Belgium

(bèl'je-um.) [Fr. Belgique; Ger. Beigien; anc. apart of Gallia Belgica.] A kingdom of central Europe, situated between Lat. 49° 30′ and 51° 30′ N., and Lon. 2°33′ and 6° 5' E., having N. the Netherlands, E. Dutch Limburg, Luxembourg, and Rhenish Pru ia, S. and S.W. France, and W. the North Sca. It has for its C. Bru els, and is divided into the 9 following provinces: Provinces. Area. Pop. Eng. sq. m. Capitals. Antwerp...... 1,094 490.620 Antwerp. Flanders (E.).. 1,154 855,504 Ghent. Flanders(W.). 1,243 666,102 Bruges. Hainault........ 1,430 884,384 Mons. Brabant......... 1,260 884,531 BRUSSELS. Limburg. 929 203,009 Ha elt. Liège 1,111 580,277 Liège. Namur. 1,397 317,375 Namur. Luxembourg............ 1,695 212,560 Arlon. Total... 11,313 5,094,362 The surface in the N. and W. is uniformly flat or slightly undulating. The coasts are low and protected against the sea by dykes and sand dunes, as in Holland, -though no part of Flanders is below the sea-level. The centre is undulating, and the S. and E. pro vs. are mountainous, being traversed by the chain of the Ardennes, which in closes the valley of the Meuse, and separates its basin from that of the Moselle, rising to 2,000ft. in elevation. The prin. rivers are the Scheldt in the W., and the Meuse in the E. Climate humid and cool; unhealthy in the low parts of Flanders, and in the prov. of An twerp. The soil is in general fertile, especially so in Flanders; but sandy and sterile in a great part of the pro vs. of Antwerp and Luxembourg. In the mountainous regions, the natural wealth consists in fine forests and abundant mineral products. The country is estimated to yield double the quantity of corn required for home consumption. Flanders is famous for its agriculture and horticulture, and also for its horned cattle. Horses are largely reared and exported. Mining is one of the great national sources of wealth, the prin. products being iron, copper, zinc, marble, and slate. Manufacturing industry is, however, the chief source of Belgian prosperity; in this it surpa es every country in Europe,England only excepted. Cotton, woollen, linen, and silk fabrics, embroidery, lace, hosiery, hats, paper, sugar, iron wares, cutlery. and jewelry, are among the principal branches of trade. Antwerp, Ostend, and Nieuport, are the chief maritime centres. The imports (special trade,) in1869, amounted to $180,725,000, of which from America $35,061,000; the exports to $138,311,000, of which to America $6,369,000. In 1867, the production of coal in the several mining districts amounted to12,755,822tons. Govt. B. is a constitutional representative and hereditary monarchy, by charter of 1831. The legislative power is vested in the King, the Senate, and the Chamber of Representatives. Mil. The standing army (formed by conscription) numbers 98,770 men, 10,662 horses, and 152 guns. B. has a small navy. Finances. The public debt, 1878, amounted to $225,000,000. ' The revenue for 1875 was $48,606,520; the expenditures, $47,656,288. Railroads completed and in operation in 1879, 6,000 miles; telegraphs, 10,000 miles. Relig. and Educ. Roman Catholicism is the prevailing faith, but entire tolerance is allowed. Education rules among abt. 30 per cent. of the pop. Hist. Anciently, B. formed a part of the 3d division of Gaul. It was next overrun by the Salian Franks. To resist the despotism of their haughty lords, the Flemings formed, in the 10th cent., a ociations called Gillen (Guilds); these formed the origin of all the ancient municipal corporations, and at the end of the 11th cent. Flanders was covered with corporate towns, and the Flemish burghers constituted the wealthiest merchants of Europe. They came under the dominion of the dukes of Burgundy abt. the middle of the 15th cent., and in1477, B. pa ed by marriage to the House of Austria, and through the latter to the kings of Spain; under Philip II. it suffered intolerable tyranny. It pa ed from Spanish rule in 1706, and reverted to the Austrians, of whom the French dispo e ed it in 1795, incorporating it with France. By the Congre of Vienna in 1814, B. was annexed to Holland to form the kingdom of the Netherlands, but in 1830 a National Congre decreed the independence of the country, and elected Prince Léopold of Saxe-Coburg their king. A war with Holland followed, and it was not until 1839, after the treaty of peace concluded between Léopold I. and the King of the Netherlands, that all the states of Europe recognized the new kingdom of Belgium. On the death of Leopold I., Dec. 10, 1865,his son Leopold II. s. to the throne. Pop. (1875) 5,403,000. [s. 85]