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Albert I of Belgium

King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934 (1875-1934) · Belgium · Historical Figures · Died at 58

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He held the throne while his country became a battlefield. Albert I refused to flee when Germany invaded in 1914, commanded his army from the last free corner of Belgium, and earned a nickname that stuck: the Soldier King.

PoliticiansJournalistPoliticsRoyalty19th Century

A life in dates

1934Died17 February 1934Supreme Order of ChristAward1933Honorary Doctorate from the University of StrasbourgAward1931Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1930Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of ParisAward1928“Brilliant reception at the station. Children are tidied up as soon as they enter the mission grounds. There is perfect order. The mission makes a big impression.”In their wordsThe visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality.

“Visit of the incomparable and impressive installations of Union Minière. We go up the hill.”In their wordsThe visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality. King Albert about the mining operations in the

“The chief comes to greet us, he is a handsome Baluba negro, dressed as a European with a white helmet; shame.”In their wordsThe visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality. King Albert meets an indigenous Congolese chef at

“I am struck that quite a few black workers do not greet us and watch us pass by with folded arms. There are dances in the evening, not very lively.”In their wordsThe visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality. King Albert when visiting Leopoldville (Today

“The negro workers are still unaware of the force that can give them union organization; happy industrialists.”In their wordsThe visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality.

1925Cross of Liberty 1st Division, 1st ClassAward1914Knight of the GarterAward1910Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands LionAwardKnight of the Order of the ElephantAwardOrder of the Rue CrownAwardRoyal Order of the SeraphimAward1907Knight of the Order of the Golden FleeceAward1875Born8 April 1875

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Equestrian statue of King Albert I (Courtens, 1951) in front of the Royal Library of Belgium in BrusselsEquestrian statue of King Albert I (Courtens, 1951) in front of the Royal Library of Belgium in BrusselsKing Albert touring the Belgian Congo during his visit in 1909King Albert touring the Belgian Congo during his visit in 1909Newspaper compilation in December 1909 shows Albert at top left after inspection of a mine. His wife and children are at bottom right.Newspaper compilation in December 1909 shows Albert at top left after inspection of a mine. His wife and children are at bottom right.King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth praying to Our Lady of the Sablon, stained glassKing Albert I and Queen Elisabeth praying to Our Lady of the Sablon, stained glassSword of honor offered by the city of Paris to Albert I of BelgiumSword of honor offered by the city of Paris to Albert I of BelgiumLucien Frank, Residence of King Albert I during WW I in De Panne, 1915.Lucien Frank, Residence of King Albert I during WW I in De Panne, 1915.Albert wearing the uniform of a British infantry officer inspecting the front line with British and Belgian officers.Albert wearing the uniform of a British infantry officer inspecting the front line with British and Belgian officers.

In their own words 10

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Albert I of Belgium
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10 statements, newest first

  1. Brilliant reception at the station. Children are tidied up as soon as they enter the mission grounds. There is perfect order. The mission makes a big impression.

    1928, The visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality., Own words

  2. The reception was enthusiastic and brilliant. The city appears largely mapped out, too bad there are so many ugly buildings that make it look like a city in the American Far West.

    1928, The visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality. King Albert about his entry in Elizabethville, Own words

  3. Visit of the incomparable and impressive installations of Union Minière. We go up the hill.

    1928, The visit of King Albert I to the Belgian Congo in 1928. Between propaganda and reality. King Albert about the mining operations in the, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Supreme Order of Christ1934
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strasbourg1933
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1931
Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Paris1930
Cross of Liberty 1st Division, 1st Class1925
Knight of the Garter1914
Royal Order of the Seraphim1910
Order of the Rue Crown1910
Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion1910
Knight of the Order of the Elephant1910
Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece1907
Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky
Military Cross
Order of the Black Eagle
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
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 Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword
Grand Cross of the Order of Christ
Royal Order of the Lion
Grand Cross of the Order of Wissam Alaouite
Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy
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 the Star of Romania
Order of Michael the Brave
Order of St. Andrew
Order of St. George, 3rd class
Order of St. George, 4th class
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John
Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders

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Albert I of Belgium

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About this person

Albert was born in Brussels on 8 April 1875, the second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and came to the throne in 1909 when his uncle Leopold II died. He married Elisabeth of Bavaria and they had three children. Five years into his reign, German forces swept into Belgium and occupied most of the country. Albert stayed, led what remained of the Belgian army, and became the Knight King to a population under siege. When the war ended in 1918, he oversaw Belgium's adoption of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 and the years of reconstruction that followed, while also presiding over the Belgian Congo and the League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi. The last stretch of his rule brought the opening years of the Great Depression. On 17 February 1934, at 58, he died in a mountaineering accident in eastern Belgium, and his son Leopold III took the throne.

Country
Belgium
Category
Historical Figures
Type
Historical Figure
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1875 to 1934 · aged 58

Historical Figures from Belgium 6

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