The Kingdom of Belgium

[saxon]

did Belgium used to be a part of The Netherlands?....and if so how did it become a seperate Kingdom, and how did they choose a King?...

[kelly9480]

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_...4/Belgium.html

[Polly]

I've been hearing and reading a little about political problems in Belgium lately, which seem to be potentially quite serious.

What, then, is the position of the Royal Family? If these difficulties are not resolved, is the throne secure, does anyone know?

Thank you.

[Empress]

For information on Belgiums recent political troubles please look here.

[RoyalistRiley]

Belgium was united with the Netherlands after the 1814-15 congress of Vienna in order to creat a north-eastern buffer against future French expansion after the Napoleonic period

[Pomerania]

Although the politic problems of the last months, the public opinion among the belgians is for remaining an united country. Belgium is a federation with flamand and valon regions, and both have important autonomy from 1994( with the new constitution). The crown have the great responsibility for assurance the people confidence in their country and its institutions, the proud in their history of freedom, a belgian history since 1830.

[Blog Real]

- Saxe-Cobourg et -Gotha (Wettin) dynasty -
21 Jul 1831 - 10 Dec 1865 Léopold I (b. 1790 - d. 1865)
17 Dec 1865 - 17 Dec 1909 Léopold II (b. 1835 - d. 1909)
23 Dec 1909 - 17 Feb 1934 Albert I (b. 1875 - d. 1934)
23 Feb 1934 - 16 Jul 1951 Léopold III (b. 1901 - d. 1983)
20 Sep 1944 - 20 Jul 1950 Charles (regent) (b. 1903 - d. 1983)
11 Aug 1950 - 16 Jul 1951 Baudouin (regent) (b. 1930 - d. 1993)
17 Jul 1951 - 31 Jul 1993 Baudouin (s.a.)
(declared incapacitated at his own request, 4-5 Apr 1990)
9 Aug 1993 - 21 Jul 2013 Albert II (b. 1934)
21 Jul 2013 - Philippe (b. 1960)

[CyrilVladisla]

Why is Philippe not listed as Philippe I?

[theroyalfly]

I don't think Baudouin should be listed with a regnal number I since there is no King of the Belgians after him with the same regnal name.

That same goes with Philippe.

[Tatiana Maria]

Some kings who are the first of their regnal name (including Juan Carlos I of Spain) list themselves with the regnal number I, but none of the Belgian monarchs (including King Philippe) have been listed with the number I before there was a second monarch with the name.

[maria-olivia]

No Philippe I because no Baudouin I

[Tatiana Maria]

Was it a mere coincidence that Philippe, unlike Laurent, was given a royal name? At the time he was born no one would have expected him to reign as King of the Belgians.

[theroyalfly]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Some kings who are the first of their regnal name (including Juan Carlos I of Spain) list themselves with the regnal number I, but none of the Belgian monarchs (including King Philippe) have been listed with the number I before there was a second monarch with the name.

Juan Carlos I is a special case like King Umberto I of Italy and Tsar Paul I of Russia whom all used the ordinal I during their reign.

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Was it a mere coincidence that Philippe, unlike Laurent, was given a royal name? At the time he was born no one would have expected him to reign as King of the Belgians.

When Philippe was born on April of 1960, it was his uncle Baudouin's 9th year reign and was set to marry the Spanish aristocrat Fabiola on December of that year.
Having been born to the Prince and Princess of Liège, it was unlikely for him to inherit the throne.
However, as to what you are pointing out, Philippe might be a royal name but only Kings Leopold II and Leopold III has a middle name Philippe. Laurent has a third name Baudouin and Astrid has second name Josephine-Charlotte.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by theroyalfly

Juan Carlos I is a special case like King Umberto I of Italy and Tsar Paul I of Russia whom all used the ordinal I during their reign.

King Luis I used the ordinal I as well and there is speculation that Leonor will reign as Queen Leonor I.

