States/Countries -> Austrian Netherlands (1713-1795)      

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Austrian Netherlands (1713-1795)
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Austrian Netherlands. Franz II gold Souverain d'or 1796-B, Fr-469 (Austria), KM#64, MS62 NGC. Fully brilliant mint luster with only slight marks. Excellent eye-appeal and and exceptional example ...

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AUSTRIAN NETHERLANDS, Joseph II, half souverain d’ or (KM.35). Nearly uncirculated.

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AUSTRIAN NETHERLANDS, Maria Theresa, half souverain d’ or (Antwerp) 1754 (KM.17). Good very fine.
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Austrian Netherlands
Österreichische Niederlande
Oostenrijkse Nederlanden
Belgium Austriacum
Province of Austria
State of the Holy Roman Empire

1714–1797
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
Alles Erdreich ist Österreich untertan[1]
"All the world is subject to Austria"
The Austrian Netherlands in 1789.
Capital Brussels
Languages German, Dutch, Latin
Religion Roman Catholic
Government Governorate
Governor
 -  1716–1724 Francis Eugene (first)
 -  1793–1794 Charles Louis (last)
Plenipotentiary
 -  1714–1716 Lothar Dominik (first)
 -  1793–1794 Franz Karl (last)
Historical era Early Modern
 -  Treaty of Rastatt 7 March 1714
 -  Treaty of Fontainebleau 8 November 1785
 -  Brabant Revolution 1789–1790
 -  Battle of Sprimont 18 September 1794
 -  Treaty of Campo Formio 1797
Currency Kronenthaler
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The Austrian Netherlands (German: Österreichische Niederlande; Dutch: Oostenrijkse Nederlanden; Latin: Belgium Austriacum), was the period in which the Habsburg Monarchy was in control of the Southern Netherlands (modern Belgium) from 1714, until its annexation during the aftermath of the Battle of Sprimont by French revolutionary forces in 1794 and the Peace of Basel in 1795. Austria, however, did not relinquish its claim over the province until 1797 in the Treaty of Campo Formio. The Austrian Netherlands was a noncontiguous territory that consisted of what is now western Belgium as well as greater Luxembourg, bisected by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The dominant languages were German (including Luxembourgish), Dutch (Flemish), and French, along with Picard and Walloon.

History[edit]

See also: History of Belgium

Under the Treaty of Rastatt (1714), following the War of the Spanish Succession, the surviving portions of the Spanish Netherlands were ceded to Austria.

The Austrians were unconcerned with the upkeep of their province and the fortresses along the border (the Barrier Fortresses) were, by treaty, garrisoned with Dutch troops. The area had, in fact, been given to Austria largely at British and Dutch insistence, as these powers feared potential French domination of the region.

Map of the Austrian Netherlands, bisected by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

Charles VI attempted to use the Austrian Netherlands to compete with British and Dutch traders in an enterprise known as the Ostend Company.

Throughout the latter part of the eighteenth century, the principal foreign policy goal of the Habsburg rulers was to exchange the Austrian Netherlands for Bavaria, which would round out Habsburg possessions in southern Germany. In the Treaty of Versailles of 1757, Austria agreed to the creation of an independent state in the Southern Netherlands ruled by Philip, Duke of Parma and garrisoned by French troops in exchange for French help in recovering Silesia. However, the agreement was later revoked by the Treaty of Versailles of 1758 and Austrian rule continued.

In 1784 Joseph II did take up the long-standing grudge of Antwerp, whose once-flourishing trade was destroyed by the permanent closure of the Scheldt, and demanded that the Dutch Republic open the river to navigation. However, the Emperor's stance was far from militant, and he called off hostilities after the so-called Kettle War, known by that name because its only "casualty" was a kettle. Though Joseph did secure in the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1785 that the Southern Netherlands would be compensated by the Dutch Republic for the continued closing the Scheldt, this achievement failed to gain him much popularity.

Brabant Revolution[edit]

Main article: Brabant Revolution

In the 1780s, the Austrian Netherlands reacted angrily at attempts made to implement liberal reforms in the territory by Joseph II. In 1789, a force of émigré patriots in the Dutch Republic crossed the border and defeated the Imperial Army at the Battle of Turnhout and forced imperial troops to withdraw from the territory, encouraged by a series of uprisings in towns across the country. The 11 individual minor states which made up the Austrian Netherlands (except for the Duchy of Luxembourg which was still under occupation) proclaimed independence and created the United States of Belgium. In late 1790, imperial forces (with the military support of the Holy Roman Empire) repressed the rebellion (and another in nearby Liège) and regained control of the territory under Leopold II.

French rule[edit]

Main article: Battle of Sprimont

In 1794, the armies of the French Revolution annexed the Austrian Netherlands and integrated them into the French Republic.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Heinz-Dieter Heimann: Die Habsburger. Dynastie und Kaiserreiche. ISBN 3-406-44754-6. pp.38-45

Sources[edit]

  • Heinrich Benedikt. Als Belgien österreichisch war. Herold, Vienna, 1965.