title: 1789 in Belgium
text: # 1789 in Belgium
  
  Events in the year 1789 in the Austrian Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège (predecessor states of modern Belgium).
  
  ## Incumbents
  
  ### Habsburg Netherlands
  
      Monarch – Joseph II
      Governor General – Maria Christina of Austria-Lorraine with Albert Casimir of Saxony
      Minister Plenipotentiary – Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff
  
  ### Prince-Bishopric of Liège
  
      Prince-Bishop – César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck
  
  ## Events
  
  ### April
  
  * 29 April – Joseph II's government in Brussels issues a decree establishing rural representation in the Third Estate of the States of Brabant and abolishing their right to veto taxes.
  
  ### May
  
  * 8 May – Council of Brabant refuses to register the decree abolishing the veto of the Third Estate in the States of Brabant.
  
  ### June
  
  * 6 June – Joseph II instructs his minister in Brussels to decree that ordinary taxes will henceforth no longer be subject to annual approval by the States of Brabant.
  * 18 June – In a government coup, Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff, Joseph II's minister in Brussels, decrees the abolition of the Council of Brabant, the States of Brabant, and the Joyous Entry.
  
  ### August
  
  * 18 August – Beginning of Liège Revolution: democrats occupy the town hall
  * 26 August – César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck, prince-bishop of Liège, flees to Trier; Republic of Liège proclaimed.
  
  ### September
  
  * 16 September – Déclaration des droits de l'homme et du citoyen de Franchimont: Declaration of Rights proclaimed at Franchimont Castle.
  
  ### October
  
  * 24 October – Army of émigré volunteers invades the Austrian Netherlands; Manifesto of the People of Brabant read out in Hoogstraten.
  * 27 October – Battle of Turnhout (1789): government forces defeated by émigrés.
  
  ### November
  
  * Prussian forces sent to quell Liège revolution occupy the city of Liège.
  
  ### December
  
  * 12 December – Government of Joseph II, headed by Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff, evacuates Brussels; General Council of Government abolished.
  
  ## Publications and performances
  
  * André Grétry
     * 2 March – Raoul Barbe-bleue (opera), Paris, Comédie-Italienne
     * 17 March – Aspasie (opera), Paris, Opéra
  
  ## Births
  
  ### May
  
  * 4 May – Alexandre Gendebien, government minister (died 1869)
  
  ### April
  
  * 10 April – Princess Amélie Louise of Arenberg, noblewoman (died 1823)
  
  ### October
  
  * 14 October – Constant van Crombrugghe, founder of the Josephites of Belgium (died 1865)
  