the first use of widespread chemical warfare.

German soldiers again invaded Belgium in World War II and some Northern, or Flemish, Belgians, began to collaborate with Nazis, as the German promised that for their collaboration, the Flemish would have the opportunity to promote Dutch culture and language in Belgium. Post-World War II, globalization and capitalism became especially important, especially in Antwerp, a now very important port in this country. Northern Belgium (Flanders) gained more economic power and Belgium began more to decentralize. It was a vast amount of history to cover in a day, but I’m looking forward to learning the nuances of these different periods in these next two weeks.

For the rest of the day, we toured Antwerp. After lunch, we had a lecture at the University of Antwerp by Professor Frank Willaert, an expert on Medieval history, who spoke about the history of Antwerp and its various stages of expansion. We then walked through the city, peaking into the St. Charles Borromeo Church in the Conscience Square. This church differed from the Protestant churches we saw in the Netherlands, much more extravagant, filled with art and marble. My favorite part of our tour today was passing through the tunnel underneath the Scheldt river. I enjoyed every 500 meters of our walk. I loved the fact that I was underwater! Antwerp is certainly a quieter, less touristy change of pace from the bustling Amsterdam. I’m not sure how my opinion of the city will develop, but I’m excited to find out!

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bobmccullochny · 2 years ago

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History

October 4, 1582 - The Gregorian Calendar took effect in Catholic countries as Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree stating the day following Thursday, October 4, 1582, would be Friday, October 15, 1582, correcting a 10-day error accumulated by the Julian Calendar. Britain and the American colonies adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.

October 4, 1830 - Belgium gained its independence, after having been a part of the Netherlands since 1815.

October 4, 1943 - The Island of Corsica became the first French territory in Europe freed from Nazi control as Free French troops liberated the city of Bastia.

October 4, 1957 - The Space Age began as the Russians launched the first satellite into orbit. Sputnik I weighed just 184 lbs. and transmitted a beeping radio signal for 21 days. The remarkable accomplishment by Soviet Russia sent a shockwave through the American political leadership resulting in U.S. efforts to be the first on the moon.

October 4, 1965 - Pope Paul VI became the first Pope to visit the U.S. and the first to address the United Nations.

October 4, 1993 - Russian tank-soldiers loyal to President Boris Yeltsin shelled the Russian White House, crushing a hard-line Communist rebellion. Yeltsin then fired Vice-president Alexander Rutskoi and jailed other opposition leaders.

Birthday - St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was born in Assisi, Umbria, Italy (as Giovanni Francesco Bernardone). He renounced his family's wealth and founded the Friars Minor (Franciscan Order).

Birthday - Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) the 19th U.S. President was born in Delaware, Ohio. He served from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881. He was a Republican best known for his much-quoted statement, "He serves his party best who serves his country best."

Birthday - Artist Frederic Remington (1861-1909) was born in Canton, New York. He studied at Yale Art School then traveled extensively throughout the American West in the late 1800s sketching cowboys, Native Americans, frontiersmen, and soldiers. He also created lively sculptures featuring bucking broncos.

#Todays Smile

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bobmccullochny · 3 years ago

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October History

October 4, 1830 - Belgium gained its independence, after having been a part of the Netherlands since 1815.

October 4, 1943 - The Island of Corsica became the first French territory in Europe freed from Nazi control as Free French troops liberated the city of Bastia.

October 4, 1965 - Pope Paul VI became the first Pope to visit the U.S. and the first to address the United Nations.

Birthday - St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was born in Assisi, Umbria, Italy (as Giovanni Francesco Bernardone). He renounced his family's wealth and founded the Friars Minor (Franciscan Order).

