View source for Baudouin of Belgium

{{Short description|King of the Belgians from 1951 to 1993}}
{{About|the king of Belgium|eldest son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders|Prince Baudouin of Belgium}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Baudouin
| title        = 
| succession   = [[King of the Belgians]]
| image        = King Baudouin of Belgium (2).jpg
| caption      = King Baudouin in his military uniform (16 September 1960)
| reign        = 17 July 1951 – 31 July 1993
| predecessor  = [[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold III]]
| successor    = [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]
| reg-type     = {{nowrap|[[Prime Minister of Belgium|Prime ministers]]}}
| regent       = {{Collapsible list|title=''See list''|[[Joseph Pholien]]|[[Jean Van Houtte]]|[[Achille Van Acker]]|[[Gaston Eyskens]]|[[Théo Lefèvre]]|[[Pierre Harmel]]|[[Paul Vanden Boeynants]]|[[Edmond Leburton]]|[[Leo Tindemans]]|[[Wilfried Martens]]|[[Mark Eyskens]]|[[Jean-Luc Dehaene]]}}
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Fabiola de Mora y Aragón]]|15 December 1960}}
| house        = [[House of Belgium|Belgium]]
| full name    = {{ubl|[[Dutch language|Dutch]]: Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Gustaaf|[[French language|French]]: Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave|[[German language|German]]: Balduin Albrecht Karl Leopold Axel Maria Gustav}}
| father       = [[Leopold III of Belgium]]
| mother       = [[Astrid of Sweden]]
| signature    = Signature of Baudouin of Belgium.svg
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1930|9|7|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Château of Stuyvenberg]], [[Laeken]], [[Brussels]], Belgium
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|1993|7|31|1930|9|7|df=y}}
| death_place  = Villa Astrida, [[Motril]], Spain
| place of burial = [[Church of Our Lady of Laeken]]
}}
'''Baudouin'''{{efn|{{langx|fr|Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave}}, {{IPA|fr|bodwɛ̃ albɛʁ ʃaʁl leɔpɔld aksɛl maʁi ɡystav|pron}}; {{langx|nl|Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Gustaaf}}, {{IPA|nl|ˈbʌudəʋɛin ˈɑlbərt ˈkaːrə ˈleːjoːpɔlt ˈɑksəl maːˈri ɣʏˈstaːf|pron}}; {{langx|de|Balduin Albrecht Karl Leopold Axel Maria Gustav}}.}} ({{IPAc-en|US|b|oʊ|ˈ|d|w|æ̃}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Baudouin I|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Baudouin|access-date=6 August 2019}}</ref> 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993) was [[King of the Belgians]] from 17 July 1951 until his death in 1993. He was the last Belgian king to be sovereign of the [[Belgian Congo|Congo]], before it became independent in 1960 and became the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (known from 1971 to 1997 as [[Zaire]]).

Baudouin was the elder son of [[King Leopold III]] (1901–1983) and his first wife, Princess [[Astrid of Sweden]] (1905–1935). Because he and his wife, [[Queen Fabiola]], had no children, at Baudouin's death the crown passed to his younger brother, [[Albert II of Belgium|King Albert II]].

In 2024, the [[Holy See]] opened the cause for his [[beatification]], which gave him the title "[[Servant of God]]".

