Théophile Wahis
Encyclopedia
Baron Théophile Wahis was a Belgian
officer
and civil servant.
Born in Menen
, Belgium
, he started his career as Sub-Lieutenant
and later Lieutenant General
in the Belgian army
. He participated in the expeditionary army which was sent to Mexico
. Later he became Governor-General of Congo Free State
from 1892 until 1908 and Belgian Congo
from 1908 until 1912. He reached nobility status when the title of “baron” was awarded to him in 1901. A street in Brussels and a street in Menen are named after him He died in Schaerbeek, Belgium
in 1921.
A recommended article (only available in Dutch) on Théophile Wahis was written by Fien Coopman : “Gouverneur-generaal Th. Wahis en de anti-Kongolese campagne - De rol van gouverneur-generaal Th. Wahis ten tijde van de woelingen in Kongo Vrijstaat (1885-1908)” - http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/269/469/RUG01-001269469_2010_0001_AC.pdf
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and civil servant.
Born in Menen
Menen
Menen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, he started his career as Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
and later Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the Belgian army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
. He participated in the expeditionary army which was sent to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Later he became Governor-General of Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
from 1892 until 1908 and Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
from 1908 until 1912. He reached nobility status when the title of “baron” was awarded to him in 1901. A street in Brussels and a street in Menen are named after him He died in Schaerbeek, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1921.
A recommended article (only available in Dutch) on Théophile Wahis was written by Fien Coopman : “Gouverneur-generaal Th. Wahis en de anti-Kongolese campagne - De rol van gouverneur-generaal Th. Wahis ten tijde van de woelingen in Kongo Vrijstaat (1885-1908)” - http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/269/469/RUG01-001269469_2010_0001_AC.pdf