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| Terminology | |
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The term Wallonia can mean slightly different things in different contexts. One of the three federal regions of Belgium is still constitutionally defined as the Walloon Region, but the region's government has renamed it Wallonia, and it is commonly called Wallonia.[2][3] Preceding April 1, 2010, when the renaming came into effect, Wallonia would sometimes refer to the territory governed by the Walloon Region, whereas Walloon Region referred specifically to the government. In practice, the difference between the different meanings is small, and what is meant is usually clear based on context.
The root of the word Wallonia, like the words Wales, Cornwall and Wallachia,[4] is the Germanic word Walha, meaning the strangers. Wallonia is named after the Walloons, the population of the Burgundian Netherlands speaking Romance languages. In Middle Dutch (and French), the term Walloons also included the French-speaking population of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège[5] or the whole population of the Romanic sprachraum within the medieval Low Countries.
[edit] Tags:French,German,Dutch,Walloon,French-speaking,Belgium,Liège,Netherlands,Edit,Federal Regions Of Belgium,Wales,Cornwall,Wallachia,Germanic,Walha,Walloons,Burgundian Netherlands,Romance Languages,Middle Dutch,Prince-bishopric Of Liège,Romanic,Sprachraum,Medieval,Low Countries,Constitution, | |
| History | |
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The Sequence of Saint Eulalia, the oldest surviving text written in what would become Old French, likely originated in or near Wallonia.[6]
Baptismal font of Renier de Huy, an example of Mosan art and of medieval Walloon brass working expertise.
Main article: History of Wallonia
Julius Caesar conquered Gaul in 57 BC. The Low Countries became part of the larger Gallia Belgica province which originally stretched from southwestern Germany to Normandy and Holland. The population of this territory was Celtic with a Germanic influence which was stronger in the north than in the south of the province. Gallia Belgica became progressively romanized. The ancestors of the Walloons became Gallo-Romans and were called the "Walha" by their Germanic neighbours. The "Walha" abandoned their Celtic dialects and started to speak Vulgar Latin.[7]
The Merovingians gradually gained control of the region during the 5th century, under Clovis. Due to the fragmentation of the former Roman Empire, Vulgar Latin regionally developed along different lines and evolved into several langue d'oïl dialects, which in Wallonia became Picard, Walloon and Lorrain.[7] The oldest surviving text written in a langue d'oïl, the Sequence of Saint Eulalia, has characteristics of these three languages and was likely written in or very near to what is now Wallonia around 880 AD.[6] From the 4th to the 7th century, the Franks established several settlements, probably mostly in the north of the province where the romanization was less advanced and some Germanic trace was still present. The language border began to crystallize between 700 under the reign of the Merovingians and Carolingians and around 1000 after the Ottonian Renaissance.[8] French-speaking cities, with Liège as the largest one, appeared along the Meuse river and Gallo-Roman cities such as Tongeren, Maastricht and Aachen became Germanized.
The Lion's Mound commemorates the Battle of Waterloo, fought in present-day Wallonia. Belgium was annexed by the Netherlands following the Napoleonic Wars.
The Carolingian dynasty dethroned the Merovingians in the 8th century. In 843, the Treaty of Verdun gave the territory of present-day Wallonia to Middle Francia, which would shortly fragment, with the region passing to Lotharingia. On Lotharingia's breakup in 959, the present-day territory of Belgium became part of Lower Lotharingia, which then fragmented into rival principalities and duchies by 1190. Literary Latin, which was taught in schools, lost its hegemony during the 13th century and was replaced by old French.[7]
In the 15th century, the Dukes of Burgundy took over the Low Countries. The death of Charles the Bold in 1477 raised the issue of succession, and the Liégeois took advantage of this to regain some of their autonomy.[7] From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the Low Countries were governed successively by the Habsburg dynasty of Spain (from the early 16th century until 1713-14) and later by Austria (until 1794). This territory was enlarged in 1521-22 when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor gained the Tournai region from France.[7]
Present-day Belgium was conquered in 1795 by the French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was annexed to the Republic, which later became the Napoleonic Empire. After the Battle of Waterloo, Wallonia became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under King William of Orange.[7] The Walloons played an active part in the Belgian Revolution in 1830. The Provisional Government of Belgium proclaimed Belgium's independence and held elections for the National Congress.[7]
[edit] Tags:France,Germany,Sequence Of Saint Eulalia,Old French,Baptismal Font,Renier De Huy,Mosan Art,History Of Wallonia,Julius Caesar,Gaul,Gallia Belgica,Province,Celtic,Romanized,Gallo-romans,Celtic Dialects,Vulgar Latin,Merovingians,Clovis,Roman Empire,Langue D'oïl,Picard,Lorrain,Ad,Franks,Carolingians,Ottonian Renaissance,Meuse River,Tongeren,Maastricht,Aachen,Lion's Mound,Battle Of Waterloo,Napoleonic Wars,Carolingian Dynasty,Treaty Of Verdun,Middle Francia,Lotharingia,Lower Lotharingia,Latin,Dukes Of Burgundy,Charles The Bold,Liégeois,Habsburg,Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor,Tournai,French Republic,French Revolutionary Wars,Annexed,Napoleonic Empire,Kingdom Of The Netherlands,William Of Orange,Belgian Revolution,Provisional Government Of Belgium,National Congress,Meuse, | |
| Industrial revolution | |
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The boat lifts on the old Canal du Centre were first opened in 1888, and they are now a World Heritage Site.