==Biography==

=== Childhood ===
[[File:Baudouin and Albert.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Prince Baudouin of Belgium (left) and his brother Prince Albert, {{circa|1940|lk=no}}]]
Prince Baudouin was born on 7 September 1930 at the [[Château of Stuyvenberg]] in [[Laeken]], northern [[Brussels]], the elder son and second child of [[Leopold III of Belgium|Prince Leopold]], then [[Duke of Brabant]], and his first wife, Princess [[Astrid of Sweden]]. In 1934, Baudouin's grandfather King [[Albert I of Belgium]] was killed in a [[rock climbing]] accident; Leopold became king and the three-year-old Baudouin became Duke of Brabant as [[heir apparent]] to the throne. When Baudouin was nearly five, his mother died in 1935 in Switzerland in the accident of an automobile that his father was driving.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/history/king-baudouin|title=King Baudouin|access-date=19 May 2020|publisher=Belgian Monarchy Official Website}}</ref> Later, in 1941, his father remarried to [[Mary Lilian Baels]] (later became Princess of Réthy). This marriage produced three more children: [[Prince Alexandre of Belgium|Prince Alexandre]], Princess Marie-Christine (who is also Baudouin's goddaughter) and [[Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium|Princess Marie-Esméralda]]. Baudouin and his siblings had a close relationship with their stepmother and they called her "Mother".<ref>Cleeremans, Jean. ''Léopold III, sa famille, son peuple sous l'occupation''; Keyes, Roger. ''Echec au Roi, Léopold III, 1940–1951''</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Sam|last=White|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19530703&id=r2AbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6650,477813&hl=en|title=Europe's Most Slandered Princess|date=3 July 1953|access-date=19 May 2020|publisher=Pittsburgh Press}}</ref> His education began at the age of seven, his tutors taught him half his lessons in French and half in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. He frequently accompanied his father to parades and ceremonies and became well known to the public.<ref>Wilsford 1995, pp. 25-26</ref>

Despite maintaining strict [[Neutral country|neutrality]] during the opening months of [[World War II]], on 10 May 1940, Belgium was invaded by [[Nazi Germany]]. Baudouin, his elder sister Princess Josephine-Charlotte and his younger brother Prince Albert, were immediately sent to France for safety and then to Spain.<ref name="monarchie.be_king-baudouin">{{cite web |url=https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/history/king-baudouin |title=King Baudouin |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=monarchie.be |publisher=The Belgian Monarchy |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref> The [[Belgian Army]], assisted by the French and British, conducted a defensive [[Battle of Belgium|campaign lasting 18 days]], but Leopold, who had taken personal command, [[Unconditional surrender|surrendered unconditionally]] on 28 May. Although the Belgian government escaped to form a [[Belgium in World War II#Belgian government and army in exile|Belgian government in exile]], Leopold elected to remain in Belgium, and was placed under house arrest at the [[Palace of Laeken]], from where he attempted to reach an understanding with the Germans, especially in respect of Belgian [[prisoners of war]] who were being held in Germany.<ref>Conway 2012, p. 29</ref> The children returned to Laeken from Spain on 6 August.<ref name="monarchie.be_king-baudouin"/>

Leopold had established a royal [[Scout group]] at the palace for his sons, whose members were drawn from the [[Scouting and Guiding in Belgium|various Belgian Scout associations]]. In April 1943, the wearing of uniforms was banned by the occupation forces and although Leopold was told that the royal group was exempt, insisted that the ban should apply to them too. However, Baudouin was about to be invested as a Scout and persuaded his father to delay the ban for one day so that the ceremony could take place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://crossoflaeken.blogspot.com/2012/05/royal-scouts.html |title=Royal Scouts |last=Kroonenberg |first=Piet |date=1 May 2012 |website=crossoflaeken.blogspot.com |access-date=13 July 2020 }}</ref>

Immediately following the [[Normandy landings]] in June 1944, the king, his wife, and the royal children, were deported to [[Hirschstein]] in [[Germany]] and then to [[Strobl]] in [[Austria]] from where they were released in May 1945 by the United States [[106th Cavalry Regiment]].<ref name="monarchie.be_king-baudouin"/> However, the royal family were prevented from returning to Belgium by the "[[Royal Question]]" over whether Leopold had collaborated with the Nazis; the surrender in 1940, his refusal to join the government-in-exile, his fruitless visit to [[Adolf Hitler]] at the [[Berghof (residence)|Berghof]] in November 1940 and his unconstitutional marriage to Lilian whose father was believed to be pro-Nazi.<ref>Wilsford 1995, pp. 26-27</ref> Until a political solution could be found, the king's brother, [[Prince Charles, Count of Flanders|Prince Charles]], became [[regent]] and the royal family lived at the [[:fr:Château du Reposoir|Château du Reposoir]] in [[Pregny-Chambésy]], Switzerland. Baudouin continued his education at a secondary school in [[Geneva]] and visited the United States in 1948.

