NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Baudouin of Belgium

Baudouin I, King of the Belgians, (Baudouin/Boudewijn Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave) (7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993), reigned as King of the Belgians from 1951 to 1993. He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901-1983) and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905-1935). Baudouin is the French form of his name, which is also mostly used outside of Belgium; his Dutch name is Boudewijn. Occasionally his name is anglicized as Baldwin. Image File history File links Mon_his_boudewijn_high. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... Laeken (French: Laeken, Dutch: Laken) is a residential suburb in north-east Brussels, Belgium. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Motril is a town next to Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada (Spain). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ... Queen Fabiola of The Belgians, DoÃ±a Fabiola Fernanda MarÃa de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y AragÃ³n (born June 11, 1928) was the Spanish-born Queen consort of King Baudouin I of the Belgians, until the Monarchs death in 1993. ... Saxe-Coburg-Gotha or Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (German: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) was once the name given to the two German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha in Germany, in the present states of Bavaria and Thuringia, which were in personal union between 1826 and 1918. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Astrid of Sweden, Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra (November 17, 1905 - August 29, 1935) was the Queen consort of LÃ©opold III of the Belgians . ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Princess is the feminine form of prince (Latin princeps, meaning principal citizen). ... Astrid of Sweden, Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra (November 17, 1905 - August 29, 1935) was the Queen consort of LÃ©opold III of the Belgians . ...

Ascent to the throne

Baudouin was born in Kasteel Stuyvenberg, Laeken in Belgium. He ascended the throne when his father King Leopold III abdicated on July 16, 1951. Part of Leopold III's unpopularity was the result of a second marriage in 1941 to Mary Lilian Baels, an English-born Belgian commoner, later known as Princess de Réthy. More controversial had been his decision to surrender to Nazi Germany during World War II, when Belgium was invaded in 1940; many Belgians still questioned his loyalties, though a commission of inquiry exonerated him of treason after World War II. Though reinstated in a plebiscite, the controversy surrounding Léopold led to his abdication. Laeken (French: Laeken, Dutch: Laken) is a residential suburb in north-east Brussels, Belgium. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Headline text a Headline text ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Look up abdication in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Love and marriage

On December 15, 1960, Baudouin was married in Brussels to Doña Fabiola Fernanda María de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón, a former nurse and a writer of children's stories. Queen Fabiola is immensely popular for her good cheer, personal modesty, and devotion to social causes. The Belgian royal couple were unable to conceive, and had no children. This was a source of much sadness in the marriage, and would provide a partial reason why the King was so uncomfortable with the topic of abortion. Image File history File links Queen_Fabiola_and_King_Baudouin. ... Image File history File links Queen_Fabiola_and_King_Baudouin. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Queen Fabiola of The Belgians, DoÃ±a Fabiola Fernanda MarÃa de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y AragÃ³n (born June 11, 1928) was the Spanish-born Queen consort of King Baudouin I of the Belgians, until the Monarchs death in 1993. ...

