Kleppelkrich
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The Peasants' War (french: Guerre des Paysans, nl, Boerenkrijg, german: Klöppelkrieg, lb, Klëppelkrich) was a
peasant revolt This is a chronological list of conflicts in which peasants played a significant role. Background The history of peasant wars spans over two thousand years. A variety of factors fueled the emergence of the peasant revolt phenomenon, including: ...
in 1798 against the
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
occupiers of the
Southern Netherlands The Southern Netherlands, also called the Catholic Netherlands, were the parts of the Low Countries belonging to the Holy Roman Empire which were at first largely controlled by Habsburg Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1556–1714) and later by the A ...
, a region which now includes
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
,
Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
, and parts of
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. The French had
annexed Annexation (Latin ''ad'', to, and ''nexus'', joining), in international law, is the forcible acquisition of one state's territory by another state, usually following military occupation of the territory. It is generally held to be an illegal act ...
the region in 1795 and control of the region was officially
ceded The act of cession is the assignment of property to another entity. In international law it commonly refers to land transferred by treaty. Ballentine's Law Dictionary defines cession as "a surrender; a giving up; a relinquishment of jurisdictio ...
to the French after the
Treaty of Campo Formio The Treaty of Campo Formio (today Campoformido) was signed on 17 October 1797 (26 Vendémiaire VI) by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Philipp von Cobenzl as representatives of the French Republic and the Austrian monarchy, respectively. The treat ...
in 1797. The revolt is considered part of the
French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted French First Republic, France against Ki ...
.


Motivations for war

After the
Southern Netherlands The Southern Netherlands, also called the Catholic Netherlands, were the parts of the Low Countries belonging to the Holy Roman Empire which were at first largely controlled by Habsburg Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1556–1714) and later by the A ...
was annexed by France, the French Revolutionary, revolutionaries began to implement their policies regarding the Catholic Church. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy required that Priesthood in the Catholic Church, priests take an oath of allegiance to the state. Priests who refused such an oath (non-juring priests) were considered to be Enemy of the state, enemies of the state and could be removed from their positions and homes. Additionally, in early 1798, the French Council of Five Hundred passed a law requiring Conscription in France, compulsory military service. This law ordered the conscription of men between the ages of 20 and 25 in all French territories. General conscription was an innovation and was met with anger by the men who were forced into service.


By region


Flanders

The majority of the conflict during the Peasants' War occurred in Flanders (Lys (department), Lys and Escaut (department), Scheldt départements) and Brabant (Deux-Nèthes and Dyle (department), Dyle départements). Referred to as the ''Boerenkrijg'', it is referenced by some historians as a Belgian national revolt, and an indication of a desire for independence by Belgium. In Flanders the revolt was somewhat organized, with the people seeking aid from foreign nations such as United kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Prussia. The revolution began on 12 October 1798, with peasants taking up arms against the French in Overmere. Initially the rebellion was somewhat successful. However, it was crushed less than two months later, on 5 December in Hasselt, because the peasants lacked proper arms and training. An estimated 5,000–10,000 people were killed during the uprising. Additionally, 170 leaders of the rebellion were Capital punishment, executed.Orts 1863, p. 211


Luxembourg

In Luxembourg (Forêts département), the revolt was called ''Klëppelkrich''. This revolt quickly spread, consuming most of West Eifel.Kreins (2003), p. 66 The primary Combatant, combatants in Luxembourg were the peasantry. The Middle class, middle and Upper class, upper classes were not driven to revolt, as the anti-clericalism and the modernisation brought by the French Revolution were somewhat beneficial to them. Lacking both financial support from the middle classes, and proper military training, the peasants were quickly put down by the French Military occupation, occupation force. Ninety-four Insurgency, insurgents were Trial (law), tried; of these, 42 were executed.


In later culture

* ''De Boerenkrijg'': an 1853 novel by Hendrik Conscience * Episodes of the war were depicted by the 19th century Belgian artist and sculptor Constantin Meunier. The war has been romanticized in some cases as a proper Belgian revolution, as it was a major uprising fighting for independence from external rule.


See also

* Brabant Revolution * Siege of Malta (1798–1800), Siege of Malta, which began as a peasant uprising against French rule in 1798


Explanatory notes


References


Further reading

* * * . *


External links

* {{Authority control 1798 in France 1798 in the Southern Netherlands 18th century in Luxembourg 18th-century rebellions Belgian nationalism Berlare Campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars Conflicts in 1798 History of the Eifel Revolts involving Flanders Social class in Luxembourg Social history of Belgium