View source for List of Belgian monarchs

{{Short description|None}}
[[File:Belgische Monarchen.jpg|thumb|Sculptural busts of the first five Monarchs of [[Belgium]] in the [[Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History|Royal Museum of the Armed Forces]]]]
This is a '''list of [[Monarchy of Belgium|Belgian monarchs]]''' from 1831 when the first Belgian king, [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]], ascended the throne, after [[Belgium]] seceded from the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands|Kingdom of the Netherlands]] during the [[Belgian Revolution]] of 1830.

Under the [[Constitution of Belgium|Belgian Constitution]], the Belgian monarch is styled "King of the Belgians" ({{Langx|fr|Roi des Belges}}, {{Langx|nl|Koning der Belgen}}, {{Langx|de|König der Belgier}}) rather than "King of Belgium" in order to reflect the monarchy's [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional]] and [[Popular monarchy|popular]] function. 

Since 1831, there have been seven Kings of the Belgians and two regents.

==List==
{{see also|Family tree of Belgian monarchs}}
{|style="text-align:center; width:100%" class="wikitable" 
!width=15%|Name!!width=105px|Portrait!!width=20%|Birth and death!!width=15%|Reign started!!width=15%|Reign ended!!width=20%|Marriages!!width=15|Succession right
|-bgcolor="#ffcdcd"
| align="center"| '''[[Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier|Erasme Louis, Baron Surlet de Chokier]]'''<br /><small>[[Regent]]</small>
| align="center"| [[File:Surletdechokier.jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 27 November 1769<br />[[Liège]]<br/>([[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]])<br />–<br />7 August 1839<br />[[Gingelom]]<br />(aged 69)
| align="center"| 25 February 1831
| align="center"| 21 July 1831<br><small>({{age in years and days|1831|02|25|1831|07|21}})</small>
| align="center"| 
| align="center"| Chosen by the [[National Congress of Belgium|National Congress]]
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:NICAISE Leopold ANV (cropped).jpg|center|145x145px]]
| align="center"| 16 December 1790<br>[[Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld]]<br/>([[Holy Roman Empire]])<br />–<br />10 December 1865<br>[[Laeken]]<br>(aged 74)
| align="center"| 21 July 1831
| align="center"| 10 December 1865<br><small>({{age in years and days|1831|07|21|1865|12|10}})</small>
| align="center"| (1) [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796–1817)|Charlotte of Wales]]<br />⚭ 2 May 1816<br />[1 child (stillborn)]<br />(2) [[Louise of Orléans]]<br />⚭ 9 August 1832<br />[4 children]
| align="center"| Elected by the [[National Congress of Belgium|National Congress]]
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Leopold II of Belgium|Leopold II]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:Leopold ii garter knight (cropped 1).jpg|center|120x120px]]
| align="center"| 9 April 1835<br />[[Brussels]]<br />–<br />17 December 1909<br />[[Laeken]]<br />(aged 74)
| align="center"| 17 December 1865<ref name="IR">Under Article 90 of the [[Belgian Constitution]], from the death of a monarch until the swearing in of their successor or a regent, the monarch's constitutional powers are in the hands of the Council of Ministers ([[interregnum]]); this accounts for the difference of dates between the end of one reign and the beginning of the following one.</ref>
| align="center"| 17 December 1909<br><small>({{age in years and days|1865|12|17|1909|12|17}})</small>
| align="center"| [[Marie Henriette, Archduchess of Austria|Marie-Henriette of Austria]]<br />⚭ 22 August 1853<br />[4 children]
| align="center"| Son of<br />Leopold I
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Albert I of Belgium|Albert I]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:Albert I Koning der Belgen.jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 8 April 1875<br />[[Brussels]]<br />–<br />17 February 1934<br />[[Namur, Belgium|Marche-les-Dames]]<br />(aged 58)
| align="center"| 23 December 1909<ref name="IR" />
| align="center"| 17 February 1934<br><small>({{age in years and days|1909|12|23|1934|02|17}})</small>
| align="center"| [[Elisabeth of Bavaria (1876–1965)|Elisabeth of Bavaria]]<br />⚭ 2 October 1900<br />[3 children]
| align="center"| Nephew of<br />Leopold II /<br />Grandson of<br />Leopold I
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold III]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:Leopold III (1934).jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 3 November 1901<br>[[Brussels]]<br />–<br />25 September 1983<br>[[Woluwe-Saint-Lambert]]<br>(aged 81)
| align="center"| 23 February 1934<ref name="IR" />
| align="center"| 16 July 1951<ref>The constitutional powers of the king were exercised by the [[Belgian government in exile|Council of Ministers]] from 28 May 1940 until 21 September 1944, followed by [[Prince Charles, Count of Flanders|Prince Charles]] as a regent until 20 July 1950, and then from 11 August 1950 until 17 July 1951 by his [[Baudouin of Belgium|successor]] under the title of ''Royal Prince''. See Christian Behrendt and Martin Vrancken, "[https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/228112 L'article 93 de la Constitution belge et l'impossibilité de régner du roi : une disposition dépassée par son histoire]", in ''L'Europe au présent ! Liber amicorum Melchior Wathelet''.</ref><br />(abdicated)<br><small>({{age in years and days|1934|02|23|1951|07|16}})</small>