Originally Posted by theroyalfly

When Philippe was born on April of 1960, it was his uncle Baudouin's 9th year reign and was set to marry the Spanish aristocrat Fabiola on December of that year.
Having been born to the Prince and Princess of Liège, it was unlikely for him to inherit the throne.
However, as to what you are pointing out, Philippe might be a royal name but only Kings Leopold II and Leopold III has a middle name Philippe. Laurent has a third name Baudouin and Astrid has second name Josephine-Charlotte.

True, but as the name of historical Belgian monarchs who reigned as Count of Flanders or Duke of Burgundy, the name of the brother of King Leopold II who in time became his heir, and the name of one of the family's patron saints, it is distinctly more of a Belgian royal name than Laurent's, and I wonder if he was given the name in case of an eventuality.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by theroyalfly

Juan Carlos I is a special case like King Umberto I of Italy and Tsar Paul I of Russia whom all used the ordinal I during their reign.



When Philippe was born on April of 1960, it was his uncle Baudouin's 9th year reign and was set to marry the Spanish aristocrat Fabiola on December of that year.
Having been born to the Prince and Princess of Liège, it was unlikely for him to inherit the throne.

There are rumors that Fabiola's gynaecological problems were actually known before her marriage to King Baudouin and led her to break off a previous engagement to a Spanish nobleman. I don't know if that is true or just malicious gossip, but it is not entirely implausible.

[theroyalfly]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

King Luis I used the ordinal I as well and there is speculation that Leonor will reign as Queen Leonor I.

This can be real since Spain has a tradition of following the regnal and ordinal number scheme.

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

True, but as the name of historical Belgian monarchs who reigned as Count of Flanders or Duke of Burgundy, the name of the brother of King Leopold II who in time became his heir, and the name of one of the family's patron saints, it is distinctly more of a Belgian royal name than Laurent's, and I wonder if he was given the name in case of an eventuality.

Laurent is a French diminutive form of Lorenzo (Spanish, Italian). I was thinking maybe Queen Paola named his second son after her Italian relatives but I couldn't find anything. But needless to say, Laurent is really an unlikely name for a Belgian royal. As for his own children, only Prince Aymeric has an unusual name like his.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde also did not give popular royal names to their sons but did so to their daughters Elisabeth and Eléonore.

[theroyalfly]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

There are rumors that Fabiola's gynaecological problems were actually known before her marriage to King Baudouin and led her to break off a previous engagement to a Spanish nobleman. I don't know if that is true or just malicious gossip, but it is not entirely implausible.

I am not certain about this rumor though but what's certain was her five pregnancies ended in miscarriage in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966 and 1968.

It should be noted that in 1962, when her second baby ended in miscarriage, she was told by a Swiss Gynecologist that she only has 10 percent chance of carrying a baby to full term, and herself a five percent chance of surviving. That's why the King and Queen made pilgrimages to Assisi and Lourdes.

[Tatiana Maria]

But would Prince Albert and Princess Paola even have known when Prince Philippe was born that King Baudouin had it in mind to marry Fabiola de Mora? Their engagement was not formally announced until that autumn.

[Marengo]

There are claims that it was indeed known that Fabiola had medical problems. Apparently it was Pss Lilian who tried to convince the king to change his marital plans for that reason. But Cardinal Suenens told the king that 'God will take care of it'.

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

their engagement was not formally announced until that autumn.

The original engagement announcement was set for July 21st but it was postponed due to difficulties in Belgian Congo. Of course Philippe was born in April. It was said that he was named for the Count of Flanders, father of King Albert I. At the time they certainly would not have known that Philippe would inherit the throne as Baudouin was very much expected to have children. In the interview of Albert II of a few years ago he continues to emphasize what a surprise it was for him to become King.

[An Ard Ri]

HRH Prince Charles, Count of Flanders who's Regency last from 1944 until 1950 was possibly the most dangerous era for the Belgian monarchy with the 1950 Referendum on the Monarchy.