European Kingdoms

Austrian Netherlands (Southern Netherlands)
AD 1713 - 1794
Incorporating the United States of Belgium

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When the Spanish Habsburg dynasty ended with the death of Charles II in 1700, the War of the Spanish Succession between Spain and France (1701-1714), followed by the Treaties of Utrecht (1713-1715), resulted in the Spanish Netherlands becoming the Austrian Netherlands, with Charles VI as Holy Roman emperor, Archduke Charles II of Austria.

Because neither the British nor the Dutch would allow the other to control the southern Netherlands, Habsburg Spain ceded its possessions there (largely constituting modern Belgium and Luxembourg) to Habsburg Austria. The period after the Peace of Utrecht was one of constant re-alignment amongst the European powers as they attempted to resolve issues without recourse to war, resulting in a constantly shifting pattern of alliances throughout the eighteenth century. The result was an almost continuous series of conferences, agreements, and treaties.

For nearly eighty years from 1713 the Austrian Netherlands remained reasonably peaceful and prosperous under the Habsburgs. As previously, the region enjoyed political autonomy. The Austrian government initially modernised the Spanish institutions internally, but also attempted to subject the provinces and its class-ridden society to absolute imperial power. Emperor Charles VI respected the traditional rights of his subjects. He also attempted to encourage their trade with the East Indies by means of the creation of an Ostend Company. Maria Theresa, his daughter, oversaw a period of prosperity and economic growth, but her son, Emperor Joseph II, became impatient with the ancient system of local privileges. He lacked a clear understanding of the situation in the Austrian Netherlands and also lacked his mother's skilled hand in dealing with it.

The people did not accept his religious suppression or imperial reforms, resulting in great dissatisfaction and growing resistance. A number of small insurrections eventually grew into the 'Brabant Revolution' which was inspired by the contemporary French Revolution and a similar revolution in the principality of Liège. The Brabant Revolution led to the brief overthrow of Habsburg rule and the proclamation of a short-lived republic, entitled the United States of Belgium, but the revolution was quickly ended by Joseph's successor, Leopold II. The Austrian re-establishment also was short-lived, however, as the territory was soon overrun by the revolutionary French.

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(Information by William Willems, with additional information from Foreign Policy and the French Revolution: Charles-François Dumouriez, Pierre LeBrun, and the Belgian Plan, 1789-1793, Patricia Howe (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), and from External Links: Belgium.be (Official Information & Services website), and A Short History of Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg (available for download as a PDF from Stanford University), and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Belgium from Revolution to the War of the Sixth Coalition 1789-1814, Dale Pappas (The Napoleon Series Archive), and World Leaders Index.)

1713 - 1715

The Austrian-Dutch 'Antwerp Barrier Treaty' - agreed in 1715 after two years of negotiations - sees six barrier towns and one fortress on the territory of the new Austrian Netherlands (succeeding the 'Spanish Netherlands') - including Dutch garrisons, part of the Dutch defence system - being retained with the agreement of France. The closing of the Scheldt for all non-Dutch ships to trade with Antwerp is once again confirmed. At times, the number of Dutch troops is larger than the Austrian contingent in the Austrian Netherlands, but the republic effectively bankrupts itself with the scale of its ultimately useless defences.

The frozen River Schelde divides a warming fire from the town of Antwerp in the near distance, painted in 1593 by Lucas van Valckenborch, by which time Habsburg control of the Netherlands had been soundly shaken

1716 - 1724

Field marshal. First Austrian governor. Resigned.

1716 - 1724

Governor in practice under the absent Prince Eugène.

1722

Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI founds the Ostend Company to trade with the East Indies and West Indies, as an attempt to relieve local economic distress. For a few years it provides strong competition against the more established British, Dutch, and French colonial trading companies, notably in the lucrative tea trade with China. It also sets up two settlements in India. The Ostend Company can be considered the first attempt by Austria to monopolise trade with the East Indies.

1724

Prince Eugène of Savoy has governed the southern Netherlands from Vienna, and in a highly despotic manner. He has overhauled the structure of central government in Brussels, replacing it with one all-encompassing 'Council of State' under his own supervision. It has turned the entire country against him, resulting in a situation in which the prince feels compelled to resign his post.

1725

Interim governor. Transferred to Milan.

1725 - 1741

Sister of HRE Charles VI. Governor Oct-Aug.

1740 - 1748

The War of the Austrian Succession is a wide-ranging conflict which encompasses the North American King George's War, two Silesian Wars, the War of Jenkins' Ear, and involves most of the crowned heads of Europe in deciding the question of whether Maria Theresa can succeed as archduke of Austria and, perhaps even more importantly, as Holy Roman emperor.

The War of the Austrian Succession saw Europe go to war to decide whether Maria Theresa would secure the throne left to her by her father, but several other issues were also decided as a wide range of wars were involved in the overall conflict

Austria is supported by Britain, Russia, Schaumburg-Lippe, the Netherlands, the Savoyard kingdom of Sardinia, and Saxony (after an early switchover), but opposed by an opportunistic Prussia and France, who had raised the question in the first place to disrupt Habsburg control of Central Europe, backed up by Bavaria and Sweden (briefly). Spain joins the war in an unsuccessful attempt to restore possessions lost to Austria in 1715 (such as Milan).