=== Reign ===
{{Expand section|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Luncheon honoring King Baudouin I and Queen Fabiola of Belgium - NARA - 194630.tif|thumb|262px|Baudouin and Fabiola with US President [[Richard Nixon]] and First Lady [[Pat Nixon]] in May 1969]]
In a [[1950 Belgian monarchy referendum|referendum in March 1950]], the public narrowly voted for King Leopold III to return from Switzerland and he was recalled on 4 June 1950. However, parliamentary dissent and public protests forced Leopold to delegate his powers to Baudouin on 11 August 1950, and finally to [[abdication|abdicate]] in favour of Baudouin, who took the [[Oath of the Kings of the Belgians|oath of office]] as King of the Belgians on 17 July 1951.<ref name="monarchie.be_king-baudouin" /> In 1960, Baudouin declared the Belgian colony of Congo independent. During the parade following the last ceremonial inspection of the Force Publique, the royal [[sabre]] of the king was momentarily stolen by [[Ambroise Boimbo]]. The photograph, taken by [[Robert Lebeck]], was widely published in world newspapers,<ref>Glasenapp, Jörn (2008) '"Der Degendieb von Léopoldville. Robert Lebecks Schlüsselbild der Dekolonisation Afrikas" In Paul, Gerhard (ed.) (2008) Das Jahrhundert der Bilder: 1949 bis heute Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen, pp. 242–249, {{ISBN|978-3-525-30012-1}}, in German</ref> with some seeing the act as a humiliation for the king.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 December 2009 |title=La photo du sabre du Roi Baudouin, le 30 juin 1960 |url=http://www.mbokamosika.com/article-la-photo-du-sabre-du-roi-baudouin-le-30-juin-1960-41525491.html |access-date=17 January 2017 |publisher=Mbokamosika}}</ref> 

==== Death of Patrice Lumumba ====
During the Congolese declaration of independence, Baudouin delivered a highly contested speech in which he celebrated [[Atrocities in the Congo Free State|the acts of the first Belgian owner of the Congo]], King Leopold II, whom he described as "a genius". At the same event, the first democratically elected prime minister of Congo, [[Patrice Lumumba]], gave a blistering response with [[Congolese Independence Speech|a speech]] that was highly critical of the Belgian regime. Lumumba cited the killings of many Congolese, as well as the insults, humiliation and the slavery they experienced.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

Lumumba's speech infuriated Baudouin and generated significant conflict between the two men. After the independence of Congo, the natural resource-rich [[Katanga Province]] orchestrated a secession that received substantial military and financial support from the Belgian government, as well as from Belgian companies with business interests in Katanga. Baudouin strengthened his relationships with the Katangese politician [[Moise Tshombé]], whom he made a Knight in the Belgian [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]. In the meantime, Belgium's government, as well as the CIA, supported or organized plots to assassinate Lumumba.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouXas0XYHxM</ref>

In early December 1960, Lumumba and two colleagues, [[Maurice Mpolo]] and [[Joseph Okito]], who had planned to assist him in setting up a new government, were imprisoned in military barracks located about {{convert|150|km}} from Leopoldville. They were underfed and mistreated, per [[Mobutu Sese Seko]]'s orders. Lumumba registered his objections, writing directly to Indian and U.N. diplomat [[Rajeshwar Dayal]], "in a word, we are living amid absolutely impossible conditions; moreover, they are against the law".<ref>{{cite web |last=Sherer |first=Lindsey |date=16 January 2015 |title=U.S. foreign policy and its Deadly Effect on Patrice Lumumba |url=http://history105.libraries.wsu.edu/spring2015/2015/01/16/white-privilege-and-its-effect-on-america/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505203910/http://history105.libraries.wsu.edu/spring2015/2015/01/16/white-privilege-and-its-effect-on-america/ |archive-date=5 May 2017 |access-date=13 March 2022 |publisher=[[Washington State University]]}}</ref> Lumumba and his associates were released in mid-January 1961. Within hours, they were again captured and then transported to Katanga by the Congolese military and handed over to the Katangese authorities. They were beaten by Katangese officers and on January 17, they were executed on the orders of the Katangese leadership. The execution took place in the presence of Katangese President Tshombe, two Katangese ministers and Belgian officials. The firing squad was reportedly commanded by a Belgian Julien Gat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Brussels |title=Facing the truths of Belgium’s colonial past: The unresolved case of Patrice Lumumba’s death |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/magazine/50661/facing-the-truths-of-belgium-s-colonial-past-the-unresolved-case-of-patrice-lumumba-s-death |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=www.brusselstimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Lumumba was buried in a shallow grave but his body was later exhumed by Belgian police officer [[Gerard Soete]] who dismembered Lumumba's body, and dissolved the corpse in acid.<ref name="ReferenceA">Verslag namens de Onderzoekscommissie van de Belgische Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers van het parlementair onderzoek met het oog op het vaststellen van de precieze omstandigheden waarin Patrice Lumumba werd vermoord en van de eventuele betrokkenheid daarbij van Belgische politici, 16 November 2001</ref>

