Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium

The Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium (in French: Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique) is the independent learned society of science and arts of the French Community of Belgium. It is also called in shorthand Royal Academy of Belgium (ARB) or La Thérésienne (i.e. The Teresian) from Maria Theresa. The Dutch-speaking counterpart for the Flemish Community in Belgium is called Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts. In 2001 both academies founded a joint association for the purpose of promoting science and arts on a national level: The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium (RASAB). All three institutions are located in the same building, the Academy Palace in Brussels.

A preexisting literary society was founded in 1769 under the auspices of Karl von Cobenzl, then plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands under Empress Maria Theresa. In 1772 Cobenzl's successor Georg Adam, Prince of Starhemberg continued the efforts of his predecessor by expanding the society to a scientific academy. This academy was granted the right to bear the title of Imperial and Royal Academy of Science and Letters of Brussels by Empress Letters Patent dated 16 December 1772. The Sovereign instructed the academics to animate the intellectual life of the country and to stimulate and coordinate scientific research in a wide variety of fields.

This institution did not survive the French occupation of the Belgian regions and the Academy held its last plenary session on 21 May 1794.

William I, king of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1815, reinstituted the academy by Royal Decree of 17 May 1816 on the title of Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters (in French Académie royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres). Work was restarted with 8 remaining academics associated with other Dutch and Belgian fellow-members. Its legal personality is recognised by the law of 2 August 1924.

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