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| Le XXe Siècle (Belgium) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Le XXe Siècle |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
| Foundation | 1900 |
| Ceased publication | 1990s |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Language | French |
Le XXe Siècle (Belgium) was a French‑language daily newspaper published in Brussels from 1900 into the late 20th century. It operated amid political currents represented by Liberal Party, Catholic Party, and Belgian Labour Party debates, engaging figures associated with King Leopold II, King Albert I, and King Baudouin. The paper covered events such as the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II, and the Belgian general strike of 1936, shaping discourse alongside outlets like Le Soir, La Libre Belgique, and Het Volk.
Founded at the turn of the century by investors tied to Brussels publishing circles, Le XXe Siècle emerged during the reign of King Leopold II and the Congo Free State controversy. In the Edwardian era it reported on the Second Boer War and Belgium's industrial expansion in regions such as Charleroi and Liège, competing with newspapers including L'Éclipse and La Gazette de Liège. During World War I the paper navigated occupation policies associated with German Empire authorities and censorship practices exemplified by the Etappeverwaltung. In the interwar years Le XXe Siècle engaged with crises like the Great Depression and the rise of movements such as Rexism and Belgian Fascist Movement. Under World War II occupation the title faced the Commission d'epuration aftermath as other outlets such as Le Soir and La Dernière Heure handled collaboration controversies. Post‑1945 the newspaper reported on decolonization including the Congolese independence of 1960 under Patrice Lumumba and political developments during the premierships of Paul-Henri Spaak and Gaston Eyskens. In late 20th century media consolidation involving groups like Roularta Media Group and Rossel group the paper's circulation declined, and it ceased regular publication amid restructuring comparable to other titles such as La Libre Belgique.
Le XXe Siècle maintained a broadly conservative editorial stance with affinities to the Catholic Party and later to centrist Catholic currents including elements of Christian Social Party thought. Its opinion pages engaged personalities connected to Charles de Broqueville, Paul Hymans, and Émile Durieux, while cultural pages discussed figures like Maurice Maeterlinck, Henri Pirenne, and James Ensor. Coverage of colonial policy reflected debates involving King Leopold II, the Congo Free State, and later administrations such as that of Joseph Kasa-Vubu and Mobutu Sese Seko. The paper's position on labor disputes placed it in dialogue with unions such as the General Federation of Belgian Labour and political currents represented by Socialist Party leaders.
Editors and contributors included journalists and intellectuals from Belgian and European networks: names associated with the outlet intersected with figures like Jules Destrée, Émile Verhaeren, Victor Horta, and commentators who also wrote for Le Soir and La Libre Belgique. Literary critics and cultural editors engaged with poets and artists such as Paul van Ostaijen, Georges Simenon, René Magritte, and Hergé, while political columnists debated policy with references to statesmen Paul-Henri Spaak and Achille Van Acker. Photojournalists documented events alongside agencies like Agence France‑Presse and Reuters, and legal correspondents covered jurisprudence at institutions including the Court of Cassation (Belgium) and debates in the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium).
At its height Le XXe Siècle competed with major francophone titles for readership in Brussels, Wallonia and colonial audiences in the Belgian Congo. Circulation figures fluctuated during crises such as the First World War paper shortages and the Second World War occupation. The paper influenced public opinion on issues debated in forums like the Brussels Stock Exchange and parliamentary sessions presided over by speakers of the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium), and it was cited in pamphleteering around events such as the General Strike of 1936 and the School Wars (Belgium). Its reach extended to intellectual circles in universities such as the Université libre de Bruxelles and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven through reviews and serialized essays.
The newspaper employed formats common to European dailies: broadsheet presentation with sections for politics, culture, economy, and serialized fiction. Illustrations and cartoons featured artists linked to La Cambre and the Belgian avant‑garde, while supplements covered sports including events like the Tour of Flanders and football clubs such as R.S.C. Anderlecht and Standard Liège. Literary supplements serialized works and reviews engaging authors like Georges Rodenbach and Émile Verhaeren, and weekend editions showcased photography in the tradition of agencies such as Agence Meurisse.
Le XXe Siècle faced controversies over during occupation periods, notably World War I and World War II, when press freedom intersected with measures by occupying authorities like the German Empire and the Third Reich. Accusations of collaboration targeted several Belgian newspapers, prompting post‑liberation purges such as those overseen by the Brussels Liberation Committee and legal processes related to the Épuration. Editorial decisions on colonial reporting drew criticism during the Congo Crisis and in debates involving Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Kasa-Vubu. The paper's stances in culture wars touched factions linked to Catholic Action (Belgium) and secular groups from Université libre de Bruxelles.
Le XXe Siècle contributed to the development of francophone Belgian press institutions and influenced journalistic norms alongside titles such as Le Soir, La Libre Belgique, and La Dernière Heure. Its alumni populated newsrooms, publishing houses, and academic posts at institutions like Université catholique de Louvain and Université libre de Bruxelles, shaping reportage on events from the World Wars to decolonization and European integration efforts involving Benelux and European Coal and Steel Community. The newspaper's archives remain a source for historians researching periods connected to Leopold III of Belgium, Paul‑Henri Spaak, and postwar reconstruction, and its trajectory reflects wider trends of consolidation epitomized by media groups such as Roularta Media Group and the Rossel group.
Category:French-language newspapers published in Belgium Category:Defunct newspapers of Belgium