#October History

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brookstonalmanac · 8 years ago

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Events 5.24

919 – The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom. 1218 – The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 – Magnus Ladulås is crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala Cathedral. 1487 – The ten-year-old Lambert Simnel is crowned in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, with the name of Edward VI in a bid to threaten King Henry VII's reign. 1595 – Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library. 1607 – 100 English settlers disembark in Jamestown, the first English colony in America. 1621 – The Protestant Union is formally dissolved. 1626 – Peter Minuit buys Manhattan. 1667 – The French Royal Army crosses the border into the Spanish Netherlands, starting the War of Devolution opposing France to the Spanish Empire and the Triple Alliance. 1689 – The English Parliament passes the Act of Toleration protecting dissenting Protestants but excluding Roman Catholics. 1738 – John Wesley is converted, essentially launching the Methodist movement; the day is celebrated annually by Methodists as Aldersgate Day and a church service is generally held on the preceding Sunday. 1798 – The Irish Rebellion of 1798 led by the United Irishmen against British rule begins. 1813 – South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador ("The Liberator"). 1822 – Battle of Pichincha: Antonio José de Sucre secures the independence of the Presidency of Quito. 1830 – "Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Sarah Josepha Hale is published. 1832 – The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference. 1844 – Samuel Morse sends the message "What hath God wrought" (a biblical quotation, Numbers 23:23) from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the United States Capitol to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland, to inaugurate the first telegraph line. 1856 – John Brown and his men kill five slavery supporters at Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas. 1861 – American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia. 1883 – The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City is opened to traffic after 14 years of construction. 1900 – Second Boer War: The United Kingdom annexes the Orange Free State. 1915 – World War I: Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary, joining the conflict on the side of the Allies. 1930 – Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight). 1935 – The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2–1 at Crosley Field. 1940 – Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight. 1940 – Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrates an unsuccessful assassination attempt on exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico. 1941 – World War II: In the Battle of the Atlantic, the German Battleship Bismarck sinks then-pride of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood, killing all but three crewmen. 1948 – Arab–Israeli War: Egypt captures the Israeli kibbutz of Yad Mordechai, but the five-day effort gives Israeli forces time to prepare enough to stop the Egyptian advance a week later. 1956 – The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland. 1958 – United Press International is formed through a merger of the United Press and the International News Service. 1960 – Following the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the largest ever recorded earthquake, Cordón Caulle begins to erupt. 1961 – American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for "disturbing the peace" after disembarking from their bus. 1961 – Cyprus joins the Council of Europe. 1962 – Project Mercury: American astronaut Scott Carpenter orbits the Earth three times in the Aurora 7 space capsule. 1967 – Egypt imposes a blockade and siege of the Red Sea coast of Israel. 1976 – The Judgment of Paris takes place in France, launching California as a worldwide force in the production of quality wine. 1981 – Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential committee die in an aircraft accident while travelling from Quito to Zapotillo minutes after the president gave a famous speech regarding the 24 de mayo anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha. 1982 – Liberation of Khorramshahr: Iranians recapture of the port city of Khorramshahr from the Iraqis during the Iran–Iraq War. 1988 – Section 28 of the United Kingdom's Local Government Act 1988, a controversial amendment stating that a local authority cannot intentionally promote homosexuality, is enacted. 1991 – Israel conducts Operation Solomon, evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel. 1992 – The last Thai dictator, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, resigns following pro-democracy protests. 1992 – The ethnic cleansing in Kozarac, Bosnia and Herzegovina begins when Serbian militia and police forces enter the town. 1993 – Eritrea gains its independence from Ethiopia. 1994 – Four men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center in New York in 1993 are each sentenced to 240 years in prison. 1999 – The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands indicts Slobodan Milošević and four others for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo. 2000 – Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation. 2001 – Mountaineering: Temba Tsheri, a 16-year-old Sherpa, becomes the youngest person to climb to the top of Mount Everest. 2002 – Russia and the United States sign the Moscow Treaty. 2014 – A 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurs in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey, injuring 324 people. 2014 – At least three people are killed in a shooting at Brussels' Jewish Museum of Belgium.

#Events

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