Belgian History Trivia

1. Brussels is traditionally claimed to have been founded in AD 580 when which saint, who is the patron of the city, opened a church on the island that now bears his name?

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: Gaugericus

The island is now called Saint Gaugericus Island or Saint-Géry Island and it lies in the Zenne River. St. Gaugericus was originally a bishop in France before he went to Belgium to convert pagans.

From Quiz Belgium in the XXth and XXIst Century

Answer: Emile Francqui

Francqui (1863-1935) was a second lieutenant in Congo from 1885 till 1896. During his consulate in China, he became director of the Compagnie Internationale d'Orient. After his consulate, he started working with the Société Générale de Belgique, where he became governor in 1932. He founded a scholarship for scientific research. The other people I mentioned were all active in aviation. Junkers (1859-1935) was a German airplane constructor and started an air transport company (later taken over by Deutsche Lufthansa). Blériot (1872-1936) constructed airplanes and was the first to cross the Channel in 1909. Dassault (1892-1986) started a company to make fighter planes during WWI, but failed to meet the quantity desired. His second company, started in 1936, became world famous with the Mirage fighter planes.

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIIth Century

Answer: Ostend

Rumour has it that Isabella, Albert's wife, had promised not to change her underwear until Ostend had surrendered. As Ostend fell only after three years, the mind boggles ... Antwerp was also sieged during the Eighty Years' War. This city fell in 1585 to the Spanish troops. The pillage of Antwerp is still quite famous in Belgium. The only interesting siege of Liège that I found was the one laid by Charles the Bold in 1468. A group of 600 citizens from the nearest city, called Franchimont, tried in vain to kill Charles.

From Quiz Nine Britons and One American in Bruges

Answer: Gunhilda

Godlif is the Flemish-sounding name of the Hostess in the "Canterbury Tales". (By the way Chaucer's own wife had a Flemish-sounding name as well: Philippa de Roet.) Emma was King Canute's wife. She fled to Bruges in 1037. It was there that her son, the Danish King Harthacnute paid her a visit. Legend has it that Walburga accompanied her uncle Boniface during his missionary tour of the Continent. Anyway she is thought to have stayed in Bruges in 745, where one of the oldest parish-churches is dedicated to her.

From Quiz History of Belgium

Answer: 1695

In 1695 Brussels was attacked by the French King Louis XIV. The result is disastrous: more than 4,000 houses and the Grande Place were completely destroyed.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: Gudula

Saint Gudula is also a patron saint of Brussels, though she lived in the town of Moorsel. Her relics were placed in St. Gaugericus' Chapel by Duke Charles of Lower Lorraine. The reason for this translation was to start a cult of her which would attract people to the area so that the loose settlement that was Brussels at the time could go stronger and more populous.

From Quiz Belgium in the XXth and XXIst Century

Answer: Ecaussines-Lalaing

Eupen, Alost and Binche are famous places for carnivals, but as these take place long before Easter, they are not what we are looking for. The tradition called "Le Goûter Matrimonial" ("The Matrimonial Teatime") in Ecaussines-Lalaing is in fact the revival of an ancient tradition finding its origin in the pagan Walpurgisnacht (night of April 30th to May 1st). Although the religious authorities did forbid the ceremony (first recorded in 578 A.D), it continued up till the XIXth century, but without official support. In 1902, the son of the Village Secretary announced the revival of the "Matrimonial Teatime" for Whit Monday 1903 (June 1st). Maybe he intended it as a hoax, but the marriageable girls took their chance. In 1948, the tradition was institutionalised by means of a public committee: "Les Amis de la Folklore" ("The Friends of Folklore") took on the task of continuing the yearly festivity.

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIth Century

Answer: Adrian VI

All the Popes that I've mentioned reigned in the XVIth Century. Alexander VI (born as Rodrigo Borgia) was Pope from 1492 till 1503, Adrian VI from 1522 till 1523. Clement VII (born as Giulio de Medici) was Adrian's successor and died in 1534. Finally, Pius V (born as Antonio Ghislieri) was Pope from 1566 till 1572.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: A parade of sorts

An Ommegang is a parade in Brussels (and in other places) whose main feature is a procession and celebration of the Virgin Mary. The first Ommegang started, according to legend, when the Virgin Mary came to a woman named Beatrijs Soetkens and told her to travel to Antwerp and steal the statue called Our Lady on the Little Stick and bring it back to Brussels. Soetkens did so, by either divine intervention or a miracle, and brought the statue to the Crossbow Guild. In celebration of this event, Brussels annually hosts an Ommegang. It was originally a religious event but within a few centuries, it became more of a mix of religious and secular celebration. The Ommegang begins at the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon, which is the Guild's chapel.

