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BELFORT 470 BELGIUM and Down, at the head of which Belfast (q. V.) is situated. BELFORT, a small fortified town and territory of France, in the former de- partment of Haut Rhin, on the Sav- oureuse; well built, with an ancient castle and a fine parish church. In the Franco-Prussian war it capitulated to the Germans only after an investment of more than three months' duration (1870-1871). It has since been con- verted into one of the most formidable fortresses. Belfort, with the district im- mediately surrounding it, is the only part of the department of Haut Rhin which remained to France on the cession of Alsace to Germany. Pop. about 40,000. BELFRY, that part of a steeple in which a bell is hung, the campanile; a room in a tower, a cupola or turret in which a bell is, or may be, hung. Also, in the Middle Ages, a tower erected by besiegers to overlook a place besiegfed. BELG.ffi, the name given by Caesar to the warlike tribes which in his time occupied that one of the great divisions of Gallia bounded on the N. by the Rhine, on the W. by the ocean, on the S. by the Sequana (Seine) and Matrona (Marne), and on the E. by the territory of the Treviri. Their country was level, con- taining no mountains of any height, ex- cept the Vosges in the S. The name seems to have originally designated sev- eral powerful tribes inhabiting the basin of the Seine, and to have been afterward used by Caesar as a general appellation for all the peoples N. of that river. BELGIUM, a kingdom of western Europe, consisting of the former Spanish Netherlands. It is situated on the North Sea, between France, Prussia, and Hol- land. It has an area of 11,373 square miles, and is divided into the following provinces: Antwerp, Brabant, East Flanders, West Flanders, Luxembourg, Liege, Namur, Limbourg, and Hainaut. The country is one of the most densely populated in Europe, having about 650 inhabitants to the square mile. The population is made up chiefly of Flemish and Walloons (of French descent) ; the two languages are officially recognized now, but, although the Flemish language prevails in half of the provinces, French is understood everywhere, and prevails socially. As to religion, the Roman Catholics predominate. Brussels is the capital of the kingdom. The trade of Belgium prior to the war was prosperous, owing largely to its excellent harbors and the natural productions of the country. Coal, iron, machinery, linen and woolen goods, glass, lace, etc., were the prin- cipal articles of export; grain, cattle, and raw material, of import. The king- dom was a part of the old Roman and Frankish dominions; and, since the Mid- dle Ages, has been ruled successively by the Dukes of Burgundy, the Kings of Spain, and the House of Austria. In 1794 the country was ceded by Austria to France; but in 1814 Belgium was united with Holland into the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1830, however, the whole country revolted against a union with the Dutch, and the following year Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg was elected King of the Belgians. Since that time Belgium's history has been quiet and prosperous. On April 11, 1900, King Leopold presented to the Belgian nation the whole of his vast tracts of real estate, scattered throughout the kingdom, for the purpose of providing ornamental parks for the public. The Kongo Free State is under the personal sovereignty of the King of the Belgians. Leopold died in 1909. Albert, second son of his brother, Philippe Eugene, Count of Flanders, succeeded to the throne. See Albert I.; World War. Politically, Belgium is a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy. The executive power is vested in the King (acting through eight responsible ministers), the legislative power jointly in King, Senate, and Chamber of Depu- ties. The new government that came into power in 1919 declared universal suf- frage at the age of 21 years — one man, one vote. Before the European War the priests had four votes, and the landown- ers and nobles as many as they had es- tates in different parts of the kingdom. This had enabled the Catholic party to hold power forty years. The country is divided into two sec- tions; the N. is chiefly agricultural, and the S. industrial. Full religious liberty prevails, and grants are made from the National treasury to all denominations. Economic Conditions. — In spite of the losses and suffering during the World War, economic conditions in Belgium at its close were more favorable than those of other countries of Europe. The Ger- man Government, while it was in control, anticipating the annexation of Belgium, if the war went in favor of Germany, was careful to maintain the industrial plants and railroads practically intact. Only such machinery was removed from the factories as would be immediately use- ful in Germany. By the terms of the Treaty of Peace, the greater part of the machinery taken away was returned by Germany and was installed as rapidly as possible in Belgian plants, which were thus enabled to turn to operation. As a i