Belgium has been a focal point of European history, even since the days of Caesar. The name Belgium comes from the tribal name of the Belgae, a Celtic Gallic tribe which inhabited the region in Roman times.
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The Belgae were enemies of the Romans, and were mentioned in Caesar's Commentaries. Later, they became Roman allies, and prospered thanks to their close proximity to the vital German frontier region.
As the Roman Empire fell apart in the 5th century, Germanic Frankish immigrants became the dominant military and political force. The Franks expanded their rule across western Europe and created modern France, incorporating Belgium.
After the death of Charlemagne circa 800AD, the northern part of the Frankish kingdom broke away, including the County of Flanders, which was largely autonomous, if theoretically subject to French rule. The area became a thriving trade centre. This state of affairs continued for centuries, and the northern provinces prospered, trading with the Hanseatic League, and Britain.
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A golden age occurred in the 14th century, when the Low Countries region came under the rule of the French duchy of the House of Burgundy. Both textile trade and culture boomed. The House of Burgundy was a powerful force in Europe, both politically and in terms of trade. The Burgundian provinces benefited greatly from the prestige and trade contacts of these early pan European magnates.
The Low Countries were soon to be thrown right into the thick of European politics. In the 15th century, by virtue of an inheritance of the House of Burgundy by a Hapsburg king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was the legitimate heir of the Burgundian titles.
The scene was now set for decades of strife. In 1555, Phillip II, the successor to Charles and the Hapsburg king of Spain, took control of the 'Spanish Netherlands'. (Phillip II was also the Spanish king who launched the Armada.) Phillip attempted to raise taxes, and brought the Inquisition to the Spanish Netherlands. Oppression brought Dutch revolt, and in 1568, the region was in a state of war called the Eighty Years War.
Belgium remained a Spanish province ( still called Spanish Netherlands) until the War of the Spanish Succession. The Spanish king had left no heir, and France, Spain and Austria fought for control of the territory. The war resulted in the region once again becoming Hapsburg territory in 1713. The Hapsburg rule, however, was quite nominal, and the territory was largely autonomous. In 1790, the Belgians revolted against Hapsburg rule, and a new nation was created, the United States of Belgium. The Hapsburgs took advantage of internal disunity in the country, and reasserted their control, but were driven out by the French Revolutionary forces in 1795.
Being 'liberated' by the Revolutionary forces was an expensive experience for Belgium. The military version of the press gang, and looting of churches were features of the time. Fortunately, the rise of Napoleon restored order to the country and also resulted in the revival of industry which had been comatose in the political vacuum created by the Hapsburgs.
The end of the Napoleonic wars didn't result in peace for Belgium, or even sovereignty. The European powers decided Belgium should again be part of the Netherlands, under the rule of the militarily mediocre but politically astute William of Orange. In 1830, Belgium revolted. By 1831, William had had quite enough, and Belgium became a recognized state for the first time in its long history.
The first Belgian king was Leopold I, of the old European house of Saxe-Coburg, beginning a line of succession which has continued to the 21st century.
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In the 20th century, after many years of peace in Europe, Belgium was invaded by Germany in 1914, and partly overrun. The part of the country under German rule suffered severely. Trench warfare on Belgian soil included the horrendous three battles of Ypres. Two decades of rebuilding after the war saw another invasion by Nazi Germany, and six years of brutal occupation and heavy fighting in its eastern regions, including the famous Arnhem landing and Battle of the Bulge.
Belgium is still a resilient country. It's had to recover from wars before. Since World War 2 it has prospered again. It has become home to the European Union, with its capital in Brussels, and a centre of global trade. The world's largest shipping port, at Antwerp, is a true successor to the glory days of the Burgundian period and the early.
