Page 51 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

the hist or y of bel gium  49

Le Théâtre de
la Monnaie
On 25 August 1830,
the patriotic song,
L’Amour Sacré de la
Patrie, from French
composer Daniel
Auber’s opera La
Muette de Portici,
goaded the audience
into revolt.
The Revolution in Industry
Taxes, unemployment and social divisions under
Dutch rule all contributed to the mood of the
rebellion that erupted in 1830.

Belgian Revolution
The revolution of 1830 was ignited by a radical
opera at the Brussels opera house, when the
liberal audience rushed out into the street to
join a workers’ demonstration, raising the Brabant
flag. Gustave Wappers (1803–74) brought the
drama of Romanticism to his depiction of the
Belgian Revolution with the painting, Day in
September 1830. Troops were sent by William I
to quash the rebels, but the Belgian soldiers
deserted and the Dutch were able to retake
Brussels. Sporadic fighting rumbled on
until 1832. William finally accepted the
new borders in 1839.

The initial list of demands asked for
administrative independence from the
Dutch and for freedom of the press.

Late September of 1830 saw
days of costly streetfighting in
Brussels, as the rebels defended
the city against Dutch troops.
King of Belgium, Léopold I
The crowning of German prince, Léopold of
Saxe-Coburg, in Brussels in 1831 finally established
Belgium’s independence.

1799 Napoleon 1815 Battle of Waterloo: 1830 Rebellion
Bonaparte Napoleon is defeated by begins at
rules France an army led by the Duke the Théâtre
of Wellington de la Monnaie
William I of Orange in Brussels
1800 1810 1820 1830
1831 State of Belgium
1792 In the French 1815 Belgium, allied with Holland formed on 21 July; Treaty of
Revolutionary war under the United Kingdom of the London grants independence
against Austria, Netherlands, is ruled by William I of
France invades the Orange; Brussels becomes the 1835 First continental railway built
Austrian Netherlands second capital from Brussels to Mechelen

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