There was some concern among politicians close to the King that he might actually be in love with his stepmother, Princess Lilian, suspicions fueled by secret recordings of surprisingly intimate-sounding telephone conversations between the two. The post-wedding actions of the king's father and stepmother only increased speculation; they briskly moved out of the royal palace at Laeken and reportedly broke off relations with Baudouin for some time. Capitals Coburg and Gotha Head of State Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Saxe-Coburg and Gotha or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (German: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) served as the name of the two German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha in Germany, in the present-day states of Bavaria... Image File history File links Belgium_coa. ... This page has been invaded by General Scratcher! ... King Leopold II (April 9, 1835 â€“ December 17, 1909), succeeded his father, Leopold I of Belgium, to the Belgian throne in 1865 as Leopold II, King of the Belgians, and remained king until his death. ... Carlota of Mexico (also spelled Carlotta; sometimes rendered as Charlotte) (June 7, 1840 – January 19, 1927) was the wife of regime largely dependent on French troops under the orders of Napoleon III. The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians (1790–1865) by his second wife... Albert I (April 8, 1875 â€“ February 17, 1934) was the third King of the Belgians. ... King Leopold II (April 9, 1835 â€“ December 17, 1909), succeeded his father, Leopold I of Belgium, to the Belgian throne in 1865 as Leopold II, King of the Belgians, and remained king until his death. ... StÃ©phanie, Princess of Belgium and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess in Saxony (StÃ©phanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 21 May 1864 â€“ 23 August 1945) was the wife of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary. ... Albert I (April 8, 1875 â€“ February 17, 1934) was the third King of the Belgians. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Prince Charles, Charles ThÃ©odore Henri Antoine Meinrad, Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium (October 10, 1903â€”June 1, 1983), was the second son of King Albert I of Belgium and Queen Elizabeth. ... Marie-JosÃ© Charlotte Sophie AmÃ©lie Henriette Gabrielle (August 4, 1906 - January 27, 2001) of the Royal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the last Queen of Italy. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... JosÃ©phine-Charlotte Ingeborg Elisabeth Marie-JosÃ© Marguerite Astrid, Princess of Belgium, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess in Saxony, (October 11, 1927 â€“ January 10, 2005), was born at the Royal Palace of Brussels. ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ... Prince Alexander of Belgium (Alexander Emmanuel Henry Albert Marie LÃ©opold) (b. ... Princess Marie-Christine of Belgium (born 6 February 1951 in Brussels) is a member of the Belgian royal family. ... Maria-Esmeralda, Princess of Belgium (born on September 30, 1956, Brussels) is a journalist; her professional name is Esmeralda de RÃ©thy. ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ... His Royal Highness Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (Philippe Léopold Louis Marie Wettin), styled HRH The Duke of Brabant (born 15 April 1960), is the eldest son and heir apparent of Albert II, King of the Belgians. ... Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este (Astrid JosÃ©phine-Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Maria), styled HI&RH Princess Astrid, (born June 5, 1962) is the only daughter and second child of King Albert II and his wife Queen Paola of Belgium. ... Prince Laurent of Belgium (Laurent BenoÃ®t Baudouin Marie Wettin) was born on October 19, 1963, in Brussels, Belgium, to King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians (the then Prince and Princess of LiÃ¨ge). ... Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (Ã‰lisabeth ThÃ©rÃ¨se Marie HÃ©lÃ¨ne, born October 25, 2001) is the eldest daughter of Prince Philippe of Belgium, Duke of Brabant, the heir apparent to the throne of Belgium, and his wife Princess Mathilde of Belgium. ... His Royal Highness Prince Gabriel (French: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie, Dutch: GabriÃ«l Boudewijn Karel Maria) is the second child and eldest son of Prince Philippe of Belgium, Duke of Brabant, the heir apparent to the throne of Belgium, and his wife, the former Jonkvrouwe Mathilde dUdekem dAcoz. ... Prince Emmanuel of Belgium (Emmanuel Leopold Guillaume FranÃ§ois Marie), born October 4, 2005 at 13. ... Princess Louise Sophie Mary of Belgium (born February 6, 2004) is the first child of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. ... Prince Nicolas Casimir Marie of Belgium (born 13 December 2005 in Brussels, Belgium) is the second child and first son of Prince Laurent (b. ... Prince Aymeric Auguste Marie of Belgium (born 13 December 2005 in Brussels, Belgium) is the third child and second son of Prince Laurent (b. ... Princess Lilian of Belgium (born Mary Lilian Baels) (November 28, 1916 â€“ June 7, 2002) was best known as Princess de RÃ©thy, the controversial second wife of King LÃ©opold III of the Belgians. ... Laeken (French: Laeken, Dutch: Laken) is a residential suburb in north-east Brussels, Belgium. ...

