The French period (1794 - 1815)
In 1792 the troops of the French republic managed to conquer the Southern Netherlands and Liège, but at the start of 1793 the Austrians reoccupied the country.
A new French military campaign in 1794 put an end to Austrian rule once and for all. France annexed the Southern Netherlands and Liège. The newly integrated territories were imposed the same republican institutions. When Napoleon came to power, Belgium became part of the French empire. Napoleon implemented a wide ranging framework of civil law, which is known as the Code Napoléon. This later became the basis of civil law in Belgium.
During the French period Belgian industry took off. Steam engines and machines were smuggled into Belgium and British immigrants erected factories. Wallonia became the most industrialized region on the continent of Europe. Ghent was the only industrial city in Flanders. The port of Antwerp benefited from the French occupation as the Dutch blockade of the Scheldt was lifted.
The French governement imposed military service on all young males. So many Belgians were forced to fight in the Napoleonic wars. During his reign all political freedom was suspended. In Flanders, use of the Dutch language for any purpose was supressed and the press barred from using it.
The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 put an end to French rule.
