Charles de Broqueville
| Charles de Broqueville | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 22 October 1932 – 20 November 1934 | |
| Monarch | Albert I Leopold III |
| Preceded by | Jules Renkin |
| Succeeded by | Georges Theunis |
| In office 17 June 1911 – 1 June 1918 | |
| Monarch | Albert I |
| Preceded by | Frans Schollaert |
| Succeeded by | Gérard Cooreman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 December 1860 Postel, Belgium |
| Died | 5 September 1940 (aged 79) Brussels, Belgium |
| Political party | Catholic Party |
Charles Marie Pierre Albert, Count de Broqueville (4 December 1860 – 5 September 1940) was the 20th Prime Minister of Belgium, serving during World War I.
Before 1914
He was the leader of Belgium's Catholic Party, and he served as prime minister between 1911 and 1918.
Once it became clear that Germany intended to violate Belgian neutrality in August 1914, he oversaw Belgium's mobilization for war. Despite the mobilization, de Broqueville opposed King Albert I's proposal to deploy the Belgian Army along the German frontier in 1914 — instead strategically placing them throughout the country. He recognized that wartime support for Belgium depended upon its continued status as a non-provocative neutral power.
1914–1918
The German invasion of 1914 forced the Belgian government into exile at Le Havre. De Broqueville fought the king on the neutrality issue, hereby denying Belgium a full alliance with the Allied forces.
This opposition of the king critically weakened de Broqueville's stance among members of his cabinet. Consequently, he resigned as Foreign Secretary in January 1918 and as Prime Minister in May when he lost the support of his own party.
De Broqueville also served as minister in various departments:
- Minister of Railways and PTT (Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones) 1910-1912
- Minister of War 1912-1917
- Minister of Foreign Affairs 1917
- Minister of Reconstruction 1917-1918
- Minister of the Interior 1918-1919
- Minister of National Defence 1926-1930
After the War
Later, Charles de Broqueville became Prime Minister a second time, serving from 22 October 1932 until 20 November 1934.
Honours
Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1919), Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur (France), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (United Kingdom), Knight with the Collar of the Order of Pius IX (Holy See), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy), Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (Russian Empire), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania, Knight Grand Cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ (Portugal), Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece), Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown, Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class (Japan), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Zähringer Lion (Grand Duchy of Baden), decorated with the Croix de Guerre (France) & Croix de guerre (Belgium).
External links
References and further reading
- Louis DE LICHTERVELDE, Charles de Broqueville, in: Biographie Nationale de Belgique, t. XXIX, 1956-1957, p. 369-377.
- Paul VAN MOLLE, La parlement belge, 1894-1972, Antwerp, 1972
- Luc SCHEPENS, Albert Ier et le gouvernement Broqueville, 1914–1918 : aux origines de la question communautaire. Paris 1983,
- Thierry DENOËL, Le nouveau dictionnaire des Belges, 2e éd. revue et augm., Brussels, Le Cri, 1992, p. 167.
- Maria DE WAELE, Charles de Broqueville, in: Nieuwe Encyclopedie van de Vlaamse Beweging, Tielt, 1998
- Paul VOS, Charles de Broqueville op de kering der tijden, in: Vlaamse Stam, 2012, blz. 122-142.
- Frans RENAERS, De opvoeding van Charles de Broqueville, in: Vlaamse Stam, blz 142-145.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frans Schollaert |
Prime Minister of Belgium 1911–1918 |
Succeeded by Gérard Cooreman |
| Preceded by Jules Renkin |
Prime Minister of Belgium 1932–1934 |
Succeeded by Georges Theunis |
|