Notable events

During Baudouin's reign the colony of Belgian Congo was given its independence, and the King personally attended the festivities - giving a speech that was widely seen as insensitive to the atrocities in the Congo which received a blistering response by Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. In 1976, on the 25th anniversary of Baudouin's accession, the King Baudouin Foundation was formed, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the Belgian people. Baudouin also made some visits to the Spanish leader Francisco Franco, a family friend of his wife, Fabiola. Capital LÃ©opoldville Government Royal Protectorate Created 1908 Dissolved 1960 Official languages French, Dutch The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between King LÃ©opold IIs formal relinquishment of personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908... Patrice Lumumba Patrice Emery Lumumba (2 July 1925 - 17 January 1961) was an African nationalist leader and the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo when it declared its independence in June 1960. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... The King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) is a public benefit foundation in Brussels, Belgium, established in 1976. ... Francisco El Caudillo Franco. ... Queen Fabiola of The Belgians, DoÃ±a Fabiola Fernanda MarÃa de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y AragÃ³n (born June 11, 1928) was the Spanish-born Queen consort of King Baudouin I of the Belgians, until the Monarchs death in 1993. ...

Religious influences

Baudouin was a very religious man. It was widely thought after his accession to the throne, that he wanted to abdicate, in order to become a priest. Royal advisers indicated at the time, that the Belgian monarchy would not likely survive two abdications in a row. Through the influence of Belgian Cardinal Leo Suenens, Baudoin participated in the growing Catholic charismatic movement, and regularly went on pilgrimages to the French shrine of Paray-le-Monial. In 1990, when a law liberalising Belgium's abortion laws was approved by Parliament, he refused to give Royal Assent, an unprecedented act since the King's assent was a largely ceremonial act which had always been a forgone conclusion. The Government declared him unable to reign on April 4, 1990. The Belgian Constitution provides that, if the King is incapable of reigning, the Government as a whole will fulfil the role of Head of State. All members of the Government signed the bill, and the Government declared that Baudouin was capable of reigning again the next day, on April 5, 1990. (It is a point of contention whether Baudouin abdicated for two days so as not to have to approve the law, while still allowing abortions to be legalised in Belgium, or whether he was merely suspended for the day.) The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, or the Sovereigns representative in Commonwealth Realms, completes the process of the enactment of legislation by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio disowning, renouncing, from ab, from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one), the act whereby a person in office renounces and gives up the same before the expiry of the time for which it is held. ...

Death and succession

He reigned for 42 years until he died of heart failure on July 31, 1993 in the Villa Astrida in Motril, in the south of Spain. His death was very unexpected, and sent much of Belgium into a period of deep mourning. July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Motril is a town next to Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada (Spain). ...

He was interred in the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady, Laeken Cemetery, Brussels, Belgium. For other uses, see Brussels (disambiguation). ...

Baudouin was succeeded by his younger brother, who became King Albert II. Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ...

Trivia

Categories: Belgian monarchs | Dukes of Brabant | House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | Knights of the Garter | Roseens | 1930 births | 1993 deaths | Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav | Opponents of capital punishment 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian) is a currently ongoing vote conducted by Belgian TV broadcast Canvas, to determine who is the Greatest Belgian of all time. ... This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... A style of office, or honorific, is a form of address which by tradition or law precedes a reference to a person who holds a title or post, or to the political office itself. ... HM can signify: Air Seychelles: IATA code Heard Island and McDonald Islands: ISO 3166 digram and FIPS PUB 10-4 territory code HM (patient), pseudonym of a man with no long-term memory (also written H.M.) HM Magazine, a Christian Hard rock magazine His Majesty/Her Majesty, a form... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The royal palace in Brussels Successive Belgian kings are Leopold I (1831-1865) Leopold II (1865-1909) Albert I (1909-1934) Leopold III (1934-1951) abdicated Prince Charles of Belgium (1944-1950) Prince Regent Baudouin I (1951-1993) Albert II (1993- ) None of these were King of Belgium: their title... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert FÃ©lix Humbert ThÃ©odore ChrÃ©tien EugÃ¨ne Marie), (born June 6, 1934), is the current King of the Belgians and a constitutional monarch. ... Coat of arms of Dukes of Brabant The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. ... Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (Philippe LÃ©opold Louis Marie (French) or Filip Leopold Louis Marie (Dutch)), styled HRH The Duke of Brabant (born 15 April 1960), is the eldest son and heir apparent of Albert II, King of the Belgians. ...

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