Albert I Of Belgium Biography
Samuel Coleman politics
Albert I of Belgium Biography
(Former King of the Belgians (1909 - 1934))Birthday: April 8, 1875 (Aries)
Born In: Brussels, Belgium
Advanced SearchAlbert I was the third King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934. During the First World War, he led the army against the Germans and later, helped his country rebuild during the post-war and the depression period. Born to the Count of Flanders, Prince Philippe of Belgium, he was third in line of succession to the then King, Leopold II of Belgium. He underwent army training, and also was tutored in the matters of state. He ascended the throne after the death of King Leopold II. During his reign, Belgium was invaded and occupied by Germany in the First World War. He guided his country through post-war reconstruction, including public work and redevelopment of the destroyed industries. Albert paid special attention to social welfare and development of commerce and industry in Belgium. He died at the age of 58 while mountain climbing in East Belgium. Quick FactsAlso Known As: King Albert I, Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad
Died At Age: 58
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium
father: Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
mother: Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
siblings: Prince Baudouin of Belgium, Princess Henriette of Belgium, Princess Joséphine Caroline of Belgium, Princess Joséphine Marie of Belgium
children: Count of Flanders, Leopold III, Marie José of Belgium, Prince Charles
Born Country: Belgium
Died on: February 17, 1934
place of death: Marche-les-Dames, Namur, Belgium
Cause of Death: Mountaineering
City: Brussels, Belgium
More Factsawards: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
Military Cross
Order of the Black Eagle
Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Order of the White Eagle
Godfather promotion of Special Military School of Saint-Cyr
Order of Lāčplēsis
Order of the Three Stars
1st Class
Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis
Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword of Sant'Iago
Q15042103
Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
Royal Order of the Lion
Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with Collar
Order of the Three Stars
1st Class
Grand Cross of the Order of Wissam El Alaouite
Q14865244
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
Order of Saint Anna
1st class
Order of Saint Stanislaus
1st class
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
Order of the Star of Romania
Order of Michael the Brave
Order of St. Andrew
Order of St. George
4th class
Order of St. George
3rd class
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Belgian CelebritiesBelgian Emperors & KingsBelgian Historical PersonalitiesAries Men Childhood & Early LifeAlbert I was born Prince Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad of Belgium on April 8, 1875, at the Palais de la Régence, Brussels, to Prince Philippe, the Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. He was the second surviving son and the fifth child of his parents.The first king of the Belgians, Leopold I, was his grandfather. King Leopold II was Albert’s uncle (father’s elder brother). King Leopold II’s only son had died early, so after Albert’s father, and Albert’s older brother, Prince Baudouin, he was third in succession.Albert was reticent and enjoyed reading. He was interested in outdoor activities, especially horse-riding and rock-climbing. He received training at the ‘Belgian Royal Military Academy,’ and worked with the Belgian army.After the early death of his brother, Baudouin, Albert became second in the line of succession. From 1893, he attended the Belgian Senate, which was expected of the children of the sovereign. He traveled through Europe and other countries as the representative of King Leopold II.Albert toured around Belgium (sometimes disguised) to see the actual living condition of the common people. After his father’s death in 1905, he became ‘Count of Flanders’ (next in line of succession). He was well-liked by the subjects for his democratic ways. In 1906, he established an institution, ‘Ibis,’ as home and school for the orphans of fishermen.In the beginning of 1909, he toured around Belgian Congo, the only overseas Belgian colony, which was earlier a private property of King Leopold II. In 1908, it became a part of Belgium. Albert found the living condition of the locals dreadful and lowly. Upon his return, Albert proposed reforms for the betterment of the natives. He also put forward plans to help the technological progress of the colony.Continue