King of the Belgians

King of the Belgians (French: Roi des Belges, Dutch: Koning der Belgen, in German, König der Belgier) is the title of the monarchs of Belgium. The designation king of Belgium is not used. The king is responsible, together with the Government, the federal executive power.

Origins

Genealogical tree of the kings of the Belgians.

The Belgian Revolution, which began in August 1830, against Dutch power (Belgium had belonged to the Netherlands since 1815) achieved Belgian independence and the creation of a provisional government. In November 1830 a National Congress was formed that chose the constitutional monarchy as the form of government through the Belgian Constitution of 1831.

The National Congress offered the Belgian crown to Louis of Orleans, son of Louis Philippe I of France, however the French monarch refused. Given this, a Regency was appointed under the direction of Erasmo Luis Surlet de Chokier awaiting a candidate. The crown was eventually offered to the German Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, who lived in England and had been married to the heiress to the British throne Charlotte Augusta, who died in 1817. Leopold had previously refused the crown of Greece, but nonetheless He accepted the Belgian and was elected in 1831 with 142 votes in favor of 196. On July 21, which has been a national holiday in Belgium ever since, he was sworn to the constitution on the Royal Square in Brussels and became the first king of Belgium.

As a consequence of the Belgian revolt, the European powers accepted the independence of Belgium (London Protocol of 1830). However, King William I refused to accept the facts and began an invasion in August 1831, which ended in failure. Finally Leopold I was recognized as King of the Belgians, and therefore the independence of Belgium, in the London Treaty of 1839.

Powers

Belgium is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The king is irresponsible for his acts, so his acts must be endorsed by a member of the Government, likewise his powers come from the Constitution to which he must swear allegiance (articles 33 and 91). The King acts as arbitrator and guardian of the country's unity and independence, represents Belgium abroad and holds the highest command rank of the Belgian Armed Forces.

The king is limited to express their ideological or political positions. However, in March 1990 Baudouin of Belgium refused to sign the law to decriminalize abortion given his religious convictions. Given this situation, the government decided to invoke article 82 of the Constitution ("the temporary inability to reign of the representative of the Crown"). The government assumed the Regency and was thus able to approve the law (articles 93 and 90).

Regency

The Regency has been exercised on three occasions in the history of Belgium:

• Erasmus Luis Surlet de Chokier (25 February - 20 July 1831). He was elected by the National Congress following the rejection of Luis Felipe I of France that his son would occupy the Belgian throne. He resigned with the arrival of Leopoldo I.

• Carlos de Belgium (20 September 1944 - 20 July 1950). He was appointed after the end of the Nazi occupation of Belgium, and while the Government valued the return of Leopoldo III after his acts during the German occupation. Leopoldo III returned after the 1950 plebiscite.

• Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Wilfried Martens (4 - 5 April 1990) He was appointed after King Balduino's refusal to sign the decriminalization of abortion. After the adoption of the law, the king resumed his duties.

Monarchs

Belgium is a country with three official languages: French, Dutch and German. Monarchs often use their names in both French and Dutch, as French names are used in German (just like in English).

Image	Shield	Name	Home	Finalization	Real consort
House of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha (1831-)
		Leopoldo I (1790-1865)	21 July 1831	10 December 1865	Luisa María de Orleans (1812-1850) married in 1832
		Leopoldo II (1835-1909)	10 December 1865	17 December 1909	Maria Enriqueta of Austria (1836-1902) married in 1853
		Alberto I (1875-1934)	17 December 1909	17 February 1934	Isabel Gabriela de Baviera (1876-1965) married in 1900
		Leopoldo III (1901-1983)	23 February 1934	16 July 1951	Astrid de Sweden (1905-1935) married in 1926
Rule of Prince Charles of Belgium (20 September 1944 - 20 July 1950)
		Leopoldo III (1901-1983)	23 February 1934	16 July 1951	Lilian Baels (1916-2002) married in 1941
		Balduino (1930-1993)	16 July 1951	31 July 1993	Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (1928-2014) married in 1960
		Alberto II (1934-)	9 August 1993	21 July 2013	Paola Ruffo di Calabria (1937-) married in 1959
		Felipe (1960-)	21 July 2013	Present	Matilde of Belgium (1973-) married in 1999

Timeline of the Belgian kings