The Convention of The Hague and the Constitutional Debates in the Estates of Flanders and Brabant, 1790-1794

Following the Brabant Revolution and the declaration of independence of the Southern Netherlands, Vienna made a series of constitutional assurances to the rebels while at the same time preparing to recover the region by force. In December 1790, these promises culminated in the Convention of The Hague, in which Emperor Leopold II – under allied pressure – pledged to restore the ancient constitutions of the Southern Netherlands, which led to constitutional debates among the rebellious provinces. This article examines why the imperial commitments did not placate the estates of the leading provinc... Mehr ...