In 2001, a parliamentary investigation set up by the Belgian government concluded that Baudouin, amongst others, was informed of the assassination scheme developed by Mobutu and Tshombé. Both men had conspired with a Belgian colonel, Guy Weber, to "neutralize Lumumba, if possible physically." The king was informed of the plot, but did nothing to oppose the murder. His lack of intervention was described as "incriminating" by the parliamentary investigation, although there was no conclusive evidence found that the king ordered the specifics of the plans.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

In June 2025, Baudouin's close associate [[Étienne Davignon]], a former Belgian junior diplomat to Congo, was requested to be tried for war crimes for his involvement in the unlawful detention, deprivation of a fair trial, and torture of Lumumba in 1960. It is expected to be decided in January 2026 whether a trial will take place. Davignon has denied the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Braeckman |first=Colette |date=2025-06-30 |title=Étienne Davignon, last witness to Lumumba's murder and King Baudouin's gatekeeper |url=https://afriquexxi.info/Etienne-Davignon-last-witness-to-Lumumba-s-murder-and-King-Baudouin-s |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Afrique XXI |language=en}}</ref>

==== Western engagements and later reign ====
As the [[head of state]] of Belgium, Baudouin, along with French President [[Charles de Gaulle]], were the two prominent world leaders at the state funerals of two American presidents, [[John F. Kennedy]] in November 1963 and his predecessor [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in March 1969. At [[State funeral of John F. Kennedy|Kennedy's funeral]], Baudouin was accompanied by [[Paul-Henri Spaak]], the Minister of Foreign Affairs and former three-time [[Prime Minister of Belgium]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Four Days |url=https://archive.org/details/fourdayshistoric00unit |url-access=registration |author=United Press International |year=1964 |author2=American Heritage |location=New York|publisher=American Heritage Pub. Co.|author-link=United Press International|author-link2=American Heritage (magazine)|pages=140–141}}</ref> At Eisenhower's funeral, his next visit to the United States, he was accompanied by Prime Minister [[Gaston Eyskens]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Partial List of Leaders From Abroad at Funeral|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 April 1969|page=32}}</ref>

In 1976, on the occasion of his [[silver jubilee]], the [[King Baudouin Foundation]] was formed, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the Belgian people.

== Death and funeral ==
Baudouin died from a heart attack on 31 July 1993, while on holiday at the Villa Astrida in the southern Spanish town of [[Motril]], after a 42-year reign.<ref>{{cite news |last=Purnell |first=Sonia |date=1 August 1993 |title=King of Belgium dies in Spain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/751619649/ |url-access=subscription |accessdate=7 November 2023 |newspaper=[[The Sunday Telegraph]] |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Richard D. |date=1 August 1993 |title=Baudouin I, King of Belgium, Dies at 62 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/01/obituaries/baudouin-i-king-of-belgium-dies-at-62.html |access-date=27 July 2020 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Although in March 1992 the king had been operated on for a [[mitral valve prolapse]] in Paris, his death still came unexpectedly, and sent much of Belgium into a period of deep mourning. His death notably stopped the 1993 [[24 Hours of Spa]] sportscar race, which had reached 15 hours when the news broke.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://touringcarracing.net/Races/1993%20Spa.html|title=1993 Spa 24 Hours|publisher=touringcarracing.net|access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

