Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

Albert I of Belgium

Also known as Soldier King (nickname) · Knight King (nickname)

Palace of the Count of Flanders, 8 Apr 1875 – Rochers de Marche-les-Dames, 17 Feb 1934

11 facts1 source

Animated by AI

About Albert I

Albert I of Belgium: From Senator to King

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Albert I of Belgium as born in 1875 at the Palace of the Count of Flanders. His father was Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his mother was Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. 123

Albert served as Senator by Right from 1906 to 1909. He then held the title King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934, the central public role associated with him in the collection. 456

The collection records his death in 1934 at Rochers de Marche-les-Dames. Both the birth and death records carry a probable confidence rating; the account links his family background to a progression from senatorial office to kingship. 72345

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born8 Apr 1875, Palace of the Count of Flandersnot verified1 source
  • TitleSenator by Right, 1906–1909or King of the Belgians, 1909–1934not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of the Belgians, 1909–1934or Senator by Right, 1906–1909not verified1 source
  • Died17 Feb 1934, Rochers de Marche-les-Damesnot verified1 source
  • MotherPrincess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringennot verified1 source
  • FatherPrince Philippe, Count of Flandersnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 8 Apr 1875

    Born in Palace of the Count of Flanders

  2. 1901–1906

    3 children are born

  3. 1906–1909

    Senator by Right

  4. 1909–1934

    King of the Belgians

  5. 17 Feb 1934

    Dies in Rochers de Marche-les-Dames, aged 58

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Palace of the Count of Flanders.

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

The 1870s · Albert I is born in Palace of the Count of Flanders

In the news1879–1883

Arrival of the telephone

The telephone arrived in Belgium between 1879 and 1883, transforming communication in the Belle Epoque.

Getting around

Punctual Canal Boat Travel

Canal barges were slow, typically moving at 3 to 4 km per hour, but they were remarkably punctual, as skippers followed a strict schedule and did not wait for latecomers.

At the table

Bread Spending Gap Between Classes

While laboring families spent roughly 30 percent of their total income on bread, wealthy families spent less than 2 percent.

The Franco-Prussian War and a united Germany. Prussia defeated France, and the German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.In Europe · 1870–1871

The Franco-Prussian War and a united Germany. Prussia defeated France, and the German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

Anton von Werner · public domain

What people wore

Black became the standard rural color

During the second half of the 19th century, black became the dominant color for everyday clothing in the Flemish countryside, replacing the colorful styles of previous eras. Typical daily attire for rural men included trousers, vests, smocks, and hats, while women wore skirts, aprons, blouses, and shawls.

Music

Explosion of brass bands in Belgium

Between 1830 and 1860, brass bands (harmonies and fanfares) spread rapidly in villages, and a true explosion in their numbers occurred between 1860 and 1880, with 1,203 wind bands recorded by 1880.

Daily life

Schooling and First Communion Expectations

While school attendance was not mandatory by law during this period, most children eventually received some education, often leaving school by age 11 or 12 to begin working. Preparation for the First Communion, involving new clothes and memorizing the Catechism, was considered the most significant life event for a child.