Provisional Government of Belgium
{{Short description|Government from September to November 1830}}
{{Infobox former country
|native_name = {{native name|nl|Voorlopig Bewind}}
{{native name|fr|Gouvernement provisoire}}
|conventional_long_name = Belgium
|common_name = Belgium
|iso3166code = omit
|era =Late modern period
|government_type = Provisional government
|event_start = Formation
|date_start = 27 September
|year_start = 1830
|event_end = Proclamation of Belgian Constitution
|date_end = 25 February
|year_end = 1831
|p1 = United Kingdom of the Netherlands
|flag_p1 = Flag of the Netherlands.svg
|s1 = Belgium
|flag_s1 = Flag of Belgium.svg
|image_flag = Flag of Belgium (1830).svg
|flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, black)
|image_map = België - Belgique (1830-1839).png
|image_map_caption = Belgium before the Treaty of London (1839).
|capital = Brussels
|title_leader = Chairman
|leader1 = Charles Rogier
|year_leader1 = 1830–1831
|legislature = National Congress
}}
File:Gouvernement-provisoire-1830.jpg, Jolly, Rogier, de Potter, Van de Weyer, de Coppin de Falaën, de Mérode, Van der Linden, van der Linden d'Hooghvorst.]]
The Provisional Government ({{langx|nl|Voorlopig Bewind}}; {{langx|fr|Gouvernement provisoire}}) was the first iteration of the Belgian state, formed in the midst of the Belgian Revolution. After Dutch forces were expelled from Brussels on 27 September 1830, the recently created Revolutionary Committee transformed into the Provisional Government. The independence of Belgium as a state was officially declared on 4 October.
On 7 February 1831, the Constitution of Belgium was proclaimed and Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier was declared regent. With Belgium now under a constitutional monarchy, the Provisional Government was dissolved.
History
As the Belgian Revolution raged in Brussels, William I of the Netherlands attempted to forcefully end the revolt. An army under William's son, Prince Frederick, occupied the city on 23 September. A Revolutionary Committee was formed by the Belgians to organize a revolt against the occupying force, and the Dutch began their retreat on the 26th.{{cite web |title=The Rebellion |url=https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/history/belgium_from_1830/foundation_and_growth/uprising |website=belgium.be |access-date=20 September 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Marteel |first1=Stefaan |title=The Intellectual Origins of the Belgian Revolution |year= 2018 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |location=Cham |isbn=978-3319894263 |page=269 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cjBtDwAAQBAJ |access-date=20 September 2023}}
On 27 September the Revolutionary Committee assumed the title of Provisional Government, and two days later on 28 September it set up a Central Committee. This Central Committee proclaimed the independence of the "provinces of Belgium" on 4 October 1830.[http://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/history/belgium_from_1830/foundation_and_growth/provisional_government_and_national_congress/ The Provisional Government and the National Congress], belgium.be Afterwards, the term Provisional Government was increasingly used to refer to the Central Committee. Apart from the Central Committee, there also were Special Committees for War, Internal Affairs, Finance, Justice, Public Safety, and Diplomacy; each of these had distinct ramifications for the history of Belgium.{{cite web |last1=Al-Janabi |first1=Laith Muhammad Ibrahim |last2=Ahbabi |first2=Asmaa Hafez Ahmed Al |title=Belgian Provisional Government (1830–1831) |url=https://www.iasj.net/iasj/article/275655 |website=Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=2023}}
The Provisional Government exercised both executive and legislative power until 10 November 1830, when the National Congress met for the first time. On 12 November it formally returned its powers to the National Congress, which subsequently decided to entrust executive power to the Provisional Government. It was dissolved on 25 February 1831 after Erasme, Baron Surlet de Chokier was appointed Regent by the National Congress, beginning the modern Kingdom of Belgium.
Members of the Provisional Government
- Charles Rogier (chairman, member from 25 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Emmanuel, Baron van der Linden d'Hooghvorst (member from 24 September–12 November 1830)
- Félix, Count de Mérode (member from 26 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Alexandre Gendebien (member from 26 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Sylvain Van de Weyer (member from 26 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- André-Edouard Jolly (member from 24 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Feuillen, Baron de Coppin de Falaën (member from 24 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Joseph Van der Linden (member from 24 September 1830–25 February 1831)
- Louis de Potter (member from 28 September–13 November 1830)
- Jean Nicolay (member from 25 September–10 October 1830)
See also
References
{{reflist|25em}}
{{Belgian Revolution of 1830}}
{{Belgian governments}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Provisional Government Of Belgium}}
Category:Government of Belgium
Category:1830 establishments in Belgium