Within hours, the gates and enclosure of the royal palace were covered with flowers that people brought spontaneously. A viewing of the body was held at the Royal Palace in central Brussels; 500,000 people (5% of the population) came to pay their respects. Many waited in line up to 14 hours in sweltering heat to see their king one last time. The funeral service was attended by all other European monarchs – including [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] (the only international state funeral she attended in person as monarch) – alongside Emperor [[Akihito]] of Japan. Non-royal guests at the funeral included more than twenty presidents and leaders. Only two reigning heads of state of sovereign states at the time were not invited: [[Saddam Hussein]], and [[Mobutu Sese Seko|Mobutu]], the first due to the [[Gulf War]], the latter due to him being declared [[persona non grata]] partly thanks to Mobutu exposing information about Baudouin's [[Albert II of Belgium|brother]] and [[Queen Paola of Belgium|sister-in-law]]. The presidents and leaders who did attend the funeral included UN Secretary-General [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]], European Commission President [[Jacques Delors]], French President [[François Mitterrand]], Egyptian President [[Hosni Mubarak]], German President [[Richard von Weizsäcker]], Polish President [[Lech Wałęsa]], Bosnian President [[Alija Izetbegović]], Italian President [[Oscar Luigi Scalfaro]], Canadian Governor General [[Ray Hnatyshyn]] and former US President [[Gerald Ford]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

King Baudouin was interred in the royal vault at the [[Church of Our Lady of Laeken]] in Brussels. He was succeeded by his younger brother, who became King [[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]].

== Personal life ==

=== Marriage ===
{{main|Wedding of Baudouin of Belgium and Fabiola de Mora y Aragón}}

[[File:Baudouin I of Belgium visit to Israel (997009932515805171).jpg|thumb|alt=Baudouin I and his wife, Fabiola de Mora y Aragón, during a 1964 visit to Israel|262px|Baudouin and his wife, [[Fabiola de Mora y Aragón]], during a 1964 visit to Israel]]

On 15 December 1960, Baudouin was married in Brussels to [[Queen Fabiola of Belgium|Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón]]. Fabiola was a Spanish noblewoman who was working as a nurse. The couple announced their engagement on 16 September 1960 at the [[Palace of Laeken]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Baudouin Engaged 1960 |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/baudouin-engaged/ |accessdate=7 August 2020 |website=British Pathé}}</ref>

Fabiola began undertaking official engagements immediately, accompanying the king to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Brussels on 26 September 1960,<ref>{{cite web |date=28 June 2013 |title=Dona Fabiola in Brussels |url=https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/king-baudouin-of-belgium-and-his-fiance-dona-fabiola-de-news-photo/172013683 |access-date=2 August 2021 |website=Getty Images}}</ref> and remained an active queen consort and queen dowager for the remainder of her life, involved in social causes particularly those related to mental health, children's issues and women's issues.

King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola had no children; all of the queen's five pregnancies ended in miscarriage.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 April 2008 |title=Koningin Fabiola had vijf miskramen |url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=DMF21042008_144 |access-date=17 January 2017 |publisher=Nieuwsblad.be |archive-date=27 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727074013/http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=DMF21042008_144 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
Baudouin was a devout [[Catholic]].  Through the influence of Cardinal [[Leo Joseph Suenens|Leo Suenens]], Baudouin participated in the growing [[Catholic Charismatic Renewal]] and regularly went on pilgrimages to the [[Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial]].

In 1990, when a law submitted by [[Roger Lallemand]] and [[Lucienne Herman-Michielsens]] that liberalized Belgium's [[Abortion in Belgium|abortion laws]] was approved by Parliament, he refused to give [[royal assent]] to the bill. This was unprecedented; although Baudouin was ''de jure'' Belgium's chief executive, royal assent [[Reserve power#Belgium|has long been a formality]] (as is the case in most constitutional and popular monarchies). However, due to his religious convictions—the Catholic Church [[Catholic Church and abortion|opposes all forms of abortion]]—Baudouin asked the government to declare him temporarily unable to reign so that he could avoid signing the measure into law.<ref name="reign">{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Paul |date=5 April 1990 |title=Belgian King, Unable to Sign Abortion Law, Takes Day Off |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/05/world/belgian-king-unable-to-sign-abortion-law-takes-day-off.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The government under [[Wilfried Martens]] complied with his request on 4 April 1990. According to the provisions of the [[Belgian Constitution]], in the event the king is temporarily unable to reign, the government as a whole assumes the role of [[head of state]]. All government members signed the bill, and the next day (5 April 1990) the government called the bicameral legislature in a special session to approve a proposition that Baudouin was capable of reigning again.<ref name="reign" />

