Belgium's History of Conquest and Occupation

Belgium has been conquered or occupied multiple times:

• Late 17th century: Occupied by France under Louis XIV.
• Mid–late 18th century: Ruled by Austria (Maria Theresa, Joseph II).
• 1795–1815: Annexed into the First French Empire under Napoleon.
• 1815–1830: Merged into the United Kingdom of the Netherlands after Napoleon's defeat.
• 1830: Gained independence following revolution.
• World Wars I & II: Invaded and occupied by Germany (1914–1918, 1940–1944).

Each period left lasting political, linguistic, and cultural imprints on modern Belgium.