EARLY BELGIAN COLONIAL EFFORTS - The University of Texas at ...

Santa Catarina in Brazil is a significant colonial attempt but one that has all but
been ignored by Belgian historians. There is simply very little information on this
colonial attempt outside the initial exploratory study, several small inquiries on events
related to the colony, and at least one personal record by a Belgian colonist to Brazil
following the initial transplantation. This inquiry will be the least documented due to
constraints imposed by these limited resources. Additionally, there is a strong difference
of opinion between Belgian and Brazilian historians as to the loyalty of the leader of
this adventure, Charles Van Lede.
Rio Nunez in present day Guinea is perhaps the most unusual of these attempts.
It is also the most well known outside of Belgium. The reason for the heightened level
of inquiry and interest was due to its potential, at the time, to produce a major
international scandal, as it involved a military action by both Belgium and France that
in some ways was directed against the commercial interests of Britain. Belgian
involvement at Rio Nunez did not involve a colonial attempt similar to the other three;
it was, however, a colonial attempt from a commercial point of view, and in that regard
was closer to what many in Belgium envisioned as a legitimate overseas effort
enterprises during Leopold’s reign.
The presentation of the colonial efforts is in order of occurrence. The beginning
of the beginning of each effort was determined by the beginning of an interest in the
venture by either the king or one of his ministers. The names of the colonial effort used
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