Post by Catsmate on Apr 4, 2022 14:55:29 GMT
Neutral Moresnet
It all started in the aftermath of the bloodshed of the Napoleonic Wars. Everyone1 met at the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) to ensure Peace In Our Time by drawing lines on maps and creating a Balance of Power2.
One of the borders to be decided upon was that between the newly created United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Prussia. This actually went pretty well with both countries agreeing on the majority of the territories, mainly as the borders generally followed older lines. However the small district of Moresnet proved troublesome.
It held what was then the only large zinc mine in continental Europe (zinc is vital to make brass, vital for ductile piping and vany other uses). The mine was at a place called Altenberg [German] or Vieille Montagne [French] and both the Netherlands and Prussian governments wanted it, or at least wanted the other not to have it.
The dispute dragged on into December of 1815 and Dutch and Prussian representatives met in nearby Aachen to finalise this aspect of the treaty (the the Battle of Waterloo and the actual treaty having been finalised the previous June). Negotiations continued until 26 June 1816 when a compromise was reached: the district of Moresnet would be split into three parts.
The Dutch absorbed the village of Moresnet itself (into the Province of Liège), the German speaking Prussian village of Moresnet3 (later renamed Neu-Moresnet) became part of the Prussian Rhine province. However the mine and village adjacent became a neutral territory, effectively an independent4 state, pending a future agreement.
The two powers forbade any military presence and established a joint administration or co-dominion.
With me so far? Good. Now, to quote from Wikipedia:
As can be seem it was a small place, little more than 3.5 square kilometres5, shaped roughly like a long, thin, triangle, though the base wasn't straight.
Due to the statelet's small size, administration was complicated.
The territory was governed by two royal commissioners, one from each neighbour (Netherlands/Belgium, Prussia/Germany) who were generally civil servants, with a municipal administration headed by a mayor appointed by the commissioners. There was later a small municipal council.
The legal system was French, using the Napoleonic civil and penal codes introduced during French rule. There was no court, however, and no local judges so Belgian and Prussian judges had to come in and decide cases, based on the Napoleonic laws.
In 1859 Neutral Moresnet was granted a greater measure of self-administration by the installation of a municipal council (of ten appointed members).
Life in Neutral Moresnet was utterly dominated by the Vieille Montagne mining company, major employer but also operated residences, most shops, and the only hospital and bank. The mine attracted many workers from the neighboring countries, increasing the population from 256 in 1815 to 2,275 in 1858 and 4,668 in 1914.
Most services, such as the mail, were shared between Belgium and Prussia (in a fashion similar to Andorra). There were five schools in the territory, and Prussian subjects could attend the schools in Prussian Moresnet.
The local taxes were negligible on residents (averaging less than one Franc in 1860) with taxes on the zinc mining being the main source of income.
Living in the territory had several other benefits.
There were no import tariffs from both neighbouring countries (hence low prices compared to just across the border) and no conscription (which attracted a lot of young men). However people from Neutral Moresnet were considered to be stateless.
And on the whole, that’s how it remained through the decades to come.
So far Neutral Moresnet is just one of those weird oddities of political geography, like the numerous enclaves of one state within another, the frequency of time changes driving across Arizona or the Haskell Free Library and Opera House.
But might there be a more interesting reason for this tiny, jointly administered statelet?
It does seem a lot of trouble for a zinc mine….
The company that operated it, Vieille Montagne (which curiously means ‘Old Mountain’, make of that what you may) later became part of Union Minière. Now that’s interesting (to collectors of weird trivia like me anyway).
Union Minière was actually called ‘Union Minière du Haut-Katanga’ and was an Anglo-Belgian mining company5 set up to exploit the vast mineral wealth of the Belgian Congo. It was created in 1906, just as the old "Congo Free State"6 was dying under international pressure.
Now this isn’t the place for a discussion of the weirdness of the Congo, that really needs a dedicated thread.
But what might have really been going on in Moresnet? A hiding place for something nasty brought back from Africa?
Or was something, found in the depths of Western Europe, being jointly investigated? Something that various states agreed was too dangerous, or just difficult, to move, or that needed isolation.
What horrors might be found in the depths of the mine?
By 1885 the zine was worked out, however the refinery facilities and smelters were in place so Vieille Montagne imported zinc ore from other sources and continued operations.
Which brings us to another layer of oddity in the form of the impressively bearded Dr. Wilhelm Molly, chief medical doctor at Vieille Montagne and a man with Ideas.
In 1885 he put forward plans to modernize this statelet.
He established the Neutral Moresnet Independence Movement and designed a flag (horizontal striped tricolour, black/white/blue).
The good doctor had two personal interests, philately and Esperanto, which he attempted to introduce.
He was such an ardent philatelist that he designed and printed his own Neutral Moresnet postage stamps. Unfortunately the idea didn’t catch on and the stamps failed miserably8 due to Belgian objections9.
