Prince Baudouin of Belgium

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Prince Baudouin of Belgium Born Baudouin Léopold Philippe Marie Charles Antoine Joseph Louis June 3, 1869(1869-06-03) Brussels, Belgium Died January 23, 1891 (aged 21) Brussels, Belgium Title Prince of Belgium, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Parents Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Relatives Josephine Marie, Henriette, Josephine Caroline, Albert

Belgian Royalty House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Leopold I Children    Crown Prince Louis-Philippe    Leopold II    Philippe, Count of Flanders    Charlotte, Empress of Mexico Grandchildren    Prince Baudouin    Princess Josephine Marie    Princess Henriette, Duchess of Vendome and Alencon    Josephine Caroline, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen    Albert I Leopold II Children    Louise-Marie, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha    Leopold, Duke of Brabant    Stéphanie, Crown Princess of Austria    Clémentine, Princess Napoléon Albert I Children    Leopold III    Prince Charles    Marie-José, Queen of Italy Leopold III Children    Joséphine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg    Baudouin I    Albert II    Prince Alexander    Princess Marie-Christine    Princess Maria-Esmeralda Baudouin I Albert II Children    Philippe, Duke of Brabant    Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este    Prince Laurent Grandchildren    Princess Elisabeth    Prince Gabriel    Prince Emmanuel    Princess Eléonore    Princess Louise    Prince Nicolas    Prince Aymeric

Prince Baudouin of Belgium (Baudouin Léopold Philippe Marie Charles Antoine Joseph Louis (French) or Boudewijn Leopold Filips Marie Karel Antoon Jozef Lodewijk (Dutch), 3 June 1869- 23 January 1891)^[1] was the first child and eldest son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

Baudouin was the nephew of Leopold II of Belgium. Upon the death of his eldest son, Leopold, Duke of Brabant in the January before Baudouin's birth, the king was left with only one heir – his younger brother, the Count of Flanders. Baudouin's birth that June was celebrated throughout the country. He was second in line to the throne at the time of his birth. King Leopold would have only one more child, another daughter, Clémentine. Baudouin was thus groomed to eventually succeed his uncle as king.

[edit] Death

Baudouin died in Brussels on 23 January 1891, a day after the anniversary of his cousin Léopold's death. Baudouin had been visiting his sick sister, Henriette. The prince, who had been suffering a bout of influenza, insisted on staying with his sister. After taking a drive, he caught a fresh cold, and fell ill, dying shortly afterwards. Rumours circulated after his death that foul play had been involved, including a suggestion that Baudouin's death was copy of the suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria; Rudolf was the husband of Baudouin's cousin, Stéphanie. Baudouin was, at the time of his death, soon to be betrothed to his cousin, Clémentine.^[2] Upon the death of Prince Baudouin, the Belgian Parliament was adjourned and theatres and public institutions were closed until after the funeral. Baudouin's body was interred at the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady, Laeken Cemetery in Brussels.

After Baudouin's death, his younger brother, Albert, became heir presumptive, and later succeeded their uncle Leopold as Albert I of Belgium.

[edit] Titles

• His Royal Highness Prince Baudouin of Belgium, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1869-1891)

[edit] References

1. ^ Belgium, Paul Theroff
2. ^ Belgium in Mouring; Death of Prince Bandouin -- the heir to the throne, New York Times