Why is Belgium a country? - History of Belgium in 11 Minutes
video description
Knowing what was coming for them, the Flemish leaders chose their field of battle carefully. They chose a field on the banks of the river Leie that was sliced in half by two little streams joining in the middle because they knew behind it was in fact a marsh with muddy underground. When the french arrived and saw the -rabble- backed by hardly any real cavalry force they became overconfident and thought this -battle- a good little bit of sport for their knights. After initially sending in some foot folk that was driven back quickly by the Flemish into one of the little streams they had crossed, the french commanders thought the wading men in and close to the 3m wide stream would break his glorious cavalry charge. They sent in the cavalry, almost running down their own returning footfolk. The heavy cavalry of the overconfident French crossed the little stream but had lost its speed in the water and the muddy ramp up the other side didnt allow them to reach the speed they needed for an affective charge. Normally a cavalry charge of this magnitude was a serious psychological onslaught but the Flemish held ranks and formed a repelling wall of pikes and maces (the good days. To make matters worse many of the horses soon got their legs stuck in the mud and while they fought to get free, they mostly threw their riders down. With 55 to 90kg of metal covering their bodies, the fallen horsemen were effectively incapacitated lying on the muddy floor, if not drowning, weighed down by their own armour. On the Flemish side the -good day- weapon was designed for this moment, a lead ball on a chain or a stick to finish off fallen knights or smash horseheads. In those days it was battlefield etiquette that a fallen chevalier had to be left alone since he was helpless, to be taken prisoner for the ransome or recovered later by their own armies. Not so in this one. Heavily outnumbered and outgunned the Flemish ignored this etiquette. An order was issued among the Flemish that no quarter would be given and no plunder would be taken on the field of battle during the fight to keep the focus on killing as many as they could. They meant this fight to be a horrifying lesson for the French invader. When the french knights saw no prisoners were being taken among those fallen and even those surrendering but instead were slaughtered where they fell or stood, many tried to flee, causing panic and dissaray. The terrain, the failed attack and the Flemish tactic of no quarter made it a complete chaos for the french who were picked off one by one. Troops with long pikes and -good day- troops worked together to corner and kill each horse or knight alike. The motto among the Flemish was -hack them down, horse or man alike and if you get hit or hurt, hack into them until you are dead! -
In order to make sure the flemish wouldnt kill their own in the chaos they would pose a question to fallen knights and throughout the battle in case of doubt: -speak shield and friend- (zeg schild en vriend, a phrase Francophones cannot pronounce without a recognizable lisp on the SCH- (out of their mouths sounding like -sk--) and V- (sounding like -f--) and the combined vowels. In short: the helmets visor was opened, the question posed and if the answer was too french sounding, -have a good day- was the last theyd hear and the lead ball would then replace the brainmatter of the knight, to -paint- a colorful picture for you. This destruction of their main cavalry was an aweful thing for the french to withness. After finishing off all the french on their side of the stream the Flemish crossed it and chased the remaining french for almost 10 kilometers, killing many more by cutting them off or running them down. The city of Doornik closed its gates for the fleeing french knights so they could not take refuge. It was a true slaughter. The french, who had rarily lost when the horses went in lost 7 out of 8 of their battle commanders and the overlarge majority of their army.
Alledgedly a Flemish knight covered in golden armour had fought alongside the Flemish and killed many french, it is rumoured he was the son of the Flemmish duke who was a vasal of the French king and imprisoned by that king as a means to keep control over the dukes people. Therefor his son had to keep his identity a secret while fighting what was essentially his liege, the French king. After the battle hundreds of the frances noble knights golden spurs were recovered from the field of battle, hence the name the battle of the golden spurs-. It was the first time in history a large force of cavalry lost to a foot army.
So this battle drove the French out, but soon after in a flight of revenge and because it had been humaliating for such a large force to lose to the peasents of Flanders, the french then made a counterattack and initially retook the south of what is now Belgium and would form the Wallonian region. In that moment recreating a border that had been there under the romans before them as well. As a side note this is also the reason why there are many excavations of roman villae in the south and less in the north. It became the border between French speakers and Flemish speakers and still exists today. Because of this early separation in main influence between the two main Belgian regions indeed a difference in cultural development sprouted that never again merged after the fact.
