All About Belgium: How the Country Came to Be
As we all know, Belgium is a country with a rich history and a unique culture. But did you know that it owes its existence to a series of revolutions and unlikely alliances? Let’s take a closer look at the interesting events that led to the birth of this small but powerful nation.
The Belgian Revolution & Russia’s Involvement
In 1830, Belgium was in pursuit of independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At that time, Russia was allied with the Dutch and was even planning to send troops to crush the Belgian rebels. The czar, fearing any kind of action against Europe’s great monarchies, was set on squashing the uprising.
However, the November Uprising in Poland, which saw many Polish soldiers flee to Belgium, caused a change of plans. These officers joined the country’s armed forces, greatly strengthening them. Despite its initial objections, Russia eventually accepted Belgian statehood at the London Conference of 1830.
Therefore, it is safe to say that the credit for Belgium’s independence and existence should go to the anti-Russian Polish revolutionaries, rather than the Russians themselves. This fact is often overlooked, with Britain and France being seen as the leaders at the conference.
Putin’s False Claims & Tensions with Belgium
In recent years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused of manipulating history to justify his imperialist ambitions. He has even made false claims that Ukraine historically belongs to Russia.
In February of this year, during an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Putin spent 30 minutes rambling about Ukraine and its supposed ties to Russia. He has also ordered for high school textbooks to be rewritten to reflect his revisionist ideology.
It is no coincidence that Putin made his false claim about Belgium in response to a question by a Belgian at the World Youth Festival, held near Sochi. The country has been in the spotlight, as the West debates over whether to use Russian assets to fund the war in Ukraine. These assets are mainly held in Belgium, in the security depository Euroclear.
The First Russian-Belgian Contact: A Historic Meeting
Interestingly, the first significant contact between Russia and what would one day become Belgium took place in 1717. Peter the Great, the iconic Russian ruler with a bronze statue in Putin’s cabinet room, visited the southern Netherlands during his travels.
Although this may seem like a small and insignificant piece of history, it marked the beginning of a connection between these two nations that would have a significant impact on the future of Belgium.
The Birth of Belgium: A Result of Revolutions & Alliances
As we can see, the birth of Belgium is not a simple tale of independence, but rather a story of wars, uprisings, and alliances. Without the November Uprising in Poland and the subsequent involvement of fleeing Polish officers in the Belgian Revolution, this small but mighty country may not have come into existence. And for that, the anti-Russian Polish revolutionaries deserve the recognition and credit they deserve.