He was the 1,176th Knight of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]] in Spain, which was bestowed upon him in 1960, the 927th Knight of the [[Order of the Garter]], bestowed upon him in 1963, and also the last living knight of the Papal [[Supreme Order of Christ]].<ref name="fleece">{{cite web |last1=Herold |first1=Stephen |title=Society of the Golden Fleece |url=http://www.antiquesatoz.com/sgfleece/knights8.htm |access-date=16 January 2017 |website=Chevaliers De La Toison D'or – Toison espagnole (spanish fleece) |publisher=La Confrérie Amicale}}</ref><ref name="garter">{{cite web |last1=Velde |first1=François R. |title=List of the Knights of the Garter |url=http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/garterlist.htm |website=Heraldica}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Koning Boudewijnstandbeeld, Aalst.jpg|thumb|262px|King Baudouin's statue in the city of [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]]]]On 29 September 2024, [[Pope Francis]] announced during Mass as part of an official visit to Belgium, after visiting the Royal Crypt where Baudouin and Fabiola are buried the day before, his intention to start the procedure towards [[beatification]] of the late King.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cardoen |first=Sandra |date=29 September 2024 |title=Paus Franciscus start procedure tot zaligverklaring van wijlen koning Boudewijn |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/09/29/boudewijn-zaligverklaring-paus-start-de-procedure/ }}</ref> On 17 December 2024, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints officially launched the cause for the beatification and canonization of Baudouin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2024 |title=Anti-abortion king praised by Pope being considered for sainthood |url=https://aleteia.org/2024/12/27/anti-abortion-king-praised-by-pope-being-considered-for-sainthood?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=EM-EN-Newsletter-Daily-&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_term=20241227 |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=Aletia}}</ref>

== Honours ==
=== Belgian distinctions ===
[[File:Royal Monogram of King Baudouin I, King of the Belgians.svg|thumb|100px|Royal Monogram of King Baudouin I, King of the Belgians]]
* [[File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cordon on his 18th birthday, later Grand Master of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2023 |title=Z.M. BOUDEWIJN |url=http://www.ars-moriendi.be/BOUDEWIJN.HTM |website=moriendi.be |language=nl |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-date=19 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919101650/http://www.ars-moriendi.be/BOUDEWIJN.HTM |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[File:BEL Order of the African Star - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Master of the [[Order of the African Star]]
* [[File:BEL Royal Order of the Lion - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Master of the [[Royal Order of the Lion]]
* [[File:BEL Kroonorde Grootkruis BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Master of the [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown]]
* [[File:BEL Order of Leopold II - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Master of the [[Order of Leopold II]]

