 When the following year this army was defeated by the Austrians at Hasselt and Zutendaal, Surlet de Chokier was forced to flee to Breda, not being able to return to Gingelom until 1792.After the French annexation of Liège, Surlet de Chokier became a devoted follower of the French revolution and of Napoleon.In 1800, Surlet de Chokier was elected mayor of Gingelom and member of the départemental council of Meuse-Inférieure.