History timeline of Hainaut


History of the province

Hainaut was inhabited by the Germanic Nervians in the Old Ages, who Julius Cæsar subjected to the Roman Empire in the first century BC. Caesar noted that the Belg people were very strong. Later on, Hainaut part of the Francian Empire and Lorraine. In the 10th century, the county contained most of the area of the present-day province. It was twice untied with Flanders, first by count Boldwin VI (I in Hainault), who could keep it for the period of his reign (1051-1071), and a second time by Boldwin VIII (V in Hainault). The last unification lasted until 1280. From 1299, John of Avesnes also ruled over Holland and Zeeland. In 1433, duchess Jacoba had to cede her inheritance to Philip III le Bon (the Good) of Bourgondy. In the 16th and 17th century, Hainaut was one the Seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries.

Hainaut, a medieval Countship


The DeCuir family was well established in Macon, Hainaut by the time that Albert deCuire left for Louisiana. We have record of members of the DeCuir family living there as early as 1535. Before that, records of the DeCuir family are hard to find. Certainly more answers lie in the archives in Belgium on the DeCuir family before that time.
The County of Hainaut was never a state of modern day France - sometimes an independent Province of its own - but at times under the regime of various kingdoms. What is today the province of Hainaut in Belgium is actually much smaller than the country that was once known as Hainaut.

We present an historical time line of the Hainaut to show what our ancestors lived through, and were possibly a part of, during ancient times. Keep in mind that Belgium has been in the path of many armies and was the site of many battles over the centuries as the country is located between the powerful and feuding forces of both ancient and modern
Europe:

Timeline of history of Hainaut

YEAR
BC Paleotithique ancient sites of human settlement through the Bronze, then Iron Ages.
57 Roman Era - sites still remain in Hainaut
256 Invasion of the Franks begins in area
406 Invasion of the Vandals in Hainaut area
720 Hainaut first noted on ancient documents
911 First Count of Hainaut takes reign
1299 Hainaut Joined with Holland
1305 Flanders-Brabant Conflict
middle ages - practically Independent
1486 Principality of Chimay established
1513 Anglos (English) rule city of Tournai
1500s Hainaut under French regime
1518 1st French war
1536 3rd French war until 1538.
1537 Southern Hainaut is ravaged by French
1542 4th French war until 1544
1551 5th French war until 1556
1555 Hainaut under Spanish through 1700
1568 Open revolt against Spain until 1648
1579 Joins Catholic Union of Arras, peace
1661 King Louis XIV annexes parts of what is now Germany - area Albert later moved
1673 Albert deCuire, the oldest engagee to come to Louisiana, is born at Macon near Chimay
1678 King Louis XIV of France invades Hainaut
1697 King Louis XIV renounces claim of most of Hainaut in treaty
1701 War of succession with Spain begins, ends in 1714
1714 Peace after departure of King Louis XIV
1714 County of Hainaut allegiance to Austrian rule
1720 Hainaut Colonists departs for Louisiana. Hainaut independent County
1740 War of succession of Austria until 1748
1803 Hainaut under French rule for 2nd time - Napolean's armies invade
1814 Hainaut joined with Holland
1830 Hainaut incorporated into the Kingdom of Belgium. (A small part into France) From hence forth known as the Province of Hainaut
1918 Battle of Mons, duing WWI, the capital of Hainaut
1944 Sept. 2 - 9:30am - American Army enters Belgium from France near Macon - freedom at the Hainaut border. List of soldiers includes Raymond Dauzat of Avoyelles, Louisiana, himself a descendant of the Hainaut Colonists
1944 December - Famous Battle of the Bulge, fought one hour east of Macon at Bastogne
1995 DeCuir, DeCoux and Haussy family members return to Macon, Hainaut for first time since 1720 - 275th anniversary

This page hosted by Yahoo! GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page