Belgium

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Belgium Image File history File links Belgium_coa. ... The Kingdom of Belgium is a sovereign, independent state. ...

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Successive Belgian kings are Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Chrétien Eugène Marie de Belgique), (born June 6, 1934), is a European constitutional monarch and the current King of the Belgians. ... The executive branch of the Belgian federal government consists of ministers and secretaries of state (junior ministers or smaller departments) drawn from the political parties which form the government coalition. ... This is a list of Prime Ministers of Belgium, known regionally as: Premier Ministre in French, Eerste Minister in Dutch, and Premierminister in German. ... Guy Verhofstadt Guy Verhofstadt  Pronunciation (born April 11, 1953) is the current Prime Minister of Belgium. ... The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament. ... The Belgian Senate (Dutch: de Senaat, French: le Sénat) is one of the two chambers of the Belgian Federal Parliament. ... The Belgian Chamber of Representatives (Dutch: de Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French: la Chambre des Représentants) is one of the two chambers of the Belgian Federal Parliament. ... Belgium has a multi-party political system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. ... Elections in Belgium gives information on election and election results in Belgium. ... The May 18, 2003 Belgian general elections were the first Belgian elections to be held under a new electoral code. ... On June 13, 2004, regional elections were held in Belgium, to choose representatives in the regional councils of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels, as well as in the German Community Council. ... The Belgian municipal elections, 2006 will take place on Sunday October 8, 2006. ... Belgium is a federal state and is composed of three communities, three regions, and four linguistic regions. ... Belgium is a federal state and is composed of three communities, three regions, and four linguistic regions. ... The European Union or EU is a supranational and intergovernmental union of 25 European states. ... Image File history File links European_flag. ... The Concert of Europe sanctioned the creation of Belgium in 1830 on the condition that the country remain strictly neutral. ... The History of Belgium before the last 175 years is entwined into that of other European countries, notably that of the Netherlands and of Luxembourg. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ...

• 1831-1865: Léopold I (34)
• 1865-1909: Léopold II (44)
• 1909-1934: Albert I (25)
• 1934-1951: Léopold III (16)
• 1944-1950: Charles, reigned as Prince Regent
• 1951-1993: Baudouin I (42)
• Since 1993: Albert II (13)

None of these were "King of Belgium": their title is King of the Belgians. The latter phrase indicates a popular monarchy linked to the people of Belgium, whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory and a state. Similarly, King Louis Philippe was proclaimed "King of the French" in 1830, not the traditional "King of France". The now abolished Greek monarchy similarly was titled "King of the Hellenes", indicating a personal link with the people, not just the state. More-over the Latin translation of "King of Belgium" would have been Rex Belgium, which from 1815 was the name for the King of the Netherlands. Therefore the Belgian separatists had to choose a Rex Belgarum. Leopold I 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (December 16, 1790 – December 10, 1865), was the first king of Belgium, or more correct of the Belgians, according to the constitution of that country, since July 21, 1831. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... King Leopold II (April 9, 1835 – 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. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Albert I (April 8, 1875 – February 17, 1934) was the third King of the Belgians. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Leopold III, Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (November 3, 1901 – September 25, 1983) reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of his Heir Apparent, his son Baudouin. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Prince Charles, Charles Théodore Henri Antoine Meinrad, Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium (October 10, 1903—June 1, 1983), was the second son of King Albert I of Belgium and Queen Elizabeth. ... 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). ... King Baudouin, (also spelled Boudewijn, Balduin or Baldwin) born Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave, (7 September 1930 - 31 July 1993), reigned as King of the Belgians from 1951 to 1993. ... 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). ... Albert II, King of the Belgians (Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Chrétien Eugène Marie de Belgique), (born June 6, 1934), is a European constitutional monarch and the current King of the Belgians. ... Popular Monarchy is a system of monarchical governance which came into occasional usage in the nineteenth century1 in which the monarchs title is linked with the people, rather than the state. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... Louis-Philippe of France (October 6, 1773–August 26, 1850) reigned as the Orléanist king of the French from 1830 to 1848. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A state is an organized political community, occupying a territory, and possessing internal and external sovereignty, that enforces a monopoly on the use of force. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The Netherlands have been an independent monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since. ...

It is also noteworthy that Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition of the new king automatically ascending the throne upon the death or abdication of the former king. According to the Belgian constitution, the king only accedes to the throne when he takes a constitutional oath. For example, the present king did not become monarch on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9 of that same year (when he took the constitutional oath). In all other current monarchies, the monarch becomes a monarch the moment his predecessor dies or abdicates. This is the translation in English of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Belgium as provided by the Parliament. ... 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). ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ...

