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Leopold III of Belgium

Palace of the Marquess of Assche, 3 Nov 1901 – Saint-Luc University Hospital, 25 Sep 1983

12 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born3 Nov 1901, Palace of the Marquess of Asschenot verified1 source
  • MarriedLilian, Princess of Réthynot verified1 source
  • MarriedAstrid of Swedennot verified1 source
  • TitleSenator by Right, 1927–1934or King of the Belgians, 1934–1951not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of the Belgians, 1934–1951or Senator by Right, 1927–1934not verified1 source
  • Died25 Sep 1983, Saint-Luc University Hospitalnot verified1 source
  • FatherAlbert I of Belgiumnot verified1 source
  • MotherElisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgiansnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 3 Nov 1901

    Born in Palace of the Marquess of Assche

  2. 1927–1956

    7 children are born

  3. 1927–1934

    Senator by Right

  4. 1934–1951

    King of the Belgians

  5. 25 Sep 1983

    Dies in Saint-Luc University Hospital, aged 81

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 7

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Palace of the Marquess of Assche.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1900s · Leopold III is born in Palace of the Marquess of Assche

In the news1900

First old-age pension law passed

In 1900, the first law on old-age pensions was approved in Belgium.

Daily life

Manual labor and domestic education

Housework was labor-intensive, with simple meals taking hours to prepare, often involving grinding coffee by hand. Household schools were established to teach young girls domestic skills like bread baking and preparing meals.

Work

Cost of beer in workers' taverns

Beer was a staple for workers, sold in taverns for 12 centimes per glass (3-4 deciliters) or 24 centimes per liter from the barrel.

Powered flight. The Wright brothers flew a powered aeroplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903; in 1906 Santos-Dumont flew the 14-bis in Paris.Around the world · 1903–1906

Powered flight. The Wright brothers flew a powered aeroplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903; in 1906 Santos-Dumont flew the 14-bis in Paris.

Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright (credited as photographers) [1], [2] · public domain

What people wore

Formal Men's Dress and Posture

For men of social standing, a top hat was essential for daily work, and linen shirts required crisp white stiffening, including a high collar that enforced an upright posture.

Getting around

Extensive Steam Tram Network in 1900

In 1900, the Belgian steam tram network was highly extensive, with fares as low as five or seven centimes per kilometer.

At the table

Rising sugar consumption

Between 1900 and 1905, the annual average sugar consumption per capita in Belgium doubled from 5 to 10 kilograms as prices dropped.