MORESNET




TERRITORY OF NEUTRAL MORESNET

In 1816, when delimiting their new frontiers, both the Netherlands and Prussia 
claimed the calamine-mine of Altenberg (Fr. Vieille Montagne) part of Moresnet (a 
municipality of the so-called Land beyond the Meuse of Dalhem).
As no agreement could be reached, the claimed area was "temporarily neutralized"
under a common administration.
In 1830 when Belgium became independent, it replaced the Netherlands as claimant
and administrator.
In 1915, during the German occupation of Belgium, Prussia became sole administrator, 
while three years later, after German defeat, it was Belgium that solely governed
the territory.
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ADMINISTRATORS

Royal Commissioners

Formally, the Royal Commissioners were directly subordinated to their respective 
heads of state.
In fact they were dependent of the various ministries. 

Belgian Royal Commissioners
Commissaires royaux belges

1840 - 1889   Mathieu Crémer                                 1805 - 1889
1889 - 1915   Fernand Jacques Bleyfuesz                      1858 - 1935
1915 - 1918   none (1)
1918 - 1920   Fernand Jacques Bleyfuesz (2x)

(1) For some months in 1915, ... Bayer, a member of the German military
    administration in Belgium, was acting Belgian Commissioner.

Prussian Royal Commissioners
Königlich Preussische Beauftragte

1836 - 1853   Heinrich Martins
1853 - 1854   none
1854 - 1866   Amand Pierre von Harenne, Head of the
              Police Administration and acting 
              commissioner 1852 - 1854                       1813 - 1866
1866          ...*
1866 - 1868   ... Freiherr von der Heydt
1868 - 1871   Edward Gülcher                                 18.. - 1871
1871 - 1893   Alfred Theodor Sternickel                      18.. - 1894
1893 - 1909   Alfred Jakob Bernhard Theodor Gülcher
1909          ...*
1909 - 1913   Walter Karl Maria The Losen
1913 - 1918   ... Spiess*

Mayors

Appointed by the Royal Commissioners.

1817 - 1859   Arnold Timothée de Lasaulx*                    1774 - 1861
1859 - 1882   Joseph Kohl
1882 - 1885   ...
1885 - 1915   Hubert Schmetz                                 18.. - 1915
1915 - 1918   Wilhelm Kyll
1918 - 1920   Pierre Grignard

In 1920, following the Treaty of Versailles the territory was annexed to Belgium,
becoming part of the province of Liège (Municipality of Kelmis/La Calamine in the
district of Verviers).
From 1940 to 1944, during the second German occupation of Belgium, it was briefly
re-annexed to the Prussian Rheinprovinz.



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