Flanders in the north kept its Flemish (which is close to dutch) and under the French influence the south became almost entirely Wallonian french speaking. The difference between Wallonian and real French is obvious in the numbers, a French person spells 70 as soixant-dix, a wallonian says -septante-, 90 in french is quatre-vingt-dix, in wallonian -nonante- this might still be a roman influence.
Today Belgium only exists because the Wallonian side cannot survive without Flemish money, this while the power resides mostly in Wallonian hands, especially in our capital brussels. Many Flemish -me included- feel like hostages in Wallonian/Belgian clutches. Our political landscape ensures that separation is almost impossible. Social and economical inequality is palpable. The south have a heavy Socialist (you can call it communist) regime and are therefor dealing with a lot of unemployment and poverty only averted because of the generous payouts with Flemish money. A famous phraze states that -socialism only works until you run out of other peoples money-, this surely is true here. Flanders in the north leans more towards liberalism/nationalism and represents most of the industrial workforce that is being taxed to death. In 2021 the total flow of money from Flanders to Wallonia reached 12, 9 BILLION euros, money that will never return.
Because the votes of the north only count as half the votes (while the Flemish make up a lot more than 50% of the population) and the reigns are still in the hands of a steadfast wallonian nobility class, this country is going nowhere. The story is much much, more complicated but in a broad line, this is the ugly truth of Belgium and the lie that keeps it barely glued together. Are we a rich people in culture? sure. But should we be separated into Flanders and Wallonia? certainly. If this would ever happen then the Flemmish will finally have what theyve wanted since the 10th century but never had: freedom and self-government. If you feel like judging my opinion then realise Ive only stated FACTS here. And its hard to deny facts.\r\n
Date: 2023-12-16
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Comments and reviews: 25
-MrMikelangeloh
The prehistoric Iron Age learns us that modern day Belgium was inhabited by many different tribes. They shared common values but where all different from one another in some way. They were not Gallic nor Germanic but showed similarities (you can compare it to the Portuguese sharing similarities with the Spanish or the Swedish with the Norwegians. Yet they lived together and were called the Belgae tribe. Ever since, meaning more than 2500 years, it has always been like that. Nowadays, the Belgae or Belgians, unite under one name but still are subdivided into different communities or modern tribes.
It is just how it has always been for this country. Belgians are kind of united because of bindings factors other than a common language. This difficult to understand identity IS their identity and makes it very unique at the same time.
You think an inhabitant of another country that has a very straight forward indentity and easy to understand, is happier and feeling more confident than Belgians today? A Belgian would probably laugh and continue to enjoy all the good stuff coming from this mysterious piece of land. They wouldn't even want to begin to explain a 2500 year history to an ignorant.
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The prehistoric Iron Age learns us that modern day Belgium was inhabited by many different tribes. They shared common values but where all different from one another in some way. They were not Gallic nor Germanic but showed similarities (you can compare it to the Portuguese sharing similarities with the Spanish or the Swedish with the Norwegians. Yet they lived together and were called the Belgae tribe. Ever since, meaning more than 2500 years, it has always been like that. Nowadays, the Belgae or Belgians, unite under one name but still are subdivided into different communities or modern tribes.
It is just how it has always been for this country. Belgians are kind of united because of bindings factors other than a common language. This difficult to understand identity IS their identity and makes it very unique at the same time.
You think an inhabitant of another country that has a very straight forward indentity and easy to understand, is happier and feeling more confident than Belgians today? A Belgian would probably laugh and continue to enjoy all the good stuff coming from this mysterious piece of land. They wouldn't even want to begin to explain a 2500 year history to an ignorant.
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knowledgia
Congo was the private property of the Belgian king Leopold II, not of the Belgian state. This led to the worst possible outcome in the exploitation of the country as a colony. This black page is being suppressed by the Belgian Royal press as much as possible. The book Heart of Darkness is about this black chapter in history, as is Gangrene I and II by the Belgian writer Jeff Geraerts. You may remember the movie Apocalypse Now. The script of that movie follows Heart of Darkness quite closely.
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Congo was the private property of the Belgian king Leopold II, not of the Belgian state. This led to the worst possible outcome in the exploitation of the country as a colony. This black page is being suppressed by the Belgian Royal press as much as possible. The book Heart of Darkness is about this black chapter in history, as is Gangrene I and II by the Belgian writer Jeff Geraerts. You may remember the movie Apocalypse Now. The script of that movie follows Heart of Darkness quite closely.
