Disciplines
History, Archaeology (100%)
Abstract
Several events can be classified as "migration" - events that motivate individuals or entire population groups to
leave their residences and places of work. The methods vary, depending on whether the decision is voluntary or
enforced, and whether war, politics or personal factors are decisively involved. For an analysis of such events the
18th century offers a wide range of examples - among them, waves of war refugees, economic emigration and
professional relocation. One profession that between 1714 and 1794 saw itself exposed to all of these factors was
that of the civil servants of the Austrian Netherlands.
During the entire period of Austrian rule in the Austrian Netherlands a reciprocal transfer between Vienna and
Brussels took place. At the beginning of the reign of Emperor Charles VI, a great many Belgian civil servants,
notably trained lawyers, came to Vienna. They contributed to the organization of regional institutions as well as of
the central administration in Vienna. An assignment in Vienna, apart from offering better pay, was also a stepping
stone towards a superior career back home. In the middle of the 18th century began a reverse flow from Vienna to
Brussels, notably by offsprings of successful civil-servant families, such as the Bartenstein and Van Swieten, who
saw opportunities of advancement in the Belgian administration. Under the governorship of Prince Karl Alexander
von Lothringen (1744-1780) the Austrian Netherlands achieved considerable economic growth and prosperity.
These sons of civil servants from Vienna thus found rewarding professional and marital opportunities there.
Following the French revolution, war broke out, and soldiers of the French Republic occupied the Austrian
Netherlands. After two restorations of the Austrian rule, a decisive battle was won by the French in June 1794 near
Fleurus. On August 2, 1794, Emperor Franz II dissolved the government of the Austrian Netherlands for good. By
then many refugees were waiting in the Rhineland and other parts of the Holy Roman Empire for a restoration of
the Austrian rule. When it became evident that this would not happen, many refugees moved on to settle in
Habsburg territories. As subjects of the Habsburg Emperor they were entitled to the protection and help of their
legitimate sovereign. Nevertheless, already in November 1794, moves into Vienna were stopped, and for civil
servants there were scarce livelihoods to be found outside the central administration.
The present study tries to trace the prospects open to these refugees in the various countries of the Monarchy -- the
conditions they encountered, how they started up anew or how they failed. A look into the 19th century reveals that
the second generation of Belgian emigrants melted into the cultural and political life of the Habsburg Monarchy.
These civil servants from the Austrian Netherlands blended into the evolving intellectual bourgeoisie and
participated actively in the formation of a new lifestyle and its values.