Sigismund, Grand Duke of Flanders (German Heritage)

King Sigismund (Wilhelm Viktor Karl August Heinrich Sigismund; 27 November 1896 at Kiel – 14 November 1978 at Antwerp), was the king of from his father’s death in 1929 to his own in 1978. He was the longest reigning Flemish king, ruling 49 years.

He was the second son of King Henry of Prussia and his wife, Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine. He was a nephew of Kaiser and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia. A great-grandson of Queen Victoria through both his parents, he was the only one of three brothers who did not have the haemophilia common among her descendants.

(1889-1957) was initially believed to take over a monarch of Flanders-Wallonia, but eventually gave up his succession rights in 1926 on account of his haemophilia.

Sigismund is credited for the survival of the Hohenzollern monarchy, and is seen positively.