Leopold III of Belgium

Introduce

Leopold III of Belgium (full name Leopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel de Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; Brussels, November 3, 1901 – Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, September 25, 1983) Prince of Belgium, Duke of Brabant, was King of the Belgians from February 17, 1934, to July 16, 1951, when he abdicated in favor of his son Baudouin.

Leopold III is remembered today as one of Belgium’s main heroes during World War I for the great courage he demonstrated by going to the front lines alongside his father’s soldiers. However, he is also remembered for being one of the most politically controversial figures in Europe during World War II, when his autocratic character made him unpopular with the country’s government, much of its population, and the European Allied powers.