=== Other European distinctions ===

* [[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Star in the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria|Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
* [[File:DE-BY Der Bayerische Verdienstorden BAR.png|40x40px]] Recipient of the [[Bavarian Order of Merit]] (West Germany)
* [[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 9 Sond des Grosskreuzes.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross Special Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (West Germany)
* [[File:Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg|40x40px]] Knight in the [[Order of the Elephant]] (Denmark)
* [[File:FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the White Rose of Finland]]
* [[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Legion of Honour]] (France)
* [[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Redeemer]] (Greece)
* [[File:ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Falcon]] (Iceland)
* [[File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross in the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (Italy)
* [[File:Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau Ribbon bar.svg|40x40px]] Knight of the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau (Luxembourg)
* [[File:MCO Order of Saint-Charles - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross in the [[Order of Saint-Charles]] (Monaco)
* [[File:Order of the Netherlands Lion ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]] (Netherlands)
* [[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of St. Olav]] (Norway)
* [[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Collar BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Collar in the [[Order of Prince Henry]] (Portugal)
* [[File:PRT Military Order of Aviz - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Military Order of Aviz]] (Portugal)
* [[File:ESP Order of Santiago BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of Santiago]] (Portugal)
* [[File:PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Military Order of Christ]] (Portugal)
* [[File:PRT Three Orders BAR.svg|40x40px]] [[Sash of the Three Orders]] (Portugal)
* [[File:Star of Romania Order Communist Republic.png|40x40px]] Member 1st Class in the Order of the Star of the Socialist Republic of Romania
* [[File:SMR Order of Saint Marinus - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of San Marino]]
* [[File:Order of the Golden Fleece ribbon bar.svg|40x40px]] Knight in the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]] (Spain)
* [[File:Order of Charles III - Sash of Collar.svg|40x40px]] Knight of the Collar in the [[Order of Charles III]] (Spain)
* [[File:Order of Isabella the Catholic - Sash of Collar.svg|40x40px]] Knight of the Collar in the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] (Spain)
* [[File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg|40x40px]] Knight in the [[Order of the Seraphim]] (Sweden)
* [[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Stranger Knight Companion of the [[Order of the Garter]] (UK)
* [[File:Order of the Yugoslavian Great Star Rib.png|40x40px]] Great Star of the [[Order of the Yugoslav Star|Order of the Yugoslavian Star]] (Yugoslavia)<ref>{{Cite journal |date=7 October 1970 |title=Izmjenjena odlikovanja na intimnom ručku |url=https://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/pvpages/pvpages/viewPage/?pv_page_id=101328&pv_issue_no=701007_A |journal=Slobodna Dalmacija |issue=7959 |pages=12}}</ref>

=== Latin-American distinctions ===

* [[File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Liberator General San Martín]] (Argentina)
* [[File:BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Southern Cross]] (Brazil)
* [[File:CHL Order of Merit of Chile - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Collar of the [[Order of Merit (Chile)|Order of Merit]] (Chile)
* [[File:COL Order of Boyaca - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Extraordinary Grand Cross in the [[Order of Boyacá]] (Colombia)
* [[File:MEX Orden del Aguila Azteca 2011 Collar BAR.svg|40x40px]] Collar in the [[Order of the Aztec Eagle]] (Mexico)
* [[File:NI Ribbon bar of the Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Dario.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross of the Order of Rubén Dario (Nicaragua)
* [[File:PER Order of the Sun of Peru - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross with Diamonds of the [[Order of the Sun of Peru]] 
* [[File:VEN Order of the Liberator - Grand Cordon BAR.png|40x40px]] Collar in the [[Order of the Liberator]] (Venezuela)

=== African distinctions ===

* [[File:BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Cross BAR.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Karyenda (Burundi)
* [[File:Ordre du Merite Camerounais (after 1972) 1 class ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of Merit (Cameroon)]]
* [[File:Order of Merit - Grand Cross (Central African Republic).png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of Central African Merit]]
* [[File:Order of the Green Crescent of Comoros - ribbon bar.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the Order of the Green Crescent of Comoros
* [[File:Ribbon bar of the National Order of the Leopard (Zaire).svg|40x40px]] Grand Cordon in the [[National Order of the Leopard]] (Congo)
* [[File:ETH Order of Solomon BAR.png|40x40px]] Collar in the [[Order of the Seal of Solomon]] (Ethiopia)
* [[File:GAB Order of the Equatorial Star - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Equatorial Star]] (Gabon)
* [[File:Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GC ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Crand Cross of the [[National Order of the Ivory Coast]]
* [[File:Order of the Pioneers of Liberia - ribbon bar.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Pioneers of Liberia]]
* [[File:MAR Order of the Throne - Special Class BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Throne]] (Morocco)
* [[File:Ribbon bar of the Order of the Niger.gif|40x40px]] Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Niger]]
* [[File:National Order (Rwanda) - ribbon bar.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the National Order (Rwanda)
* [[File:D-HAN-B-Order-Ernest-August_BAR.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Lion of Rwanda|Order of the Lion]] (Rwanda)<ref>"It was created as a Royal State Order of the Kingdom of Rwanda, registered with the Vatican State in 1947 (through the Foreign Missions Office in Paris), and it has been awarded to such distinguished international figures as H.H. Pope Pius XII (1950), H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1957), H.M. King Baudouin of Belgium (1955), and H.G. Don Francisco Borbon y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville and Grandee of Spain (2005), among others". [https://royalhouseofrwanda.org/royal-order-of-the-lion-of-rwanda Royal House of Rwanda - Order of the Lion]