| align="center"| (1) [[Astrid of Sweden]]<br>⚭ 4 November 1926<br>[3 children]<br>(2) [[Lilian, Princess of Réthy|Lilian Baels]]<br>⚭ 6 December 1941<br>[3 children]
| align="center"| Son of<br />Albert I
|-bgcolor="#ffcdcd"
| align="center"| '''[[Prince Charles, Count of Flanders|Charles /<br>Karel]]'''<br /><small>''[[prince regent]] for Leopold III''</small>
| align="center"| [[File:Karel van België Charles de Belgique Karl von Belgien.jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 10 October 1903<br />[[Brussels]]<br />–<br />1 June 1983<br />[[Raversijde]]<br />(aged 79)
| align="center"| 21 September 1944
| align="center"| 20 July 1950<br><small>({{age in years and days|1944|09|21|1950|07|20}})</small>
| align="center"| Unmarried<ref>It is reported that Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, married Louise Marie [[Jacqueline Peyrebrune]] (16 February 1921, in [[La Réole]] – 15 September 2014, in [[Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille]]), formerly Mrs. Georges Schaack, daughter of Alfred Peyrebrune and Marie Madeleine Triaut, in a religious ceremony in [[Paris]] on 14 September 1977. This marriage has been mentioned in every edition of the revived ''[[Almanach de Gotha#London publication, since 1998|Almanach de Gotha]]''. However ''[[:fr:L'Allemagne dynastique|L'Allemagne Dynastique]]'' doubts this assertion, affirming instead that not only was there no civil marriage but that there was also no religious one (which could not take place before a civil marriage, according to French Law). No such religious marriage is registered in the [[Parish register|Parish registers]] of [[Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge]], but a mere private blessing eight months after the death of her husband given by Father Marcelino Carrera was registered: "''The private blessing uniting before God Charles Theodore Count of Flanders and Louise Marie Jacqueline Peyrebrune was given at Saint Peter's at the altar of the Sacred Heart on 14 September 1977. The mutual consent was received by your humble brother in Christ (Fr. Carrera) in the presence of Father Keller and witnesses (Comtesse Annie de Bergeret and Mme. Marie Jeannette Aurelie Menahes). The statement is also signed by the participants and witnesses.''" This was confirmed by private correspondence of Jacqueline Peyrebrune.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} She published her memoirs in two books: ''Love in Shadow - The Secret Garden of Prince Charles of Belgium'' (Editions Tarmeye, 1991) and ''Carnets Intimes'' (Editions Tarmeye, 1993).</ref><br />[childless]<ref>From this Alleged Marriage, a Child was born: Isabelle Wybo. She has only ever appeared at one event with [[Prince Laurent of Belgium|Prince Laurent]], an event for a new exhibit at the [[Cinquantenaire Museum]] although Prince Charles never recognized her. https://www.gva.be/cnt/aid1254922</ref><!-- It should be fixed, but the citations are good temporary placeholders.-->
| align="center"| Son of<br />Albert I /<br />Brother of<br />Leopold III
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Baudouin of Belgium|Baudouin /<br>Boudewijn]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:King Baudouin of Belgium.jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 7 September 1930<br>[[Laeken]]<br />–<br />31 July 1993<br>[[Motril]] ([[Spain]])<br>(aged 62)
| align="center"| 17 July 1951 
| align="center"| 31 July 1993<ref>From 3 until 5 April 1990, the constitutional powers of the king were exercised by the Council of Ministers during the [[Royal assent#Belgium|constitutional crisis around the Belgian Abortion Act]] (see the [https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/228112 external source] in the previous footnote).</ref><br><small>({{age in years and days|1951|07|17|1993|07|30}})</small>
| align="center"| [[Fabiola de Mora y Aragón|Fabiola of Mora and Aragón]]<br>⚭ 15 December 1960<br>[childless]
| align="center"| Son of<br />Leopold III
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:Albert II, King of Belgium.jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 6 June 1934<br />[[Laeken]]
| align="center"| 9 August 1993<ref name="IR" />
| align="center"| 21 July 2013<br />(abdicated)<br><small>({{age in years and days|1993|08|09|2013|07|21}})</small>
| align="center"| [[Paola Ruffo di Calabria|Paola of Calabria]]<br />⚭ 2 July 1959<br />[3 children]<!-- Delphine Boël recognized-->
| align="center"| Son of<br />Leopold III /<br />Brother of<br />Baudouin
|-
| align="center"| '''[[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe /<br>Filip]]'''
| align="center"| [[File:King Philippe of Belgium (Belgian National Day, 2018).jpg|100px|center]]
| align="center"| 15 April 1960<br />[[Laeken]]
| align="center"| 21 July 2013
| align="center"| Incumbent<br><small>({{age in years and days|2013|07|21}})</small>
| align="center"| [[Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz]]<br />⚭ 4 December 1999<br />[4 children]
| align="center"| Son of<br />Albert II
|}

