The Belgians
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THE BELGIANS TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Belgium History Chapter 1 – History of Ghent Chapter 2 – King Arthur and Ghent Chapter 3 – City on the Mouth of the River Chapter 4 – The Burgundians Chapter 5 – Emperor Charles V Chapter 6 – Revival of Catholicism and Trade Chapter 7 – City of Textiles Chapter 8 – Living Conditions Chapter 9 – Emigration Chapter 10 – Where Our Ancestors Lived Chapter 11 – Religion Chapter 12 – Gaelens Chapter 13 – Boerjans Chapter 14 – Life Together for Nathalie and Ben Chapter 15 – William H. Boerjan Family Chapter 16 – Boerjan Girls Unknown Photos Resources INTRODUCTION Our Belgian forebears hail from places such as Oost Eeklo, Maldegem, Lembeke (which has been incorporated into Kaprijke, northeast of Eeklo), Basselvelde, plus others. The nearest market was Ghent, and this is where the Boerjan family travelled to on market days. They made this trip on foot, so it must have been within reasonable walking distance. The kingdom of Belgium is a democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The current king, Albert II, does not govern. In fact, according to the constitution, the king cannot take any official action without the approval of a minister, and his ministers are held accountable for his actions. In Belgium, the king is traditionally considered a moral leader. The present king is Philippe. Belgium has a well-educated public and a very high quality of life. There is almost no illiteracy, and all citizens over the age of 18 are required to vote. The major religions of Belgium are Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Anglicanism, the Orthodox Church, Judaism and Islam. The leaders of the four major religions – Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and Islam – are paid by the state. About 75 percent of the population is Roman Catholic but in recent years church attendance has been declining. The second largest religion practiced in Belgium is Islam. Hinduisim and Sikhism are also increasing, but the government does not recognize them. As with the rest of the world, the traditional face of Belgium is changing. BELGIUM Belgium is about the size of Maryland and its coastline is only 40 miles. It is bordered by the North Sea, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Its climate is fairly moderate. In the northern part of Belgium, known as Flanders, Dutch or Flemish is spoken. This is the language our ancestors spoke. In the south, French is spoken. Brussels, the capital, is in the Flemish part of the country, but is mostly French speaking. German is also spoken in Belgium. There is a separation movement in Belgium. The concept of separation is based on the notion that the cultural continuity of Wallonia is with France, and that of Flanders is with the Netherlands. There has been tension between these two groups, based on language and economic factors, for a long time. Our ancestors spoke Flemish or Dutch and our present relatives in Belgium speak Dutch. The Belgians HISTORY The name Belgium came from an ancient Celtic tribe, the Belgae, who settled the area in 900 BC. The Romans ruled Belgium after 52 BC. As the Romans moved out, the Germanic tribes moved in – these people were called the Franks, and their king was Charlemagne, who is considered the founder of the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire ruled from 880 to 1806. After Charlemagne’s death, Belgium was ruled in part by the French. Charlemagne, “Charles the Great”, King of the Franks. Belgium merchants grew rich during the Crusades, and they joined artisans in communes (free cities) and gained political rights which saw a charter of civil liberties in 1066. In the late 1300s the Bergundians ruled Belgium, eventually leading to rule by the Habsburgs. Belgium became part of the Netherlands and was ruled by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. As with the rest of Europe, Belgium saw much religious conflict during this time. Charles V Belgium was ruled by the French until 1815 when Bonaparte was defeated at Waterloo. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, of which Belgium, known as the Southern Netherlands, was a part. The Belgians didn’t like their new ruler, the Dutch King William I, and revolted. Belgium gained independence and a German prince, Leopold I, was elected as Belgium’s first king. His son, Leopold II, is infamous for the cruelty of his rule in the Congo Basin. He became very wealthy from this area of the world. Leopold II of Belgium The Belgians After World War II erupted, Belgium was invaded by Germany. Their king, Leopold III, was taken prisoner by the Germans, and as he surrendered to the Germans he was very unpopular. Leopold’s son, King Baudouin, proclaimed the Belgium Congo’s independence in 1960. When King Baudouin tried