|
The following The Lions of England meets the Elephants page is under construction.
Please do not edit or alter this article in any way while this template is active. All unauthorized edits may be reverted on the admin's discretion. Propose any changes to the talk page. |
| “ | Brutally attacked by Germany which had entered into the most solemn engagements with her, Belgium will defend herself with all of her strength against the invader. In these tragic hours which my country is undergoing, I am addressing myself to Your Excellency, who so often has demonstrated towards Belgium an affectionate interest, in the certainty that you will support with all of your moral authority the efforts which we are now firmly decided to make in order to preserve our independence. | ” |
–Leopold III's quote to President Roosevelt, Brussels, May 10, 1940 | ||
| Leopold III | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leopold III in 1934 | |
| King of the Belgians | |
| Reign | 23 February 1934 – 25 September 1983 |
| Predecessor | Albert I |
| Successor | Baudouin |
| Born | 3 November 1901 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | 25 September 1983 (aged 81) Brussels, Belgium |
| Burial | Church of Our Lady of Laeken |
| Spouse | Astrid of Sweden (m. 1926; died 1935) |
| Issue | TBD |
| House | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (until 1920) Belgium (from 1920) |
| Father | Albert I of Belgium |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Bavaria |
Leopold III (3 November 1901 – 25 September 1983) was King of the Belgians from 23 February 1934 until his death on 25 September 1983. At the outbreak of World War II, Leopold tried to maintain Belgian neutrality, but after the German invasion in May 1940, he failed to maintain his neutrality due to rapid german advance and he fled to London with Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot and his cabinet. He was the last Belgian king to be sovereign of the Congo, before it became independent in 1960 and became the Republic of the Congo.
[UNDER PROGRESS]
Early life and family[]
Prince Leopold was born in Brussels, the first child of Prince Albert, heir to the Belgian throne, and his consort, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. In 1909 his father became King of the Belgians, as Albert I, and Prince Leopold became Duke of Brabant.
In August 1914, when Belgium was invaded by Germany, King Albert allowed Leopold, then aged twelve, to enlist in the Belgian army as a private and fight in defence of the kingdom. However, in 1915, with Belgium almost entirely occupied by the Germans, Leopold was sent to attend Eton College, while his father fought on in France.
After the war, in 1919, the Duke of Brabant visited the Old Mission and Saint Anthony Seminary in Santa Barbara, California.
[UNDER PROGRESS]
Reign[]
In 1960, Leopold declared the Belgian colony of Congo independent. During the parade following the last ceremonial inspection of the Force Publique, the royal sabre of the king was momentarily stolen by Ambroise Boimbo. The photograph, taken by Robert Lebeck, was widely published in world newspapers, with some seeing the act as a humiliation for the king.
Independence of Congo[]
During the Congolese declaration of independence, Leopold delivered a highly contested and apology speech in which he denouced the acts of the first Belgian owner of the Congo, King Leopold II and he formally apologized to the people of the Congo for Atrocities. At the same event, the first democratically elected prime minister of Congo, Patrice Lumumba, gave a blistering response with a speech that was highly lass critical of the Belgian regime. Lumumba cited the killings of many Congolese, as well as the insults, humiliation and the slavery they experienced and accepted the apology from Leopold.