==Timeline==
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat=dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:1830 till:2025
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1830

Colors     =
  id:king   value:green legend: king   
  id:regent value:blue     legend: regent 

Legend     = columns:4 left:150 top:24 columnwidth:100

TextData =
  pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Title:"

BarData =
  barset:PM

PlotData=
  align:left fontsize:S shift:(3,-4) anchor:from width:15 
  barset:PM

 from: 25/02/1831 till: 20/07/1831 color:regent text:"[[Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier]]" fontsize:8
 from: 04/06/1831 till: 10/12/1865 color:king text:"[[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]]" fontsize:10
 from: 17/12/1865 till: 17/12/1909 color:king text:"[[Leopold II of Belgium|Leopold II]]" fontsize:10
 from: 23/12/1909 till: 17/02/1934 color:king text:"[[Albert I of Belgium|Albert I]]" fontsize:10
 from: 23/02/1934 till: 16/07/1951 color:king text:"[[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold III]]" fontsize:10
 from: 20/09/1944 till: 20/07/1950 color:regent text:"[[Prince Charles, Count of Flanders|Charles]]" fontsize:8
 from: 17/07/1951 till: 31/07/1993 color:king text:"[[Baudouin of Belgium|Baudouin]]" fontsize:10
 from: 09/08/1993 till: 21/07/2013 color:king text:"[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]" fontsize:10
 from: 21/07/2013 till: end        color:king text:"[[Philippe of Belgium|Philippe]]" fontsize:10

</timeline>

==See also==
{{portal|Belgium}}
*[[Monarchy of Belgium]]
*[[Family tree of Belgian monarchs]]
*[[List of Belgian consorts]]
*[[Line of succession to the Belgian throne]]
*[[Crown Council of Belgium]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Monarchs of Belgium}}

* Vanthemsche, Guy; De Peuter, Roger, eds. (2023), "[[doi:10.1017/9781139018005.013|Appendix: List of Rulers, Sovereigns and Heads of State (1419–Present) and of Governors General (1507–1794) of the Southern Low Countries and Belgium]]", ''A Concise History of Belgium'', Cambridge Concise Histories, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.&nbsp;357–360.

*[http://www.rulers.org/rulb1.html#belgium Rulers of Belgium]
*[http://www.monarchie.be/history History of the Belgian Monarchy] at Monarchie.be

{{Belgian monarchs}}

[[Category:Lists of monarchs|Belgian monarchs, List of]]
[[Category:Lists of monarchs in Europe|Belgian monarchs, List of]]
[[Category:Belgium history-related lists|Monarchs, List of Belgian]]
[[Category:Lists of Belgian people by occupation|Monarchs, List of Belgian]]