Chapter I: Introduction: 1

PREFATORY NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION 7

CHAPTER

I. THE PERIOD OF FORMATION 8

II. THE PERIOD OF FEUDALISM 17

III. THE RISE AND INFLUENCE OF THE COMMUNES 36

IV. THE POLITICS AND STRUGGLES OF THE TIME OF THE
COMMUNES 55

V. THE UNION OF THE BELGIAN PRINCIPALITIES UNDER
THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY 74

VI. BELGIUM UNDER CHARLES V (1506-55) AND THE
BEGINNINGS OF THE HOUSE OF HAPSBURG 94

VII. PHILIP II AND THE REVOLT OF THE NETHERLANDS
AGAINST SPANISH RULE (1555-96) 101

VIII. THE REIGN OF THE ARCHDUKE ALBERT AND ISABELLA
(1598-1633) 120

IX. THE LAST YEARS OF THE SPANISH RULE (1633-1715) 125

X. BELGIUM UNDER THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIA (1713-89) 130

XI. BELGIUM UNDER FRENCH DOMINATION (1792-1814) 141

XII. THE DUTCH RULE AND THE BELGIAN REVOLT OF 1830 145

XIII. INDEPENDENT BELGIUM 163

XIV. THE GREAT TRIAL 170

BIBLIOGRAPHY 183

INDEX 187