1741

A forceful administrator and a popular regent, the independent politics of Maria Elisabeth of Austria have not always been appreciated in Vienna. She has already suspended the Ostend Company (in 1727) and closed it down in 1731 despite its profitability (thanks to British diplomatic pressure on Austria).

1744

Sister of Maria Theresa. Died Dec 1744.

1744 - 1748

As part of the War of the Austrian Succession, the French take advantage of the Prussian challenge against Maria Theresa by invading Flanders in 1744. They manage to retain control until the end of the war sees the signing of the Treaty of Aachen, with the various settlements it contains.

1744 - 1780

Husband, co-governor, and lone governor after widowhood.

1750s

With Europe at peace again, Empress Maria Theresa enjoys popularity as the economic situation begins to improve again toward the middle of the century. An increase in agricultural productivity and textile manufacturing is noticed in what is now Flanders, and various industries are developed in present-day Wallonia.

1781 - 1789

Sister of HRE Joseph II of Austria. Defeated by rebellion.

1781 - 1789

Husband and co-governor.

1781

Despite appointing his sister and her husband as joint governors of the Austrian Netherlands, the siblings do not get along. Joseph tightly limits her powers, leaving her with little more than a ceremonial function. Instead, from 1783, most of Joseph's commands regarding the region go through Count Ludovico di Barbiano di Belgiojoso, his minister plenipotentiary and a lieutenant field marshal of the Holy Roman empire.

Count Ludovico di Barbiano di Belgiojoso, minister plenipotentiary in the southern Netherlands for Emperor Joseph II and a lieutenant field marshal of the Holy Roman empire

1783 - 1787

Minister plenipotentiary. Joseph's true functionary.

1787 - 1788

Various far-reaching deep reforms by Emperor Joseph now trigger widespread rioting and a rising in Brussels which is known as the 'Small Revolution' in May 1787. The revolution is led by Henri Van der Noot, who goes into exile in the Dutch republic where he tries to lobby support from the uninterested William V who has experienced his own rebellious problems.

The governors-general immediately attempt to calm down the unrests by temporarily suspending Joseph's reforms without the emperor's permission. This prompts a furious reaction from Joseph himself. He increases the number of generals in the armed forces and replaces Belgiojoso with Count Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff.

1787 - 1789

Minister plenipotentiary. Dictatorial.

1789

The French Revolution begins on 14 July 1789 with the storming of the Bastille prison during a popular uprising in Paris. Inspired by this, Belgian revolutionaries oppose the Holy Roman emperor to found - by the end of the year - the independent 'United States of Belgium' (or USB).

The towns of Brussels, Diest, and Tienen (Brabant), Ghent (East Flanders), and Mons (Wallonia) fall to the rebels and they defeat Austrian forces in a number of small skirmishes. By December 1789, the Austrians, fully routed, withdraw to the fortified city of Luxembourg in the south, abandoning the rest of the territory to the patriots (patriot rulers of the region are shown in red). Brabant declares its own independence on 31 December.

Along with the Battle of Turnhout on 27 October 1789, the Battle of Ghent on 13 November 1789 (shown here) was instrumental in forcing the Austrian governors of the southern Netherlands to flee Brussels while Austrian forces soon took refuge behind strong defensive walls in Luxembourg and also Antwerp

1789 - 1790

Prime minister of the 'United States of Belgium'.

1790

The month of January 1790 has seen many other Belgian mini-states being formed which have joined the USB. The new state receives no foreign recognition, however, and the rebels soon become divided along ideological lines. The revolution is quickly overthrown by Joseph's successor, Leopold II.

1791 - 1792

Restored. Replaced by military governor.

1791 - 1792

Restored. Replaced by military governor.

1792

The quelling of the Belgian revolution is pounced upon by a fevered France which is hugely enthusiastic about spreading its newly-found revolutionary fervour. France declares war against the Holy Roman emperor and his largely Austrian-dominated military machine.

The Austrians are defeated by the French army under Charles François du Périer Dumouriez (the former French foreign minister) at the Battle of Jemappes (in Wallonia) in November 1792. The French immediately reopen the River Scheldt to maritime traffic between there and the harbour of Antwerp, resulting in a revival of Belgian industry.

1793 - 1794

Brother of HRE Francis II of Austria.

1793

In February, a French army invades the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) and the territory is annexed for a short period. Militarily, France's fortunes look shaky when Great Britain, Naples, the Netherlands, and Spain join Austria and Prussia in the First Coalition. The French are defeated at the Battle of Neerwinden (East Flanders) on 18 March 1793. The French position in the Austrian Netherlands swiftly collapses.

1794

The Flanders campaign renews the struggle between revolutionaries and reactionaries. The Battle of Fleurus (in Wallonia), on 26 June 1794 sees the French victorious again. They defeat the First Coalition forces which comprise units from Great Britain, Hanover, the Netherlands, and the Austrian-dominated Holy Roman empire.

The Battle of Fleurus in 1794 ended Austrian attempts to protect its hold over the southern Netherlands and ushered in a period of French domination (painting by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse)

In June 1794 the Austrians are driven out of the southern Netherlands for the last time. The French army quickly completes its conquest of the region, although the Belgian revolutionaries are disappointed when it becomes clear that a French military victory is a prelude to annexation. The Austrian Netherlands become the French Netherlands.