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-axelwalter4046
Again, the map of the Netherlands is completely wrong, as there is (was) no landmass between the provinces of Noord-Holland and Friesland. There used to be the open Zuiderzee, which looks like a lake in your map, and the Zuiderzee became the IJsselmeer after a dyke was build: the Afsluitdijk (in English: The Closing Dike. Also -Zeeland- in the south-West of the Netherlands is badly drawn.
After 1839, Dutch Limburg (Eastern-Limburg) remained part of the Netherlands.
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Again, the map of the Netherlands is completely wrong, as there is (was) no landmass between the provinces of Noord-Holland and Friesland. There used to be the open Zuiderzee, which looks like a lake in your map, and the Zuiderzee became the IJsselmeer after a dyke was build: the Afsluitdijk (in English: The Closing Dike. Also -Zeeland- in the south-West of the Netherlands is badly drawn.
After 1839, Dutch Limburg (Eastern-Limburg) remained part of the Netherlands.
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-timbennett4016
reading these comments as a Belgian just makes me sad. A lot of these comments are claiming -Belgium isn't real, - or it -Isn't a full country. - Now take that from my perspective, as a Belgian watching some American tell you that your country, nationality and ethnicity isn't real. That just breaks my heart. Belgium is in fact a real nation just like the US, Switzerland, France, Uk and so on. so, just mind your business and let Belgians be belgians.
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reading these comments as a Belgian just makes me sad. A lot of these comments are claiming -Belgium isn't real, - or it -Isn't a full country. - Now take that from my perspective, as a Belgian watching some American tell you that your country, nationality and ethnicity isn't real. That just breaks my heart. Belgium is in fact a real nation just like the US, Switzerland, France, Uk and so on. so, just mind your business and let Belgians be belgians.
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-RobinMarks1313
Why did you ignore the murder in the Congo by Leopold II- The Monster? It was a genocide. Even the other colonial powers were disgusted by his crimes! Yet, you ignored his crimes. Wow. No wonder our knowledge of history is so bad. We just skim over it, and forget the real bad parts. I bet the people of the Congo don't forget the events, and I bet they would insist you include Belgium's Colonial crimes in your history presentation.
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Why did you ignore the murder in the Congo by Leopold II- The Monster? It was a genocide. Even the other colonial powers were disgusted by his crimes! Yet, you ignored his crimes. Wow. No wonder our knowledge of history is so bad. We just skim over it, and forget the real bad parts. I bet the people of the Congo don't forget the events, and I bet they would insist you include Belgium's Colonial crimes in your history presentation.
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-kwgm8578
-Knowledgia -- I don't know what you did to get so many people angry at you for reporting history. They either want to blame you for prewar imperialism, that's the Great War, or for not -respecting- Belgium for presenting its history.
So here's an idea that will only get the bots on your back -- Ask Why Transnitria is a country.
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-Knowledgia -- I don't know what you did to get so many people angry at you for reporting history. They either want to blame you for prewar imperialism, that's the Great War, or for not -respecting- Belgium for presenting its history.
So here's an idea that will only get the bots on your back -- Ask Why Transnitria is a country.
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-steveweidig5373
One correction: There is no King of Belgium. Instead he's King of the Belgians.
Also, the whole Congo thing:
Congo was considered the King's personal property, and smooth sailing. let's just say it was about as smooth sailing as they do today to create a government after elections.
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One correction: There is no King of Belgium. Instead he's King of the Belgians.
Also, the whole Congo thing:
Congo was considered the King's personal property, and smooth sailing. let's just say it was about as smooth sailing as they do today to create a government after elections.
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-privatprivat7279
4: 38 ah the human condition and its ignorance. and false sense of identity of being. u got to love it. the sillyness of natiolism in history and culture is still alive in 2023 in many countries. atleast its numbing down and Reducing in many countries also.
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4: 38 ah the human condition and its ignorance. and false sense of identity of being. u got to love it. the sillyness of natiolism in history and culture is still alive in 2023 in many countries. atleast its numbing down and Reducing in many countries also.
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-telewiza
It has a great history and it is explained quite well, although there are cut a lot of corners. At the moment the only reason why Belgium still existis is because they cannot split Brussels. If Brussels was in Flandres it would be not together anymnore.
