Un jour, on pleurera des larmes de sang pour n'avoir pas construit le fort de Lixhe.

Born : 25 May 1821
Birth-place : Maagdenberg a village close to the city Venlo in Nederland.
Deceased : 1903 St-Joost-ten-Node (Bruxelles)
Father : Mathieu Brialmont, born in Seraing. Mathieu Brialmont enroled in Napoleon’s army in 1808 as a common soldier. He was Sergeant-major in the 36° Régiment de Ligne when Napoleon attacked Russia. On 21 august 1812 he was promoted Sous-Lieutenant and decorated on 7 september of that same year for his brave conduct on the Moskova. Although injured by a spear he survived the horrible retreat.
Lieutenant on 28 january 1813, he receives, on the Saale from Général Durutte the order to conduct the retreat of several units of the 7° Corps which had lost practically all their officers. He was promoted Capitaine when Napoleon returned from Elba and was present at Waterloo. After Napoleon's defeat, he enrolled in the Dutch army. Stationed in Venlo he married Mrs. Marie Verwins in 1820.
In 1829 after quarrels with some Dutch officers he dismissed. The Belgian revolution of 1830 made him join the Belgian revolutionists and he participated in the conquering of Venlo with Général Daine. Enlisted in the new Belgian army he was Aid-de-camp of King Leopold I and Minister of war in 1850 in the Rogier government.
Mother : Mrs. Marie Verwins

1838 : Enters the Royal Military Accademy
1841 : Sous-Lieutenant , Régiment de Génie (engineers) in Liége
1847 : Lieutenant du Génie, attached to the cabinet of the Minister of War Général Chazal.
1848 : Published a pamphlet "Eloge de la Guerre" wherein he points out the necessity of a strong Belgian army.
1851 : Published a book ‘Considérations politiques et militaires sur la Belgique’.
1854 : During the Crim war and the siege of Sebastopel he asks authorisation to join the French army, this was refused by his superiors.
1855 : Passes the exam for staff officer and was nominated Capitaine d’etat major.
He visits Germany to study different polygonal fortifications.
1856 : Published ‘L’histoire du Duc de Wellington’
1857 : He goes to London to ask the British government to let him join the expeditionary force that was formed to surpress the uprising in India. (This was refused)
1858 : Promoted Capitaine and again attached to the cabinet of the Minister of War Général Chazal.
1858 : When Général Todleben visits Belgium. King Leopold asks him to investigate the different projects concerning the defence of Antwerpen (without revealing the names of the different authors). After serious inspection Todleben selects Brialmont’s project as best.
1859 : A Government commission charged to investigate the different projects concerning the defence of Antwerpen approves the project submitted by Brialmont.
1859 : 19 May , married Mrs. Justa de Potter.
1860 : Promoted to Major d’etat-major.
1863 : Published ‘Etudes sur la defense des etats et sur la fortification’.
1868 : Nominated Director of military operations at the Ministry of War. He is ordered to investigate the mobilisation and concentration of the army.
1870 : During the French-German war he was 'Chef d’etat Major' of the army in Antwerpen.
1874 : Promoted to Général-Major and nominated director of the fortifications in Antwerpen.
1875 : Nominated 'Inspecteur Général du genie et des fortifications'.
1875 : His wife, Mrs. Justa Brialmont de Potter, deceased at the age of 41
1882 : Published ‘Situations Militaire de Belgique - Travaux de defense de la Meuse’. A short quote :
L’allemagne ne violera donc pas le territoire neutre de la Suisse pour attaquer le France, mais elle violera certainement le territoire neutre du Grand-duché de Luxembourg et vraisemblablement le territoire neutre de la Belgique, á moins que ce dernier pays n’augmente de beaucoup ses moyens de défense...
L’annexion de le Lorraine á l’Allemagne a augmenté l’importance strategique de la ligne de la Meuse. Si l’Allemagne attaque la France, elle á un interet immense á passer la Meuse á Liége ou á Namur pour envahir la France par le Nord...
La premiere guerre entre le France et L’Allemegne démontrera l’impérieuse nécessité des travaux de la Meuse.
1882 : The Romanian King and government ask him to inspect and study the Romanian fortifications. As a reaction on an Austrian complaint about this the Belgian government puts him in non-activity as a disciplinary measure.
1884 : Recalled to the army and reastablished as 'Inspecteur Général du genie et des fortifications'.
1887 : 14 June, The Belgian government decides to build the fortresses in Liege and Namur.
1891 : All the fortifications at Liege and Namur are finished. The budget however was exceeded. As a sanction for exceeding the budget he was forced to retire.
1892 : He visits Turkey to look at de defence of Constantinopel.
1893 : Elected in parliament.