Albert Ier of Belgium

See also: Albert Ier

Albert Ier , prince de Belgique, duke of Saxony, prince of Saxony-Cobourg-Gotha, heir apparent to the crown (1891-1909), born with Brussels the April 8th 1875 and died in Walk-the-Ladies the February 17th 1934. He was the third king of the Belgian starting from the December 23rd 1909, with died of his uncle Léopold II. He was the son of the Prince Philippe, count de Flandre (the brother of Léopold II) and of the princess Marie de Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. October 2nd, 1900, he married Elisabeth, duchess in Bavaria (house of Wittelsbach), Princesse of Belgium, Reine of the Belgians (1909 - and by courtesy until its death in 1965) of which he had three children:

Léopold, (future Léopold III)
Charles, Prince de Belgique, Count de Flandre, Regent of the Kingdom of 1944 with 1951, born the October 10th 1903 and dead on June 1st 1983. He married on September 14th, 1977, Jacqueline Peyrebrune
Marie-Jose, Princesse of Belgium, Reine of Italy (1946), born the August 4th 1906 and dead on January 27th, 2001. She married Umberto (9/15/1904 - 3/18/1946) of Piedmont, Prince d' Italie, King d' Italie. She became queen of Italy then lasting only… a little more than one month (5/9/1946 - 6/13/1946) what gave him the nickname of " Queen of Mai".

N.B.: After the First World War (1914 - 1918), Albert Ier did not make any more carry the titles duke (hess) of Saxony and prince () of Saxony-Cobourg-Gotha, which were of German origin (Duchy of Saxony), origin of the invader. However these titles are still present on certain instruments (death and birth certificate…)

Of 1893 with 1909, prince Albert is senator of right and makes speeches on the improvement of the naval, railway and road infrastructure of the country. In 1906, it creates the royal Work of the Ibis, a school at the Belgian side for the young underprivileged fishermen.

The people enormously tested sympathy towards him and his queen, which carried out a simple life, without much pageantry. The December 23rd 1909, crowd present in Brussels thus held a particularly cordial reception with the new King. Albert Ier was the first sovereign to lend Dutch and French oath.

In Europe, when the tension increased, the countries started to conclude from alliances and to furbish their weapons. In 1913, King Albert went in Germany and in France to insist on the neutrality of the Belgium and to prevent them that if they violated the Belgian territory, the Belgium would be defended. He also ratified the law on the obligatory military service. This measurement made pass the quota of the army from 180.000 to 340.000 men.

In 1914, the Great War bursts. The August 2nd, the Germany lance an ultimatum with the Belgium: the Emperor, although related to the Belgian family, claims the unrestricted passage of his troops, or else Belgium would be regarded as enemy. Albert refuses, takes the command of the army. The August 4th, the Germans invade Belgium. After a baited fight with Liege and Antwerp, the Belgian army is cut off behind the Yser, on October 15th. It will hold four years.

The King refuses to follow the government to Holy-Addresses, in the suburbs of the Havre and remains with the head of the army to direct it. He regularly visits the face to encourage his men. Its bravery enables him to acquire the nickname of “King soldier” or “King knight”.

After the First World War, king Albert Ier represents Belgium with the peace negotiations in Versailles, defending the interests of his country but trying also in vain to be opposed to the policy excessive humiliation of the Germany. He devotes then his energy to the promotion of great work of public utility to rectify the country plundered under the occupation. More the good example is the channel which connects the ports of Liege and of Antwerp: it will bear its name. Impassioned sciences, it creates in 1928 the Funds National of Scientific research (F.N.R.S.). Very attentive with the linguistic problems which started to tear the country, it supports the flamandisation of the Université of Ghent in 1930. With his wife the Queen Elizabeth, king Albert Ier was the friend many artists, writers and scientists.

Follower of the climbing, it died following a fall in the rocks of Walk-the-Ladies, in the valley of the Meuse, close to Namur, the February 17th 1934. He is buried near his ancestors in the royal crypt of the Notre-Dame church of Laeken.

Its attitude and its determination during the war and its accidental death contributed to create a true myth around its personality.

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