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It has a great history and it is explained quite well, although there are cut a lot of corners. At the moment the only reason why Belgium still existis is because they cannot split Brussels. If Brussels was in Flandres it would be not together anymnore.
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-Rowlph8888
Why is Belgium a country? Let me guess? It's something to do with squabbling between Britain and France at some time in history, just like most other new countries inn the modern world, or conflict zones globally going back hundreds of years
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Why is Belgium a country? Let me guess? It's something to do with squabbling between Britain and France at some time in history, just like most other new countries inn the modern world, or conflict zones globally going back hundreds of years
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knowledgia
How can one produce a history of Belgium without even mentioning the gain of former German territories following WWI? Eupen-Malmedy is an important chapter if one wants to understand the relation of both nations.
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How can one produce a history of Belgium without even mentioning the gain of former German territories following WWI? Eupen-Malmedy is an important chapter if one wants to understand the relation of both nations.
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-Frisia-
it's a seperate country so that there's a buffer state before france attacked germany again, and because they were catholic unlike netherlands. there you go, i answered it.
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it's a seperate country so that there's a buffer state before france attacked germany again, and because they were catholic unlike netherlands. there you go, i answered it.
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-AYVYN
Every video I-ve seen goes straight from the collapse of Rome to the Franks conquering the land beyond the Rhine River. How did this grandiose thing happen? Lmao
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Every video I-ve seen goes straight from the collapse of Rome to the Franks conquering the land beyond the Rhine River. How did this grandiose thing happen? Lmao
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-poseidon1641
Southern Belgium belongs to France, and no one doubts it! and south belgium will be free from oppression and more prosperous with france!
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Southern Belgium belongs to France, and no one doubts it! and south belgium will be free from oppression and more prosperous with france!
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-MT-sw8rf
Excellent question - they have nothing. Neither historically, nor anything else. Should have been split up between France and the Netherlands
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Excellent question - they have nothing. Neither historically, nor anything else. Should have been split up between France and the Netherlands
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-simeonivanov3507
It's not. They only think they are. And because of that is turning into mix between Morocco's and Congo. ha ha ha.
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It's not. They only think they are. And because of that is turning into mix between Morocco's and Congo. ha ha ha.
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-Lesistius
You made a mistake at 8: 00, he took his oath in July 21, 1831 not July 22, 1813. (Since Belgium didn-t exist in 1813)
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You made a mistake at 8: 00, he took his oath in July 21, 1831 not July 22, 1813. (Since Belgium didn-t exist in 1813)
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-rannicel
As a fellow Belgian they the goat besides uh, I didn-t know how to speak French I wish I lived in the North part of
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As a fellow Belgian they the goat besides uh, I didn-t know how to speak French I wish I lived in the North part of
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-Jack-Fleming
There where several polls before in the Flanders, 80% of the Flemish wanted to be reunite with The Netherlands.
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There where several polls before in the Flanders, 80% of the Flemish wanted to be reunite with The Netherlands.
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-Ipoop7colors
You didn't explain with happened during ww2 why The Netherlands get's limburg and why Luxemburg splits aswell.
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You didn't explain with happened during ww2 why The Netherlands get's limburg and why Luxemburg splits aswell.
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-likeavendettata
So century's of being colonised, once they're finally independent they decide to colonise other countries.
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So century's of being colonised, once they're finally independent they decide to colonise other countries.
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-bigfoenation
This portrayal of King Leopold II is disgusting. Calling his conquest of the Congo a -success- is satanic.
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This portrayal of King Leopold II is disgusting. Calling his conquest of the Congo a -success- is satanic.
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-wanderemaedie1235
Belgium exploited the resources of DR Congo and killed millions of her people because they are black.
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Belgium exploited the resources of DR Congo and killed millions of her people because they are black.
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-hishome8027
After Diponegoro War 1825-30 in Java, VOC/holland loss 25 Milion Gulden. And then Belgium independently.
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After Diponegoro War 1825-30 in Java, VOC/holland loss 25 Milion Gulden. And then Belgium independently.
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-qwicin
easily the most insecure and oversensitive place in western eu. so withdrawn that awkwardness is an attribute
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easily the most insecure and oversensitive place in western eu. so withdrawn that awkwardness is an attribute
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