Reading BelowReign as the KingKing Leopold II died on December 17, 1909. Albert succeeded to the throne as King Albert I of the Belgians.Belgium was facing the issue of universal manhood suffrage. Earlier in 1893, the law was adapted to give the right of plural votes based on wealth, occupation, education, and marital status. But in 1913, ‘The Belgian Labor Party’ called for a general strike and demonstrations called for the withdrawal of this law, and implementation of ‘one man, one vote’ reform. However, the subsequent invasion and occupation by Germany delayed the process.Before the onset of WWI, Albert made an effort to build the country’s army. In August 1913, he introduced the military conscription bill, through which all the sons of a family had to serve the Belgian military. By the ‘Treaty of London’ (1839), Belgium was assured neutrality. In the summer of 1914, Albert confirmed Belgian’s neutrality to France and Germany.On August 2, 1914, German Emperor William II sent Albert an ultimatum, asking free passage of German troops across Belgium to France. Albert refused, saying ‘Belgium is a nation, not a road.’ The Germans attacked Belgium and WWI began in August 1914. Britain got involved in the War because by the Treaty of 1839, it was one of the guarantors of Belgian neutrality.According to the Article 68 of the Belgian Constitution, Albert took charge and became Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian army. He fought off the German forces, giving time for France and Britain to prepare. The Allied forces fought and won the first ‘Battle of Marne.’Antwerp was taken by the Germans in October, 1914. After the ‘Battle of the Yser,’ Albert and his troops had to retreat beyond the River Yser. Subsequently, the Germans took over the entire country except Flanders district. Albert had his command center on the Belgian coast at De Panne. For the next four years, he continued fighting (in collaboration with the Triple Entente armies) from the trenches behind the River Yser.King Albert fought with his forces on the frontline. His eldest son, the 14-year-old Leopold enlisted in the army, fighting on the front. Albert’s wife, Queen Elisabeth, too, was at the battle front, helping out as a nurse.The country suffered due to the German occupation during the 4 years of war. King Albert, who wished to avoid the casualties and destruction, tried to negotiate peace between Germany and Allied forces, through secret political networks, but unfortunately both the warring factions were not for it.From late September to October 1918, a succession of several battles took place around Northern France and Southern Belgium. Albert was made the chief of the ‘Flanders Army Group’ (French, British, and Belgian). He commanded the final allied attack. They first took over Ostend and Brugge, recaptured the Belgian coast, and finally reclaimed the German-occupied Belgium. King Albert, his Queen, and children returned victorious to Brussels on November 22, 1918. After the war, he made appeal to allies to eliminate Belgian neutrality. After the Armistice, Albert focused on the reconstruction of his country, which was devastated by war and German occupation. On November 22, he announced several reforms.From 1919, the universal manhood suffrage was implemented with ‘one man, one vote’ statute. He formed the ‘Government of National Union,’ comprising of 3 main Belgian parties - ‘The Catholics,’ ‘The Liberals,’ and ‘The Socialists.’ He also announced equality of two national languages, a Flemish university at Ghent, and recognised trade union freedom.He attended the ‘Paris Peace Conference’ in April, 1919. He, along with his wife and eldest son, visited the USA in 1919. He continued his work for the progress of Belgian Congo, and established ‘Albert National Park’ (now ‘Virunga National Park’), Africa’s first national park, in 1925. To encourage industrial development, he took initiatives to form the ‘National Scientific Research Fund’ in 1928. The global depression had a major impact on Belgium. For the next 5 years Albert made efforts to keep the unemployment under control.Family & Personal LifeWhile attending a funeral in Paris (1897), Prince Albert met Elisabeth Gabrielle Valérie Marie, daughter of Karl-Theodor, Duke of Bavaria. The two got married on October 2, 1900, in Munich, and went to Italy for honeymoon. He and his wife were dedicated to Belgium. The couple had three children: Leopold, Charles, and Marie-José.An avid rock-climber, King Albert died in a mountaineering accident on Roche de Vieux Bon Dieu, at Marche-les-Dames, near Namur in Belgium, on February 17, 1934. He was interred in the Royal Crypt at the ‘Church of Our Lady of Laeken.’
