in the same year Belgium adopted La Brabançonne as its national anthem, with words adapted by Rogier from an existing poem. From 1861, Rogier served as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity he achieved a diplomatic triumph in freeing the navigation of the river Scheldt, thus enabling Antwerp to become the second port on the mainland of Europe. Electorally defeated at Dinant, he represented Tournai from 1863, a post he held until his death. Later life By now his younger colleague, Frère-Orban, gradually overshadowed his chief, and in 1868 Rogier finally retired from power. He continued, however, to take part in public life, and was elected president of the extraordinary session of the chamber of representatives in 1878, but was replaced by Jules Guillery later the same year. The fiftieth anniversary of the kingdom of Belgium in 1880, and two years later that of his entry into parliament, were the occasion of demonstrations in his honour. He died at Brussels on 27 May 1885, and his remains were accorded a public funeral. Legacy Today, one of Brussels' central squares, the Place Charles Rogier/Karel Rogierplein, is named in is honour. Honours : Minister of State, By Royal decree. Iron Cross. Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold. : Grand Cross in the Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold : Knight Grand Cross in the Legion of Honour. : Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. : Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion. : Grand Cross in the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa. : Knight Grand Cross in the Imperial Order of the White Eagle. : Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Charles III. : Grand Cross in the Order of the Polar Star. : Grand Cross in the Saxe-Ernestine House Order. : Grand Cross in the Order of the Red Eagle. Gallery Publications See also List of prime ministers of Belgium Liberalism in Belgium References Notes Bibliography External links |- |- |- |- 1800 births 1885 deaths Prime Ministers of Belgium Governors of Antwerp Province 19th-century Belgian politicians Belgian journalists Male journalists Belgian Ministers of State Belgian people of French descent Liberal Party (Belgium) politicians Members of the National Congress of Belgium People from Antwerp Province People from Saint-Quentin, Aisne Presidents of the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) University of Liège alumni People of the Belgian Revolution Knights Grand Cross