| This Mere Men article has not been expanded past 1960 yet. |
| Baudouin | |
|---|---|
| |
| King of the Belgians | |
| Reign | 7 September 1951 – 17 April 1995 |
| Predecessor | Leopold III |
| Successor | Leopold IV |
| Regent | Prince Leopold (1993–1995) |
| Born | 7 September 1930 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | 17 April 1995 (aged 64) Brussels, Belgium |
| Spouse | Pilar of Spain (m. 1960) |
| Issue | 5, including Leopold |
| House | Belgium |
| Father | Leopold III of Belgium |
| Mother | Astrid of Sweden |
Baudouin (7 September 1930 – 17 April 1995) was King of the Belgians from his 21st birthday in 1951 to his death in 1995. He was also the last King of Belgium who was also the sovereign of the Congo.
Early life[]
Baudouin was born on 7 September 1930 in Laeken in Brussels to Prince Leopold and his wife Astrid of Sweden. In 1934, following the death of his grandfather King Albert and ascension of Leopold to the Belgian throne as Leopold III, Baudouin became the heir apparent and Duke of Brabant. His mother died in a car accident the following year.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Baudouin and his siblings were sent to France and then to Spain for safety, but returned to Belgium after King Leopold III, surrendered to the Germans. In 1945, Baudouin was transported to Austria along with the rest of the royal family, where he was held under house arrest by first the German and then the Soviet forces until 1951, when the Belgian government finally arranged the return of Leopold III to the country. Unrest generated by the king’s return however forced him to step down, first appointing Baudouin as Regent and then abdicating the throne to him on 7 September 1951, the Prince’s 21st birthday.
Reign[]
Leopold III continued to advise his son until the latter’s marriage to Infanta Pilar of Spain, daughter of Juan of Barcelona, claimant to the Spanish throne, in 1960.