From Quiz Belgium in the XXth and XXIst Century

Answer: Adolphe Max

Bara (1835-1900) was a liberal senator and Minister of Justice. He represented the province of Hainaut. De Brouckère (1870 - 1951) was a socialist senator. He was member of the Brussels City Council from 1896 to 1904. Jaspar (1870-1939) was member of the Catholic Party and represented Liege. He became Minister of Foreign Affairs (1920-1924) and was twice Prime Minister (1926-1927 and again from 1927-1931). Adolphe Max (1869 - 1939) was a liberal politician and art lover. He was Mayor of Brussels from 1909 till 1939. All these people have given their names to streets, avenues and squares in Brussels.

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIIIth Century

Answer: Jan Palfyn

Palfyn was born in 1650 and died in 1730. Several hospitals in Flanders were named after him. Boerhaave (1668-1738) was a Dutch physician credited with the reform of medical studies. Mesmer (1734-1815) was an Austrian who thought he could cure almost any disease by what he called "animal magnetism". When his cure didn't help a blind boy in 1778, the Viennese considered him to be a fraud and he had to flee the country. Jenner (1749-1823) invented the vaccine for smallpox. As he made use of the bacteria causing cowpox to prevent smallpox, he named this method "vaccination" after the Latin word for cow ("vacca"). Taken literally, vaccinating someone would be translated as "cowing" the patient.

From Quiz A Short History of Belgium

Answer: Louis de Nemours, son of the French King

The Prince de Merode had been one of those who strongly encouraged the Belgian rebels to push the Dutch troops out of Belgium. Louis de Nemours born 1814 Paris, died 1896 Versailles , 2nd son of King Louis Philippe. Elected King of the Belgians in 1831. His father Louis Philippe refused that crown in his son's name. Participated in the siege of the Antwerp citadel in 1832 when French troops helped the Belgians to get the last Dutch troops under General Chasse out of the country. Edward Duke of Kent(1767-1820) never was a candidate for the Belgian throne. He was the fourth son of King George III of Britain , and the father of Queen Victoria. The son of the unpopular Dutch King would have been a very unwise choice.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: Host desecration

While Jews were commonly blamed for spreading the plague and other diseases throughout Europe, the Brussels Massacre was specifically about alleged host desecration. Prior to 1370, much of the Jewish population was exiled from Brussels and the few people who remained were persecuted. One of the ways the Jews were persecuted was via a hoax called host desecration. Jews were often framed by Christians of stealing communion wafers and destroying them. The legend that led up to the massacre was as follows: A rich, Jewish merchant had bribed a Jewish convert to Christianity to steal some hosts so he could destroy him. However, he died and the hosts fell into the possession of his wife who then brought them to a synagogue where patrons stabbed the hosts. Some accounts say the hosts bled. What (if anything) actually happened is unknown but some claim the originally thief was a woman who felt remorseful and gave the hosts back to the local priest. Others claim there was no such plot in the first place. Either way, Jews were either banished or burnt at the stake as a result. The event of the bleeding hosts was celebrated as an anti-Jewish holiday called the Sacrament of Miracle until after World War II when Brussels' Jewish population was decimated.

From Quiz Belgium in the XXth and XXIst Century

Answer: Edith Cavell

Gabrielle Petit (1893-1916) was a girl in the Belgian resistance. She was charged with espionage and executed by the Germans. Her execution did not raise international protest, as it was only discovered after the end of WWI. Hannie Schaft (1920-1945) was a girl in the Dutch resistance during WWII. She delivered parcels and pamphlets, but was also involved in the liquidation of some collaborators. Sophie Scholl (1921-1943) and her brother Hans (1918-1943) founded the resistance organisation "Die Weisse Rose" ("The White Rose") against the Nazi party. They distributed pamphlets and decorated public buildings with graffiti such as "Down with Hitler". Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was born in Norfolk. She worked in a Brussels hospital. In spite of being member of the International Red Cross (and thus having to observe strict neutrality), she undertook rescue actions for British soldiers. The international press unleashed a campaign of hatred after her execution, which resulted in massive enlistment for the Allied forces. There are statues in her honour in Brussels, London (just off Trafalgar Square) and in Norwich (by the main public gateway to the Cathedral).