Mons fusillade on 17 April 1893.
In the 19th century, the area began to industrialize, and Wallonia was the first fully industrialized area in continental Europe.[9] This brought the region great economic prosperity, which was not mirrored in poorer Flanders and the result was a large amount of Flemish immigration to Wallonia. Belgium was divided into two divergent communities. On the one hand, the very catholic Flemish society was characterized by an economy centered on agriculture, and, on the other hand, Wallonia was the center of the continental European industrial revolution where liberal and socialist movements were rapidly emerging.[10] Major strikes and general strikes took place in Wallonia, including the Walloon jacquerie of 1886, the Belgian general strike of 1893, 1886, 1893, 1902, 1913 (for universal suffrage), 1932 (depicted in Misère au Borinage), and 1936, the general strike against Leopold III of Belgium (1950), and the 1960-1961 Winter General Strike for autonomy for Wallonia.
The profitability of the heavy industries to which Wallonia owed its prosperity started declining in the first half of the 20th century, and the center of industrial activity shifted north to Flanders. Wallonia would be surpassed in economic development by Flanders only in the 1960s, when industrial production in the northern part of Belgium would catch up with Wallonia. The loss of prosperity caused social unrest, and Wallonia sought greater autonomy in order to address its economic problems. In the wake of the 1960-1961 Winter General Strike, the State reform in Belgium process got under way. This reform started partly with the linguistic laws of 1962-63, which defined the four language areas within the constitution. But the strikes of 1960 which took place in Wallonia more than in Flanders are not principally linked with the four language areas nor with the Communities but with the Regions. In 1968, the conflict between the communities burst out. The French speakers were driven out of the Catholic University of Leuven amid shouts of "Walen buiten!" ("Walloons out!").[10] This led to State reform in Belgium, which resulted in the creation of the Walloon Region and the French Community, which have considerable autonomy.
[edit] Tags:Flanders,Boat Lifts On The Old Canal Du Centre,World Heritage Site,Industrialized,Continental Europe,Flemish Immigration To Wallonia,General Strikes,Walloon Jacquerie Of 1886,Belgian General Strike Of 1893,Universal Suffrage,Misère Au Borinage,General Strike Against Leopold Iii Of Belgium,1960-1961 Winter General Strike,State Reform In Belgium,Linguistic Laws Of 1962-63,Catholic University Of Leuven,French Community,Borinage, | |
| Geography | |
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Coalmining and steelmaking industrial areas in Belgium. The sillon industriel is the blue area along the Meuse and Sambre.
The natural regions of Belgium
Wallonia is landlocked, with an area of 16,844 km², or 55% of the total area of Belgium. The Sambre and Meuse valley, from Liège (70 m) to Charleroi (120 m) is an entrenched river in a fault line which separates Middle Belgium (elevation 100–200 m) and High Belgium (200–700 m). This fault line corresponds to a part of the southern coast of the late London-Brabant Massif. The valley, along with Haine and Vesdre valleys form the sillon industriel, the historical centre of the Belgian coalmining and steelmaking industry, and is also called the Walloon industrial backbone. Due to their long industrial historic record, several segments of the valley have received specific names: Borinage, around Mons, le Centre, around La Louvière, the Pays noir, around Charleroi and the Basse-Sambre, near Namur.
To the north of the Sambre and Meuse valley lies the Central Belgian plateau, which is characterized by intensive agriculture. The Walloon part of this plateau is traditionally divided into several regions: Walloon Brabant around Nivelles, Western Hainaut (French: Wallonie picarde, around Tournai), and Hesbaye around Waremme. South of the sillon industriel, the land is more rugged and is characterized by more extensive farming. It is traditionally divided into the regions of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, Condroz, Fagne-Famenne, the Ardennes and Land of Herve, as well as the Belgian Lorraine around Arlon and Virton. Dividing it into Condroz, Famenne, Calestienne, Ardennes (including Thiérache), and Belgian Lorraine (which includes the Gaume) is more reflective of the physical geography. The larger region, the Ardennes, is a thickly forested plateau with caves and small gorges. It is host to much of Belgium's wildlife but little agricultural capacity. This area extends westward into France and eastward to the Eifel in Germany via the High Fens plateau, on which the Signal de Botrange forms the highest point in Belgium at 694 metres (2,277 ft).