Dr. Molly was an enthusiastic supporter of the then new and trendy artificial language Esperanto. He decided that Neutral Moresnet was to become the first Esperanto State in the world, named 'Amikejo': ‘the place of friendship’. Alas this failed also10.
Other planned improvements were more successful: an electrical power plant was constructed, public works projects were funded by the mine. A police force11 and fire brigade were established.
Thought it was still a den of various iniquities, especially after the gambling 'went legit' in 1903 when Europe's largest casino was opened12.
However a few years later the Great War came and ended the interesting history of this statelet.
But what happened to the horrors in the mine?
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
1. At least everyone who mattered.
2. Spoiler. It didn’t work.
3. Yes.....
4. But not too independent.
5. About half the size of the Phoenix Park or slightly larger than Central Park.
6. Which is still around as Umicore
7. Leopold’s little slave empire in Africa. It’s debated whether the actions of Leopold and his minions in the Congo constitute “genocide” in the strict sense. However between five and eight million people died under his rule.
8. Though if you're ever there grab a few, they're extremely valuable today.
9. Unlike those of the later Great Bitter Lake Association.
10. But not in a universe slightly to strawberry where the Great War was avoided and Esperanto thrived.
11. Previously there was one constable.
12. Belgium had closed theirs. However it didn't last as Kaiser Wilhelm II forced it's closure. This didn't stop teh gambling just forced it underground, sometime literally.
It all started in the aftermath of the bloodshed of the Napoleonic Wars. Everyone1 met at the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) to ensure Peace In Our Time by drawing lines on maps and creating a Balance of Power2.
One of the borders to be decided upon was that between the newly created United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Prussia. This actually went pretty well with both countries agreeing on the majority of the territories, mainly as the borders generally followed older lines. However the small district of Moresnet proved troublesome.
It held what was then the only large zinc mine in continental Europe (zinc is vital to make brass, vital for ductile piping and vany other uses). The mine was at a place called Altenberg [German] or Vieille Montagne [French] and both the Netherlands and Prussian governments wanted it, or at least wanted the other not to have it.
The dispute dragged on into December of 1815 and Dutch and Prussian representatives met in nearby Aachen to finalise this aspect of the treaty (the the Battle of Waterloo and the actual treaty having been finalised the previous June). Negotiations continued until 26 June 1816 when a compromise was reached: the district of Moresnet would be split into three parts.
The Dutch absorbed the village of Moresnet itself (into the Province of Liège), the German speaking Prussian village of Moresnet3 (later renamed Neu-Moresnet) became part of the Prussian Rhine province. However the mine and village adjacent became a neutral territory, effectively an independent4 state, pending a future agreement.
The two powers forbade any military presence and established a joint administration or co-dominion.
With me so far? Good. Now, to quote from Wikipedia:
Neutral Moresnet was a small Belgian–Prussian condominium in western Europe that existed from 1816 to 1920 and was administered jointly by the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (later Belgium, after its independence in 1830) and the Kingdom of Prussia.
It was about 1.5 km wide and nearly five ki9lometres long, with an area of 360 hectares.
After 1830, the territory's northernmost border point at Vaalserberg connected it to a quadripoint shared additionally with the Dutch Province of Limburg, the Prussian Rhine Province, and the Belgian Liège Province. Its former location is represented presently by the Three-Country Point, the meeting place of the borders of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
During the First World War, Neutral Moresnet was annexed by Germany, although the allies did not recognise the annexation. The armistice between France and Germany in November 1918 forced Germany to withdraw from Belgium and Neutral Moresnet. A year later, the Treaty of Versailles awarded Neutral Moresnet to Belgium, effective 10 January 1920, when the territory was annexed by Belgium to become the municipality of Kelmis.
During World War II, Kelmis and the area surrounding was again annexed by Germany and had its name reverted to Moresnet, but the territory was returned to Belgium during 1944.
It was about 1.5 km wide and nearly five ki9lometres long, with an area of 360 hectares.
After 1830, the territory's northernmost border point at Vaalserberg connected it to a quadripoint shared additionally with the Dutch Province of Limburg, the Prussian Rhine Province, and the Belgian Liège Province. Its former location is represented presently by the Three-Country Point, the meeting place of the borders of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
During the First World War, Neutral Moresnet was annexed by Germany, although the allies did not recognise the annexation. The armistice between France and Germany in November 1918 forced Germany to withdraw from Belgium and Neutral Moresnet. A year later, the Treaty of Versailles awarded Neutral Moresnet to Belgium, effective 10 January 1920, when the territory was annexed by Belgium to become the municipality of Kelmis.
During World War II, Kelmis and the area surrounding was again annexed by Germany and had its name reverted to Moresnet, but the territory was returned to Belgium during 1944.
Due to the statelet's small size, administration was complicated.