to influence a law that was being passed, the people were outraged. As in every constitutional monarchy the monarch is required to not interfere in the ruling of the country. King Baudouin Belgium sent forces to Rwanda through the United Nations in 1994, were involved as peace keepers in Kosovo through NATO, and are supporters of the United Nations as peace keepers. They also sent troops to Afghanistan and deployed six F-16 fighters in support of the NATO intervention in the Libyan civil war. Belgium entered the Euro zone in 1999 as a founding member of the European Union. Ghent, the home of our ancestors, is the location of the third largest port in Belgium. Three- quarters of its trade is with the rest of Europe, and their economy has been affected by the Euro crisis. Belgium’s largest trading partner is Germany. Chapter 1 – History of Ghent The city of Ghent was within close proximity to Oost Eeklo, Maldegem, Lembeke (which has been incorporated into Kaprijke, northeast of Eeklo (Echeloo in the map below), and Bassevelde. These are all familiar locations in the Gaelens and Boerjan families. Ghent was the central market town and people lived there during prehistoric times. During the Roman period, the city grew and moved to the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie rivers. The Abbey of St. Peter (later Saint Bavo) was founded in about 630. St. Peter’s and a second abbey, Blandijnberg, became the two religious centers, and people began to build houses between to the two abbeys. Ghent became a centre of trade and commercial activity, and their then ruler Charlemagne sent a fleet to protect the city from the Vikings, who had attacked in 851 and 879. A fortification was built to protect the city and was located on the spot where the Gravensteen, the Castle of the Counts, was later built. Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) The Belgians During the 11th and 12th centuries, Ghent became an important trade centre. The stone Castle of the Counts was built at this time. Ghent relied on English imports of wool. The town was later ruled by the House of Hapsburg. Charles the V, the Holy Roman Emperor, was born there in 1500. Charles V – Note the Hapsburg Chin The son of Charles V, Philip II of Spain, ruled during a period of religious troubles between the Protestants and the Catholics. Many people left Flanders and settled in England and Germany. Later, the economic situation improved as a result of the building of a canal between the Ghent harbor and the city of Ostende. At this time Louis XIV was determined to conquer Flanders which led to conflict in the area. During the 18th century, peace and prosperity again returned to Flanders and new industries were developed. Philip II of Spain (also has the Hapsburg Chin) The Belgians In 1800 the cotton industry flourished because a citizen of Ghent smuggled a common mill out of England and set up a successful industry in Ghent. At this time Belgium was under the control of the French. After the Battle of Waterloo, Flanders was united with the Netherlands. Ghent continued to grow and the number of inhabitants tripled in the 19th century. Poor living conditions led to the forming of the first Belgian trade union. Battle of Waterloo Chapter 2 – King Arthur and Ghent The city of Ghent played an important role in the legend of Arthur. In the 10th century, Abbot Dunstan from Glastonbury fled to Ghent from Somerset for political reasons. He lived in protection at St. Peter’s abbey for two years, then returned safely to Glastonbury, where he introduced the Benedictine rule, to which he had been introduced in Ghent. He left a mysterious manuscript at the Ghent Abbey which was later given to the court poet Chretien de Troyes. This manuscript was the starting point for Troyes “Perceval ou le conte del Graal”, which made Arthur and his knights famous. St. Peters Abbey, Ghent Roundel of Men and Women Harvesting Grapes, early 1460s Chapter 3 – City on the Mouth of the River Between 1100 and 1500, Ghent played a prominent role among the major cities of northwestern Europe. The number of inhabitants from the 13th to 15th centuries is estimated at 65,000, just slightly less than Paris, and larger than London or Hamburg. Ghent owed its metropolitan character in the Middle Ages to its production of luxury woollen cloth and its excellent geographic location at the confluence of the two main rivers in Flanders, the Leie and the Scheldt, both of which provided good opportunities for trade. The city’s name means “river mouth” or “confluence”. Archaeologists have found evidence of human presence going back to the Stone and Iron Ages. Confluence of the Leie and Scheldt Rivers The Counts of Flanders ruled after the Norman invasions. Count Baldwin II, the Bald, brought order and peace to his earldom, and conditions were established that nurtured the growth of the economy.