All the Kings of the Belgians
Leopold I 1831-1865
Leopold II 1865-1909
Albert I 1909-1934
Leopold III 1934-1951
Baudouin I 1951-1993
Albert II 1993-
Leopold I
King 1831-1865
- When Belgium became an independant state, Prince Leopold of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha
was elected King. He acceeded the throne on the 21 of July 1831. He was
born on the 16 of December 1790. Leopold had married Princess Charlotte
Augusta of Wales in 1816, but she died in 1817. He married Louise Marie
of Orléans in 1832.
- Children: Louis Philippe, Leopold II, Philippe, Maria Charlotte
- Leopold I died on the 10 of December 1865 and was succeeded by his
son, Leopold II.
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Leopold II
King 1865-1909
- He was born on the 9 of April 1835. His parents were King Leopold I of the Belgians and Louise Marie. He became
King on the 17th of December 1865 upon the death of his father.
- He was married to Maria Henrietta of Habsburg-Lothringen.
- Children: Louise, Leopold, Stephanie, Clementine.
- King Leopold II took a great interest in the colonization of Africa
and owned Kongo as his own property before giving it to the Belgian state.
- He died on the 17 of December 1909 and was succeeded by his nephew,
Albert I.
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Albert I
King 1909-1934
- He was born on the 8 of April 1875. His parents were Prince Philippe,
Count of Flanders, and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. He became
King on the 23 of December 1909 upon the death of his uncle, King Leopold II.
- He married Elizabeth, Duchess in Bavaria, in 1900.
- Children: Leopld III, Charles, Marie José.
- He died in an accident when he was climbing mountains on the 17 of
February 1934 and was succeeded by his son, Leopold
III.
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Leopold III
King 1934-1951
- He was born on the 3 of November 1901. His parents were King Albert I of the Belgians and Queen Elizabeth (née
Duchess in Bavaria). He became King on the 23 of February 1934 upon the
death of his father.
- He married Princess Astrid of Sweden in 1926. She died in a car crash
in 1935.
- Children: Josephine Charlotte, Baudouin I,
Albert II.
- When Germany invaded Belgium in 1940, King Leopold was captured and
surrendered. In 1941 he married Lilian Baels (morganatic marriage).
- Children: Alexandre, Marie Christine, Marie Esmeralda.
- When Belgium was liberated in 1944, the King was not allowed to return
to his country. Instead his brother Charles acted as Regent. In 1950 a
referendum showed that the people still considered Leopold their King,
and the King returned to Belgium. Since left wing parties couldn't accept
him, it resulted in a constitutional crisis, and Leopold abdicated on the
16 of July 1951 and was succeeded by his son, Baudouin
I.
- He died on the 25 of September 1983.
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Baudouin I
King 1951-1993
- He was born on the 7 of September 1930. His parents were King Leopold III of the Belgians and Queen Astrid (née
Princess of Sweden). He became King on the 17th of July 1951 after his
father's abdication.
- He married Fabiola on the 15 of December 1960. They had no children.
- He died on the 31 of July 1993 and was succeeded by his brother, King
Albert II.
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Albert II
King 1993-
- He was born on the 6 of June 1934. His parents were King Leopold
III of the Belgians and Queen Astrid (née Princess of Sweden).
He became King on the 9 of August 1993 a few days after the death of his
brother, King Baudouin I.
- He married Paola di Calabrio Ruffo on the 29 of August 1959.
- Children: Philippe, Astrid, Laurent.
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