The territory was governed by two royal commissioners, one from each neighbour (Netherlands/Belgium, Prussia/Germany) who were generally civil servants, with a municipal administration headed by a mayor appointed by the commissioners. There was later a small municipal council.
The legal system was French, using the Napoleonic civil and penal codes introduced during French rule. There was no court, however, and no local judges so Belgian and Prussian judges had to come in and decide cases, based on the Napoleonic laws.
In 1859 Neutral Moresnet was granted a greater measure of self-administration by the installation of a municipal council (of ten appointed members).
Life in Neutral Moresnet was utterly dominated by the Vieille Montagne mining company, major employer but also operated residences, most shops, and the only hospital and bank. The mine attracted many workers from the neighboring countries, increasing the population from 256 in 1815 to 2,275 in 1858 and 4,668 in 1914.
- Though quite a number of the immigrants had other reasons for entering the territory.
Most services, such as the mail, were shared between Belgium and Prussia (in a fashion similar to Andorra). There were five schools in the territory, and Prussian subjects could attend the schools in Prussian Moresnet.
The local taxes were negligible on residents (averaging less than one Franc in 1860) with taxes on the zinc mining being the main source of income.
Living in the territory had several other benefits.
There were no import tariffs from both neighbouring countries (hence low prices compared to just across the border) and no conscription (which attracted a lot of young men). However people from Neutral Moresnet were considered to be stateless.
- The ability to avoid military service didn't last too long; the Dutch never introduced conscription but, Belgium began to conscript its citizens who had relocated to Moresnet in 1854 and Prussia in 1874.
And on the whole, that’s how it remained through the decades to come.
So far Neutral Moresnet is just one of those weird oddities of political geography, like the numerous enclaves of one state within another, the frequency of time changes driving across Arizona or the Haskell Free Library and Opera House.
But might there be a more interesting reason for this tiny, jointly administered statelet?
It does seem a lot of trouble for a zinc mine….
The company that operated it, Vieille Montagne (which curiously means ‘Old Mountain’, make of that what you may) later became part of Union Minière. Now that’s interesting (to collectors of weird trivia like me anyway).
Union Minière was actually called ‘Union Minière du Haut-Katanga’ and was an Anglo-Belgian mining company5 set up to exploit the vast mineral wealth of the Belgian Congo. It was created in 1906, just as the old "Congo Free State"6 was dying under international pressure.
Listen to the yell of Leopold's ghost, Burning in Hell for his hand-maimed host. Hear how the demons chuckle and yell, Cutting his hands off, down in Hell.
But what might have really been going on in Moresnet? A hiding place for something nasty brought back from Africa?
Or was something, found in the depths of Western Europe, being jointly investigated? Something that various states agreed was too dangerous, or just difficult, to move, or that needed isolation.
What horrors might be found in the depths of the mine?
By 1885 the zine was worked out, however the refinery facilities and smelters were in place so Vieille Montagne imported zinc ore from other sources and continued operations.
Which brings us to another layer of oddity in the form of the impressively bearded Dr. Wilhelm Molly, chief medical doctor at Vieille Montagne and a man with Ideas.
In 1885 he put forward plans to modernize this statelet.
He established the Neutral Moresnet Independence Movement and designed a flag (horizontal striped tricolour, black/white/blue).
The good doctor had two personal interests, philately and Esperanto, which he attempted to introduce.
He was such an ardent philatelist that he designed and printed his own Neutral Moresnet postage stamps. Unfortunately the idea didn’t catch on and the stamps failed miserably8 due to Belgian objections9.
Dr. Molly was an enthusiastic supporter of the then new and trendy artificial language Esperanto. He decided that Neutral Moresnet was to become the first Esperanto State in the world, named 'Amikejo': ‘the place of friendship’. Alas this failed also10.
Other planned improvements were more successful: an electrical power plant was constructed, public works projects were funded by the mine. A police force11 and fire brigade were established.
Thought it was still a den of various iniquities, especially after the gambling 'went legit' in 1903 when Europe's largest casino was opened12.
However a few years later the Great War came and ended the interesting history of this statelet.
But what happened to the horrors in the mine?
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
1. At least everyone who mattered.
2. Spoiler. It didn’t work.
3. Yes.....
4. But not too independent.
5. About half the size of the Phoenix Park or slightly larger than Central Park.
6. Which is still around as Umicore
7. Leopold’s little slave empire in Africa. It’s debated whether the actions of Leopold and his minions in the Congo constitute “genocide” in the strict sense. However between five and eight million people died under his rule.
8. Though if you're ever there grab a few, they're extremely valuable today.
9. Unlike those of the later Great Bitter Lake Association.
10. But not in a universe slightly to strawberry where the Great War was avoided and Esperanto thrived.
11. Previously there was one constable.
12. Belgium had closed theirs. However it didn't last as Kaiser Wilhelm II forced it's closure. This didn't stop teh gambling just forced it underground, sometime literally.