Sous le souffle de Paris : les Pays-Bas autrichiens au lendemain du 14 juillet 1789

Abstract

Simply judging by the press at that time, the events in France in 1789 aroused significant interest in the Austrian Netherlands. The progress towards the States-General and its consequences have aroused not only the curiosity of certain intellectuals, but also their enthusiasm. The storming of the Bastille caused less of a stir. The archives of the Secret Committee, constituted within the general Government Council, allowed the evolution of public opinion in various parts of the country to be followed almost on a daily basis. They also threw a new light on the central government's official and unofficial information channels. In the cities, the high price of grain and the exacerbation of social différences pushed some to dream of imitating the Parisians. In more modest towns and villages, feelings fluctuated between passion and indifference, though the sense of material interests always prevailed. The border regions were naturally the most exposed. Local authorities were worried about the introduction of cockades or the arrival of a crowd of noisy Frenchmen and women, who in fact turned out to be in peaceful search of the food that was lacking in their own towns and villages. Unfounded rumours that refugees had been temporarily forced onto the roads also circulated. It was the local peasants and monks from the surrounding areas who feared the violence and pillaging of the hordes of vagabonds supposedly flooding in from Paris. However, the fever from France was quickly abated. The difficulties particular to the country came to the forefront. As a French diplomat predicted, "Revolution in the Netherlands is imminent".