1789 in Belgium

Events in the year 1789 in the Austrian Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège (predecessor states of modern Belgium).

Habsburg Netherlands

 * Monarch – Joseph II


 * Governor General – Maria Christina of Austria-Lorraine with Albert Casimir of Saxony


 * Minister Plenipotentiary – Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff

Prince-Bishopric of Liège

 * Prince-Bishop – César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck

Events

 * April
 * 29 April – Joseph II's government in Brussels issues a decree establishing rural representation in the Third Estate of the States of Brabant and abolishing their right to veto taxes.


 * May
 * 8 May – Council of Brabant refuses to register the decree abolishing the veto of the Third Estate in the States of Brabant.


 * June
 * 6 June – Joseph II instructs his minister in Brussels to decree that ordinary taxes will henceforth no longer be subject to annual approval by the States of Brabant.
 * 18 June – In a government coup, Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff, Joseph II's minister in Brussels, decrees the abolition of the Council of Brabant, the States of Brabant, and the Joyous Entry.


 * August
 * 18 August – Beginning of Liège Revolution: democrats occupy the town hall
 * 26 August – César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck, prince-bishop of Liège, flees to Trier; Republic of Liège proclaimed.


 * September
 * 16 September – Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen de Franchimont: Declaration of Rights proclaimed at Franchimont Castle.


 * October
 * 24 October – Army of émigré volunteers invades the Austrian Netherlands; Manifesto of the People of Brabant read out in Hoogstraten.
 * 27 October – Battle of Turnhout (1789): government forces defeated by émigrés.


 * November
 * Prussian forces sent to quell Liège revolution occupy the city of Liège.


 * December
 * 12 December – Government of Joseph II, headed by Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff, evacuates Brussels; General Council of Government abolished.

Publications and performances

 * André Grétry
 * 2 March – Raoul Barbe-bleue (opera), Paris, Comédie-Italienne
 * 17 March – Aspasie (opera), Paris, Opéra

Births

 * May
 * 4 May – Alexandre Gendebien, government minister (died 1869)


 * April
 * 10 April – Princess Amélie Louise of Arenberg, noblewoman (died 1823)


 * October
 * 14 October – Constant van Crombrugghe, founder of the Josephites of Belgium (died 1865)