Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2018 July 30

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July 30

history of Spa

In 1772, Spa (now in Belgium) was in what state? Liège, Stavelot-Malmedy, Luxembourg, Limburg, Namur? (I want to make an item on this page more specific.)

While I'm up, was the name Belgium used for any purpose in that period? —Tamfang (talk) 00:45, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

The usual term during that period was the Austrian Netherlands... AnonMoos (talk) 02:14, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

According to that catalogue sales, Spa was in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle). The Prince-Bishopric was established at Tongeren. --Askedonty (talk) 06:37, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

Thank you. —Tamfang (talk) 23:53, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

The online edition of the OED, in an entry updated in December 2015, says the name Belgium, derived from the Classical Latin name for the land of the Belgae, was revived in several European languages in the 16th century to mean the southern part of the Low Countries, and again at the time of the French Revolution. It has citations from 1586, 1614 and 1797. It also records the less common form Belgia. Interestingly, the 2nd edition of the OED (1989) gives the word a much broader definition: "used loosely as an appellation for Low Germany or the Netherlands". It has two citations:

1629 "Germany is divided into the higher and the lower; the latter is called Belgium."

1709 "A neat and large Map of Modern Belgium, or Lower Germany."

I thought they never suppressed definitions or evidence once published, but it seems they do. Perhaps I should be checking the online edition against my print copy more often. --Antiquary (talk) 09:44, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

Anonmoos and Askedonty's terms are confirmed by contemporary maps but the only map I could find mentioning Belgii Regii was from 1720. Maybe it was less common, or fell in and out of favour? 70.67.222.124 (talk) 18:05, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

• 1780 French-language map, showing Prince-Bishopric of Liège (but using Pays bas meridionale (southern Netherlands) for the region).
• 1780 Italian-language map, using the term Paesi Bassi Austriaci (Austrian Netherlands).
• 1789 English-language map, using "Austrian Possessions in the Netherlands or Low Countries" and "Principality of Liege".
• 1780 German-language map, Der Burgundische Kreis oder die Oestreichischen Niederlande.