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIIIth Century

Answer: Jan Pieter van Baurscheit

Delvaux (1696-1778) designed the pulpits in the Saint Bavo's Church (Ghent) and Saint Gertrude's Church (Nivelles). Garemyn (1712-1799) was mainly known for his paintings. He created the pulpit in the church of Our Lady in Bruges. Apparently pulpits were a booming industry in the XVIIIth Century. Defrance (1735-1805) was born in Liège. He was quite a popular painter. You can admire his "The Rope Dance" in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Van Baurscheit (1669-1728) belonged to an important family of Antwerp architects. His son designed the Osterrieth house, which you can still visit in Antwerp.

From Quiz History of Belgium

Answer: The Zwin

In the eleventh century Bruges had expanded to become a commercial centre for Europe. But during this period the natural link between Bruges and the sea silted up. A storm flood in 1134 changed the appearance of the Flemish coastal plain however. A deep channel appeared, the Zwin, which at the time reached as far as present day Damme. The city remained linked to the sea until the fifteenth century via a canal from the Zwin to Bruges. But Bruges had to use a number of outports, such as Damme and Sluis for this purpose. Note that the nickname 'Venice of the North' is also used of Amsterdam and Stockholm.

From Quiz A Short History of Belgium

Answer: Union between French speaking liberals and conservative Catholic Flemings

During the two World Wars the Germans tried to divide the Belgians by treating the Flemings better than the Walloons. Some Flemings were unwise enough to think the German presence was a good opportunity to obtain the rights they had so long been asking from the Belgian State. What cemented the so-called 'Monster Union' between Walloons and Flemings, was a common dislike of the Dutch. The causes were different though. Religious differences mainly on the Flemish side. Linguistic differences on the Walloon side.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: Manneken Pis

The Mannekin Pis is the famous statue of the boy urinating and has been replicated throughout the world. There are many legends behind the statue. The most common one is that it represents Duke Godfrey III of Leuven, who was a child duke who was placed at the front of the battle lines during a war. It is said the duke urinated on his opponents and then won the battle. Another legend says that Brussels was nearly set on fire but a small boy urinated on a fuse and extinguished it. The Mannekin Pis statue was installed in 1618, though the first of its kind was designed in the 14th century. Throughout the century, the statue has been stolen many times. The original is in the Breadhouse Museum in the Grande Place. The one on display was installed in 1964. It usually is nude, however it is dressed in costumes according to a schedule. The statue has hundreds of costumes and they can be viewed in the Breadhouse Museum when not worn. On rare occasions, beer is fed through the fountain and passersby can enjoy a free cup courtesy of the Mannekin Pis.

From Quiz Belgium Before 1500 A.D.

Answer: The Vikings

The Moors (Islamic peoples inhabiting North Africa and the Iberian peninsula) did never reach Belgium. They were defeated by Charles Martel near Poitiers in 732 A.D. The Huns (several tribes that originated in Asia) sacked Europe in the 4th and 5th century A.D. Pope Leo I negotiated with their king Attila in 452 A.D. near Mantua (northern Italy). The Ottoman kingdom was created in Turkey in 1299 A.D. It later became a powerful empire but disappeared in 1922, after a long period of decline. The Ottoman people conquered most of the Balkan peninsula and threatened Vienna till 1683 A.D.

From Quiz History of Belgium

Answer: George Rémi

Hergé, or George Rémi, was a Belgian cartoonist. He drew comic strips about two young rascals "Quick et Flupke" and adventures of a boy, girl and their chimpanzee "Jo, Zette et Jocko", but Tintin was the cartoon that made him famous. The precise perfectionism of the series has gained many admirers and almost as much followers but none of the others have succeeded in breathing life to the style comparable to technical drawings. Hergé drew all the books himself and nobody ever completed the last book after he had deceased

From Quiz A Short History of Belgium

Answer: A French intervention army

Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg was on good terms with the British as he was the maternal uncle of Queen Victoria. But also his marriage to a French Princess (Charlotte) had some diplomatic advantages.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: France

At the time, Brussels was part of Austrian Netherlands. The French, led by Maurice de Saxe, invaded the city during the wintertime, something unusual and dangerous because of the winter conditions. Despite that, the French easily took the city because the Brussels' ally Britain had recalled her troops back home and Count Kaunitz poorly defended the city. Brussels would remain under French control until 1749.