View of Charleroi
[edit] Tags:Coal,Namur,Charleroi,Sambre And Meuse Valley,Ardennes,Sillon Industriel,Sambre, | |
| Subdivisions | |
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Administratively, Wallonia consists of the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg, and Namur, respectively numbered one to five on the map at right. It is also divided into 20 administrative arrondissements and 262 municipalities.
View of Liège with the Meuse river
View Of Namur with the Sambre
[edit] Tags:Luxembourg, | |
| Metropolitan areas | |
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The largest cities in Wallonia. [11]
Charleroi (204,146)
Liège (195,790)
Namur (110,428)
Mons (92,529)
La Louvière (78,414)
Tournai (69,792)
Seraing (63,500)
Verviers (56,596)
Mouscron (55,687)
Herstal (38,969)
Braine-l'Alleud (38,748)
Châtelet (36,131)
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| Science and technology | |
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Georges Lemaître is credited with proposing the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe in 1927.
Contributions to the development of science and technology have appeared since the beginning of the country's history. Baptismal font of Renier de Huy, is not the only example of medieval Walloon working expertise. An indication of that : the words "houille" (coal)[12] or "houilleur" (coal miner) or "grisou" (damp) were coined in Wallonia and are from walloon origin.
The economically important very deep coal mining in the course of the First Industrial Revolution has required highly reputed specialized studies for mining engineers. But that was already the case before the Industrial Revolution, with an engineer as Rennequin Sualem for instance.
Engineer Zenobe Gramme invented the Gramme dynamo, the first generator to produce power on a commercial scale for industry. Chemist Ernest Solvay gave his name to the Solvay process for production of soda ash, important chemical for many industrial uses. Ernest Solvay also acted as a major philanthropist and gave its name to the Solvay Institute of Sociology, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and the International Solvay Institutes for Physics and Chemistry which are now part of the Université Libre de Bruxelles. In 1911, he started a series of conferences, the Solvay Conferences on Physics and Chemistry, which have had a deep impact on the evolution of quantum physics and chemistry.
Georges Lemaître of the Université Catholique de Louvain is credited with proposing the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe in 1927.
Three Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine were awarded to Walloons: Jules Bordet (Université Libre de Bruxelles) in 1919, Albert Claude (Université Libre de Bruxelles) together with Christian De Duve (Université Catholique de Louvain) in 1974.
In the present day, Bureau Greisch has acquired an international reputation as consulting engineer and architect in the fields of structures, civil engineering and buildings, including the Millau Viaduct in France.
[edit] Tags:Country, | |
| Economy | |
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Steelmaking along the Meuse River at Ougrée, near Liège, on the sillon industriel
Wallonia is rich in iron and coal, and these resources and related industries have played an important role in its history. In ancient times, the Sambre and Meuse valley was an important industrial area in the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Wallonia became a center for brass working and bronze working, with Huy, Dinant and Chimay being important regional centers. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the iron masters of Liège developed a method of refining iron ore by the use of a blast furnace, called the Walloon Method. There were also a few coal mines around Charleroi and the Borinage during this period, but their output was small, and was principally consumed as a fuel by various industries such as the important glass making industry that sprang up in the Charleroi basin during the 14th century.[13]
In the 19th century, the area began to industrialize, mainly the so-called sillon industriel. It was the first fully industrialized area in continental Europe,[9] and Wallonia was the second industrial power in the world, in proportion to its population and its territory, after the United Kingdom.[14] The sole industrial centre in Belgium outside the collieries and blast furnaces of Wallonia was the historic cloth making town of Ghent.[15]
The two World wars curbed the continuous expansion that Wallonia had enjoyed up till that time. Towards the end of the 1950s, things began to change dramatically. The factories of Wallonia were by then antiquated, the coal was running out and the cost of extracting coal was constantly rising. It was the end of an era, and Wallonia has been making efforts to redefine itself. The restoration of economical development is high on the political agenda, and the government is encouraging development of industries, notably in cutting edge technology and in business parks.[16] The economy is improving,[17] but Wallonia is not yet at the level of Flanders and is still suffering many difficulties.
