Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day   By: Emile Cammaerts (1878-1953)

Illustration: ALBERT I. Frontispiece. Photo Langfier.

BELGIUM

From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day

by

EMILE CAMMAERTS

With 36 Illustrations and 9 Maps

T. Fisher Unwin Ltd London: Adelphi Terrace

Copyright by T. Fisher Unwin, 1921 (for Great Britain)

Copyright by G.P. Putnam's Sons (for the United States of America), 1921

First published 1921 Second Impression 1922

(All rights reserved)

PREFACE

We possess happily, nowadays, a few standard books, of great insight and impartiality, which allow us to form a general idea of the development of the Belgian nation without breaking fresh ground. The four volumes of Henri Pirenne's Histoire de Belgique carry us as far as the Peace of Münster, and, among others, such works as Vanderlinen's Belgium , issued recently by the Oxford University Press, and a treatise on Belgian history by F. Van Kalken (1920) supply a great deal of information on the modern period. To these works the author has been chiefly indebted in writing the present volume. He felt the need for placing the conclusions of modern Belgian historians within reach of British readers, and believed that, though he might not claim any very special qualifications to deal with Belgian history, his knowledge of England would allow him to present his material in the way most interesting to the English speaking public.

Belgium is neither a series of essays nor a systematic text book. Chronological sequence is preserved, and practically all important events are recorded in their appointed time, but special stress has been laid on some characteristic features of Belgian civilization and national development which are of general interest and bear on the history of Europe as a whole.

The author wishes to express his sincere thanks to his friend, Professor Van der Essen, who has been good enough to revise his work. He is also indebted to Messrs. Van Oest & Co. for allowing him to reproduce some pictures belonging to l'Album Historique de la Belgique , and to the Phototypie Belge (Ph.B.), Sté anonyme, Etterbeek, Bruxelles, and other holders of copyright for providing him with valuable illustrations.

CONTENTS PAGE

PREFACE 5

INTRODUCTION 15

CHAPTER I

THE COAL WOOD 29 Celts and Germans Roman conquest Roads of Roman civilization First Christianization Germanic invasion Natural obstacle presented by the "Silva Carbonaria" Origins of racial and linguistic division.

CHAPTER II

FROM SAINT AMAND TO CHARLEMAGNE 37 Frankish capital transferred from Tournai to Paris Second Christianization St. Amand Restoration of the old bishoprics Romanization of the Franks and germanization of the Walloons Unification under Charlemagne Aix la Chapelle, centre of the Empire First period of economic and intellectual efflorescence.

CHAPTER III

LOTHARINGIA AND FLANDERS 47 Partition after Charlemagne Treaty of Verdun The frontier of the Scheldt Struggle of feudal lords against the central power The Normans.

CHAPTER IV

RÉGNER LONG NECK 52 Policy of the Lotharingian princes Influence of the German bishops Alliance with Flanders against the Emperor Decadence of the central power Religious reform of Gérard de Brogne The Clunisians and the struggle for the investitures The first crusade.

CHAPTER V