Belgium has three official languages, of which Dutch and French are the most important. Many kings and members of the royal family are known under two names: a Dutch and a French one. For example, the current heir apparent is called Philippe in French and Filip in Dutch; the fifth King of the Belgians was Baudouin in French and Boudewijn in Dutch; the three kings who are known as Léopold in French are known as Leopold (without accent) in Dutch. The Duke of Brabant 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. ...

In German, which is Belgium's third official language, kings are usually referred to under their French names. The same is true for English (with the exception of Leopold, where the accent is removed for simplicity). The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

In Belgium, kings are always officially known with an ordinal, even when they are the first of their name. So King Baudouin was "King Baudouin I", even though there has not yet been a "King Baudouin II". (This is contrary to the system of ordinals used in Britain.)

Name(s) of the Belgian Royal House

Because of the First World War, King Albert I decided in 1920 to no longer use the name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as the official family name of the Belgian royal family. The decision was done in silence and not enacted in an official royal decree. Therefore there is still some confusion in other countries and even in Belgium that Saxe-Coburg Gotha still is the family name used by the Belgian royals. The family name was changed to van België, de Belgique and von Belgien. As Belgium is a country with three official languages, it was chosen to employ all three language versions as official family name with none having precedence over the other, probably making the Belgian royals the only family in the world with three different but equally valid family names. It is this family name which is used on the royals' identity cards and which they use in all official documents (marriage licenses,...) 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. ...

On the accession of a member of the royal family to the Belgian throne, his/hers family name is officially changed to der Belgen - des Belges as to denote the fact that Belgium is a popular monarchy.

Other members of the Belgian Royal Family

• Louise-Marie d'Orléans (wife of King Leopold I)
• Queen Marie Henriette (wife of King Leopold II)
• Elisabeth von Wittelsbach (wife of Albert I)
• Astrid of Sweden (wife of King Leopold III)
• Mary Lilian Baels, Princess de Réthy (second wife of King Leopold III)
• Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (wife of King Baudouin I)
• Princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria (wife of King Albert II)
• Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, sister of Kings Baudouin and Albert II)

Her Imperial Highness Marie Henriette, Archduchess of Austria (born August 23, 1836 at Pest (now Budapest, Hungary), was the queen consort of King Leopold II of the Belgians. ... Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria (Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, (25 July 1876 - 23 November 1965) was the queen consort of Albert I of the Belgians and was the mother of Leopold III. A daughter of Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, and his wife, the Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal, she was born... Queen Astrid Astrid of Sweden, Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra (November 17, 1905 - August 29, 1935) was the Queen consort of King Leopold III of the Belgians. ... Headline text a Headline text ... Her Majesty Fabiola, Queen-Dowager of the Belgians (Fabiola Wettin, née Doña Fabiola Fernanda María de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón) is the widow of Baudouin I. She was born at Madrid, Spain on June 11, 1928, the third daughter of Don Gonzalo... ... Joséphine-Charlotte Ingeborg Elisabeth Marie-José Marguerite Astrid, Princess of Belgium, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess in Saxony, (October 11, 1927 – January 10, 2005), was born at the Royal Palace of Brussels. ...

Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... National motto: Each Endeavouring, All Achieving Official language English Capital  - Population: Saint Johns 24,226 (2000) Head of State Elizabeth II, Queen represented by Sir James Carlisle, Governor General Head of Government Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister Area  - Total:  - % water: Ranked 180th 442 km² 171 mi² Negligible Population  - Total:  - Density... National motto: Country Above Self Location of Saint Kitts and Nevis Official language English Capital Basseterre Queen Elizabeth II Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 186th 261 km² Negligible Population  - Total  - Density Ranked 186th 38,819 (July 2000) 149/km² HDI (2003... Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent sovereign state of the Caribbean, part of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... Until very recently, Andorras political system had no clear division of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. ... The Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) is a federation since 1954 currently consisting out of the three constituent parts: the Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland), Netherlands Antilles (Dutch: Nederlandse Antillen) and Aruba. ... Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, nominally headed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (paramount ruler), customarily referred to as the king. ... Administratively, the UAE is a loose federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler. ...

Further reading

• Aronson, Theo. Defiant Dynasty; the Coburgs of Belgium. Bobbs-Merrill, 1968.

See also

• Lists of incumbents
• List of Succession to the Belgian Throne