The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-05
Belguim Has Often Been Ruled By The Emperors of Germany

German rule is nothing new to Belgium, for during it's long and trag- 1c history the little country has fal- len under the sway of the Teutonic emperors- Today marks the bicen- tenary of the ratification on Noyern- Der 5, 1715s by which the Low Coun- tries were eceded to Charles VI, Elm peror of Germany, of the old Austrian line Nor was this the first time Flanders has been under the sovere- lgnty of the Hapsburgs In the fff- teenth century Flanders was held by the Duke of Burgundy and in 1447, Mary of Burgundy, the only daughter and heiress Of Charles the Bold, be- came the bride of Archduke Maximi- Han, son of Emperor Frederick " Of Germany and thus the Low1and Coun- tries came into possession of the House of Austria.
 InE the following century Belgium passed, also by a royal marriage: to the Crown of Spain At that time Belgians cared little what royal house presided over their destinies, but when Philip IL sought to establish the In- qulst1on they rose in rebellion.A The cruel Duke of -A1vat headed an army to put down the insurr ection he erect ed scaffo1s in every city, laid waste the country, and practiced most ter rible cruelties. While the northern
 
 In establishing it's independence. Bel gium was subjected and continued to groan under the Spanish yoke In the frequent wars between Spain, France and Holland, Belgium was us1Ia Nv first attacked. and suffered most, and many sections of the country were given to France as the price of peace E The war of the Spanish Succession brought another change of rule to II T2xy he 1s, which was confirmed two centuries ago today, Belgium, which for cen tury had ben the battle-ground of Europe, was awarded to the German Emperor, and was called the Austrian Netherlands The House of Austria was so weak. however that Holland was able to dictate terms The Dutch closed the Scheldt and so diverted the trade of Antwerp, and in 1722 the rIs- ing commerce of Ostend was sacri- ,ficed to the Dutch. By the treaty of 1715 several of the fortresses of Bel gium were turned over to Holland in ordr to create a barrier against French ambition.
 During the war of the Austrian Sue cession almost all of Belgium fell into the hand of the French, but in 1748 the conquered territory was restored to the Emperor of Germany. After a period of peace and prosperity the Belgians rose in rebellion against inc Austrians and in 1789 captured a num- Der of forts, expelled the Teuton gar risons and proclaimed an independ- dent state under the title of the United Be1gium-aA strong army was dispatch ed and succeeded in subduing the country.
 After an other brief interval of peace revolutionary France attacked Belgium and drove out the Austrians and in 1794 the rule of the German Emperors came to an end. Soon after ward the old German empire of the House of Austria ceased to exist. and Belgium became an integral part of France. After the downfall of Napo- leon Belgium was for some months ruled by the Austrian governor-gen- era1, but in 1915 it was united with Holland. By. the revolution of 1880 Belgium attained it's independence. and maintained it until last year when the Emperor of a new German Elm pire sent his armed hosts into the prosperous and happy land again transformed it into the cockpit of Europef