The word spa comes from the healing hot springs in the town of Spa in the Ardennes. Tourism is an important part of the economy of Wallonia.[18]
The current Walloon economy is relatively diversified, although certain areas (especially around Charleroi and Liège) are still suffering from the steel industry crisis, with a high unemployment rate of up to 30% in some regions. Nonetheless, Wallonia has some companies which are world leaders in their specialized fields, including glass production,[19] lime and limestone production,[20] cyclotrons[21] and aviation parts.[22] The south of Wallonia, bordering Luxembourg, benefits from its neighbour's economic prosperity, with many Belgians working on the other side of the border; they are often called frontaliers. The Ardennes area south of the Meuse River is a popular tourist destination for its nature and outdoor sports, in addition to its cultural heritage, with places such as Bastogne, Dinant, Durbuy, and the famous hot springs of Spa.
[edit] Tags:Iron, | |
| Politics and government | |
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Rudy Demotte is the current Minister-President of the Walloon Region and the Minister-President of the French Community.
Main article: Politics of Wallonia
Wallonia has its own powers and doesn't share them with the other Regions or Communities (except with the Community Wallonia-Brussels but not in the framework of the Belgian constitution, only on the basis of agreements between the Walloon Region and this French Community). As the other Federating units of Belgium, it is entitled to pursue its own foreign policy including the signing of treaties. Following Philippe Suinen, it is an exception among federal States, and, as pointed out recently by Michel Quévit professor emeritus at the Université Catholique de Louvain, a quasi State:[23] "From 1831, the year of Belgium's independence, until the federalization of the country in 1970, Wallonia has increasingly asserted itself as a region in its own right."[24] There is almost no possible veto of the Belgian State (except in very rare situations), and, even, Belgium, in many domains, is not able to sign an international treaty without the agreement of the Walloon Parliament. There is no legal hierarchy in the structure of the Belgian federal syste and no hierarchy between federal and regional authorities. For this reason, Belgium has many aspects of a confederation.[25]
The Walloon Parliament in Namur (in pink), at a symbolic place at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers. Two-thirds of the population of Wallonia lives along the Sambre and Meuse valley.
The directly elected Walloon Parliament was created in June 1995, replacing the Conseil régional wallon (Regional Council of Wallonia). The first Council sat on 15 October 1980 and was composed of members of the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives and the Belgian Senate elected in Wallonia.
Since 23 April 1993, Belgium has been a federal state made up of Regions and communities.
Wallonia has a parliament (one chamber with 75 members elected for five years by direct universal suffrage) and a government responsible in front of the parliament. Its parliament exercises two functions:
It discusses and passes decrees, and they can take initiatives to draw them up. After this, decrees are sanctioned and promulgated by the Walloon government.
It controls the Walloon government. Control is exercised via the vote.
It ratifies the international treaties linked to his powers.
The composition of the parliament for the 2009-2014 legislature is as follows:
Parti Socialiste (socialist party PS): 29
Mouvement Réformateur (liberal democrats, center right MR): 19
Ecolo (green party): 14
Centre Démocrate Humaniste (former Christian party: CDh): 13
There are no more representatives of the Front national ("nationalist" party and fascist party) in the Walloon Parliament.
The Walloon Government is elected by a political majority in Parliament. The government numbers nine members with the president. Each member is called a Walloon minister.
The head of the government, called Minister-President, is Rudy Demotte, member of the Parti Socialiste (PS).
The coalition government for the future legislature is (as of 16 July 2009) a center left coalition PS-Ecolo-CDh with the same "Minister President" but other ministers, Paul Furlan, Jean-Marc Nollet, Philippe Henry, a woman Eliane Tillieux and old ministers Jean-Claude Marcourt, André Antoine. The chairman of the Parliament is a woman Êmily Hoyos.
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| Symbols | |
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The first appearance of the French word Wallonie as a reference to the romance world as opposed to Germany is said to date from 1842.[26] Two years later, it was first used to refer to the romance part of the young country of Belgium.[27] In 1886, the writer and walloon militant Albert Mockel, first used the word with a political meaning of cultural and regional affirmation,[28] in opposition with the word Flanders used by the Flemish Movement. The word had previously appeared in German and Latin as early as the 17th century.[29]
The rising of a Walloon identity led the Walloon Movement to choose different symbols representing Wallonia. The main symbol is the "bold rooster" (French: coq hardi), also named "Walloon rooster" (French: coq wallon, Walloon: cok walon), which is widely used, particularly on arms and flags. The rooster was chosen as an emblem by the Walloon Assembly on 20 April 1913, and designed by Pierre Paulus on 3 July 1913.[30] The Flag of Wallonia features the red rooster on a yellow background.
An anthem, Le Chant des Wallons (English: The Walloons' Song), written by Theophile Bovy in 1900 Tags:Flag,Le Chant Des Wallons, | |
z³ote monety |