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Albert I of Belgium

- King Albert I -

Albert I (April 8, 1875 - February 17,1934) was the King of the Belgians

Born Albert Leopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the younger son of Philip, Count of Flanders, and succeeded his uncle, Leopold II of Belgium, on the throne on December 17, 1909.

He was married on October 2, 1900 to Duchess Elisabeth Gabrielle Valérie Marie in Bavaria, a Wittelsbach princess whom he met at a family funeral. She became Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians. A daughter of Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, and his wife, the Infanta Maria-Josepha of Portugal, she was born at Possenhofen, Bavaria, Germany on July 25, 1876, and died on November 23, 1965.

Their children:

At the beginning of World War I, Albert resisted the German advance and held them off long enough for Great Britain and France to prepare for the Battle of the Marne (September 6 - 9, 1914). Leading his army back into its own territory, he re-entered Brussels to a hero's welcome.

King Albert I was killed in a climbing accident at Marche-les-Dames, in the Ardennes region of Belgium near Namur. He is interred in the Royal vault at the Church of Our Lady, Laeken Cemetery, Brussels, Belgium.


Preceded by:
Leopold II

List of Belgian monarchs

Succeeded by:
Leopold III