From Quiz Belgium in the XXth and XXIst Century

Answer: Antwerp

The Antwerp Olympic Games were quite a sporting success for Belgium. Belgian athletes won 16 gold medals in 1920. After World War II, Belgian athletes only won 11 gold medals in the Olympic Games from 1948 till 2004. Liege organised a World Expo in 1930 (together with Antwerp), as did Brussels in 1935 and in 1958. The Brussels Expo in 1958 has been symbolised by the "Atomium", one of the few structures that survived the Expo. Ghent is known for its Floral Expo (organised every five years) and for the Expo Flanders Technology International (organised every two years).

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIIIth Century

Answer: Orval

All these monasteries have given their name to a delicious Belgian beer. Floreffe, Maredsous and Chimay are situated in what is now the province of Namur. Legend states that Mathilde of Tuscany lost her golden engagement ring. A trout brought it back to her in Mathilda's well, a fountain that still is situated in the Orval monastery. The village of Orval owes its name to this legend: Mathilda would have exclaimed, "This really is a Golden Valley", which translated into French is: "une vallée en or". Floreffe is a monastery of St. Norbert's Order. Dewez rebuilt it in 1770. Maredsous is a Benedictine monastery. It has given its name not only to a Belgian beer, but also to a Belgian cheese. Although the cheese is produced locally, the beer isn't: it is brewed in the province of Antwerp. There are only six producers of Trappist ale: Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle, Achel and Westvleteren. The name of Trappist ale is protected by law: only beers brewed on the grounds of a Trappist monastery, under supervision of Trappist monks, can earn the title of Trappist ale - on condition furthermore that the profits are used for the benefit of the monastery or for good works supported by the monks.

From Quiz Belgium in the XVIth Century

Answer: Granvelle

Antoine de Perrenot dit Granvelle was born in 1517 and died in 1586. He was an important champion of the Roman Catholic Church. Macropedius (1487-1558) is the Latin name of Joris van Lanckvelt. This Dutch priest wrote a dozen plays in Latin, as well as some Latin and Greek schoolbooks. Thomas Cranmer (1485-1556) was Archbishop of Canterbury. He compiled the first two versions of the Anglican "Book of Common Prayer", which remained largely in tact when re-adopted in the 1662 version. Pedro da Gante (1500-1572) was born in Ghent. He took on a mission assignment in Mexico, where his main occupation was to teach the native tribes to read and write.

From Quiz Belgium Before 1500 A.D.

Answer: Hoegaarden

All these villages and cities have given their name to a Belgian beer: Hoegaarden white beer, Affligem ale, Westmalle trappist ale and Brugge tripel (a blond Belgian ale). Only Hoegaarden is situated roughly between Leuven and Liège. Affligem is to the west of Brussels and Leuven, Westmalle is to the north of Leuven and Bruges is near the North Sea.

From Quiz History of Belgium

Answer: The Netherlands

At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, Belgium (The 'Southern' Netherlands) and the 'Northern' Netherlands were united to form one State. This new state was ruled by King William I from Holland. After a series of incidents, revolution erupted in Brussels in 1830.

From Quiz A Short History of Belgium

Answer: Luxembourg & Luxemburg & the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg

One part of Luxembourg became Belgian. The other got independence. Still today Luxembourg is sometimes called the 'Tenth Province' of Belgium. Traditionally Belgium and Luxembourg used the same currency unit.

From Quiz The History of Brussels

Answer: Opera house

On August 25, 1830, amid growing tensions between Catholics in what is now Belgium and Protestants in the Netherlands, actors at La Monnaie were performing "La Muette de Portici", a play previously banned because it was believed to be so patriotic that it would cause secessionist riots in Belgium. That is exactly what happened and rioters took to the streets in protest of the Netherlands government, of which Belgium and Brussels were part of. Belgians had strongly opposed the reign of William I who clearly favored the Netherlands over Brussels. Belgians also felt unrepresented in the Netherlands' lower house because the north, while having fewer people, had far more elected officials. The revolution ended in July of 1831 with an independent Belgium led by King Leopold I.

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