Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/780

 (j58 BELGIUM

BELGIUM.

(ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE.)

Reigning King.

Albert, born April 8, 1875, son of the late Prince Philippe de Saxe- Coburg and Gotha and of Flanders (died November 17, 1905), and of the late Princess Marie de Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (died Nov. 27, 1912) ; married Oct. 2, 1900, to Princess Elizabeth de Bavaria ; succeeded his uncle Leopold IL, Dec. 17, 1909.

Children of the Kivg.—{1) Prince Leopold, born Nov. 3, 1901. (2) Prince Charles, born Oct. 10, 1903. (3) Princess Marie-Jose, born Aug. 4, 1906.

Sisters of the King.—{\) Princess Hcnrietle, born Nov. 30, 1870; married Feb. 12, 1896, to Prince Emmanuel of Orleans, Duke of Vendome. (2) Princess Josephine, born Oct. 18, 1872 ; married May 28, 1904, to Prince Charles of Hohenzollern.

Aunt of the King. — Princess Charlotte, sister of Leopold II.; born June 7, 1840 ; married July 27, 1857, to Archduke Maximilian of Austria, elected Emperor of Mexico July 10, 1863 ; widow June 19, 1867.

Daughters of the late King. — (1) Princess Louise, daughter of Leopold II. and of Marie Henriette, Archduchess of Austria, born Feb. 18, 1858 ; married Feb. 4, 1875, to Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Marriage dissolved Jan. 15, 1906. (2) Princess Stephanie, daughter of Leopold 11. and of Marie Henriette, born May 21, 1864 ; married to Archduke Rudolf, only son of the Emperor of Austria, May 10, 1881, ; widow January 30, 1889 ; married March 22, 1900, to Elemer, Count of Lonyay de Nagy Lonya. (3) Princess Clementine, daughter of Leopold IL and of Marie Henriette, born July 30, 1872, married to Prince Victor Napoleon, Nov. 14, 1910.

King Albert has a civil list of 3,300,000 francs, and the Countess of Flanders has a dotation of 50,000 francs.

The Kingdom of Belgium formed itself into an independent State in 1830, having from 1815 been a part of the Netherlands. The secession was decreed on October 4, 1830, by a Provisional Government, established in consequence of a revolution which broke out at Brussels, on August 25, 1830. A National Congress elected Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg King of the Belgians on June 4, 1831 ; he ascended the throne July 21, 1831. By the Treaty of London, Nov. 15, 1831, the neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed by Austria, Russia, Great Britain and Prussia. It was not until after the signing ot the Treaty of London, April 19, 1839, which established peace between King Leopold I. and the King of the Netherlands, that all the States of Europe recognised the Kingdom of Belgium.

Constitution and Government.

According to the Constitution of 1831 Belgium is 'a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy.' The legislative power is vested in the King, the Senate, and the Chamber of Representatives. The royal succession is in the direct male line in the order of primogeniture. By marriage without the King's consent, however, the right of succession is forfeited, but may be restored by the King with the consent of the