Events in the year 1797 in the Belgian Departments of France. The French First Republic had annexed the Austrian Netherlands and Prince-bishopric of Liège (predecessor states of modern Belgium) in 1795 and had reorganised the territory as the nine departments Dyle, Escaut, Forêts, Jemmape, Lys, Meuse-Inférieure, Deux-Nèthes, Ourthe, and Sambre-et-Meuse. The year 1797 corresponds to the period from 12 Nivôse of Year V to 11 Nivôse of Year VI in the French Republican Calendar. Incumbents Directors Paul Barras Louis Marie de La Révellière-Lépeaux Jean-François Rewbell Étienne-François Letourneur (to 26 May), François-Marie de Barthélemy (from 26 May to 5 September), Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai (from 5 September) Lazare Carnot (to 5 September), François de Neufchâteau (from 5 September) Events February 16 February – Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenburg sold at auction. April 28 April – auction of Dominican convent and church in Antwerp begins; buildings bought by Prior Cornelius Peltiers. October 18 October – By the Treaty of Campo Formio the Austrian monarchy accepts the French annexation of the former Austrian Netherlands. 25 October – University of Leuven suppressed by decree. November 20 November – French authorities begin compiling lists of priests in Belgium 25 November – Law of 5 Frimaire confiscates property of all religious colleges, seminaries and confraternities (implementation started 31 December). Births 2 February – Joseph Guislain, physician (died 1860) 17 September – Eugène-Henri Defacqz, magistrate (died 1871) 21 October – Charles Moerman d'Harlebeke, senator (died 1854) Deaths 4 May – Jan-Baptist Verlooy (born 1746), revolutionary 17 May – Johannes Joseph Beerenbroek (born 1717), industrialist References NBW: Nationaal Biografisch Woordenboek Former departments of France in Belgium