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