King Leopold I’s Followers (7)

King Leopold I

Born

in Coburg, Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire

December 16, 1790

Died

December 10, 1865

Website

https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/histor...

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Leopold I was the first king of the Belgians, reigning from July 1831 until his death.

The youngest son of Duke Francis of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold took a commission in the Imperial Russian Army and fought against Napoleon after French troops overran Saxe-Coburg during the Napoleonic Wars. After Napoleon's defeat, Leopold moved to the United Kingdom where he married Princess Charlotte of Wales, who was second in line to the British throne and the only legitimate child of the Prince Regent (the future King George IV). Charlotte died after only a year of marriage, but Leopold continued to enjoy considerable status in Britain.

After the Greek War of Independence, Leopold was offered the throne of Greece but turned it down, believing it to b Leopold I was the first king of the Belgians, reigning from July 1831 until his death.

The youngest son of Duke Francis of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold took a commission in the Imperial Russian Army and fought against Napoleon after French troops overran Saxe-Coburg during the Napoleonic Wars. After Napoleon's defeat, Leopold moved to the United Kingdom where he married Princess Charlotte of Wales, who was second in line to the British throne and the only legitimate child of the Prince Regent (the future King George IV). Charlotte died after only a year of marriage, but Leopold continued to enjoy considerable status in Britain.

After the Greek War of Independence, Leopold was offered the throne of Greece but turned it down, believing it to be too precarious. Instead, he accepted the throne of Belgium in 1831 following the country's independence in 1830. The Belgian government offered the position to Leopold because of his diplomatic connections with royal houses across Europe, and because as the British-backed candidate, he was not affiliated with other powers, such as France, which were believed to have territorial ambitions in Belgium which might threaten the European balance of power created by the 1815 Congress of Vienna.

Leopold took his oath as King of the Belgians on 21 July 1831, an event commemorated annually as Belgian National Day. His reign was marked by attempts by the Dutch to recapture Belgium and, later, by internal political division between liberals and Catholics. As a Protestant, Leopold was considered liberal and encouraged economic modernisation, playing an important role in encouraging the creation of Belgium's first railway in 1835 and subsequent industrialisation. As a result of the ambiguities in the Belgian Constitution, Leopold was able to slightly expand the monarch's powers during his reign. He also played an important role in stopping the spread of the Revolutions of 1848 into Belgium. He died in 1865 and was succeeded by his son, Leopold II. ...more

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	Reise in das innere Nord-America in den Jahren 1832 bis 1834; Volume v 13..Vignettes..atlas.v. by Maximilian Wied (creator), Karl Bodmer (Creator), King Leopold I (Creator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Privatbriefe Kaiser Leopold I. an Den Grafen F. E. Pötting, 1662-1673; Volume 57 by Alfred Francis Pribram, King Leopold I, Moriz Landwehr Von Pragenau 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by King Leopold I (?)

“It is not for us that we exhort you to learn, but for yourself, because ignorance is an inability, a real disaster, because social positions and protection are no longer there as before, there is a ground for malice and even hatred. (King Leopold I In a letter to his son Prince Leopold II)”
― Leopold I

tags: belgium, leopold-i-of-belgium, leopold-ii, leopold-ii-of-belgium

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“The sedition mongers are not numerous, but they frighten the peaceful majority, who, although it can be really strong, feels a veritable panic before this agitating force in the shadows? It is in this fear that lies the principal danger, and it would be in the veritable interest of the welfare of Europe that the Powers could show that the necessary force to support and defend the right is not still lacking to them.”
― Leopold I

tags: belgium, concert-of-europe, europe, leopold-i, leopold-i-of-belgium

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“My heart knows of no other ambition than that of seeing you happy!”
― Leopold I

tags: belgium, leopold-i, leopold-i-of-belgium

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King Leopold I’s Followers (7)

King Leopold I

Combine EditionsKing Leopold I’s books

Combine Editions
King Leopold I’s books