Native Name: | |
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 |
Flag Alt: | Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, black) |
Flag Caption: | Flag[1] |
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 |
The Provisional Government (nl|Voorlopig Bewind; 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.
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.[2] [3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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.