</ref>
* [[File:SEN Order of the Lion - Grand Cross BAR.png|40x40px]] Crand Cross of the National Order of Senegal
* [[File:Ord.indipendence.Tunis.png|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the Order of the Independence (Tunisia)
* [[File:Haute-Volta Ordre national voltaique GC ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the Nationale Order (Upper-Volta)

=== Asian and Middle-East distinctions ===

* [[File:KHM Ordre Royal du Cambodge - Grand Croix BAR.svg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross of the [[Royal Order of Cambodia]]
* [[File:Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna Ribbon.png|40x40px]] Badge of honour of the [[Star of the Republic of Indonesia|Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna]]
* [[File:Order of Pahlavi Ribbon Bar - Imperial Iran.svg|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of Pahlavi]] (Iran)
* [[File:25th Centennial Anniversary Medal Ribbon Bar - Imperial Iran.svg|40x40px]] [[2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire|25th Centennial Anniversary Medal Ribbon]] (Iran)
* [[File:JPN Daikun'i kikkasho BAR.svg|40x40px]] Collar in the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]] (Japan)
* [[File:Grand Order of Mugunghwa (South Korea) - ribbon bar.svg|40x40px]] Recipient of the [[Grand Order of Mugunghwa]] (South-Korea)
* [[File:Lebanese Order of Merit Extraordinary Grade.gif|40x40px]] Grand Cross in the [[Order of Merit (Lebanon)]]
* [[File:Order of King Abdul Aziz al Saud (3rd Class).png|40x40px]] Collar of the [[Order of King Abdulaziz]] (Saudi Arabia)
* [[File:Order of the Royal House of Chakri (Thailand) ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Knight of the [[Order of the Royal House of Chakri]] (Thailand)
* [[File:Order of Chula Chom Klao - Special Class (Thailand) ribbon.svg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cordon in the [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]] (Thailand)

=== Religious distinctions ===
The Catholic and very pious Baudouin had been awarded some special honours associated with that faith.
* [[File:MaltaBali.png|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]] 
* [[File:OESSG Cavaliere di Gran Croce BAR.jpg|40x40px]] Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|Order of the Holy Sepulchre]] (Holy See)
* [[File:Ordine Supremo del Cristo Rib.png|40x40px]] Knight of the [[Supreme Order of Christ]] (Holy See)
* [[File:Order of the Most Holy Annunciation BAR.svg|40x40px]] Knight of the [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation]] (House of Savoy)

==See also==
* [[Crown Council of Belgium]]
* [[Royal Trust (Belgium)|Royal Trust]]
* [[Herman Liebaers]] (Marshal of the Royal Household)
* [[André Molitor]] (private secretary)
* [[Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou]] (private secretary)
* [[Pierre-Yves Monette]] (advisor)
* [[King Baudouin Ice Shelf]], [[Antarctica]]
* [[List of covers of Time magazine (1950s)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book |last1=Boulden |first1=Jane |title=Peace Enforcement: The United Nations Experience in Congo, Somalia, and Bosnia |date=2001 |publisher=Praeger |location=Westport, Conn. |isbn=0275969061 |edition=1st}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |editor-last=Wilsford |editor-first=David |date=1995 |title=Political Leaders of Contemporary Western Europe: A Biographical Dictionary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B8iJNlWcdIUC&pg=PA25 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=978-0313286230 }}
* {{cite book |last=Conway |first=Martin |date=2012 |title=The Sorrows of Belgium: Liberation and Political Reconstruction, 1944-1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m4Buup8hAQcC&pg=PA29 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0199694341}}

===Other languages===
* A. Molitor, ''La fonction royale en Belgique'', Brussels, 1979
* J.Stengers, ''De koningen der Belgen. Van Leopold I tot Albert II'', Leuven, 1997.
* Kardinaal Suenens, ''Koning Boudewijn. Het getuigenis van een leven'', Leuven, 1995.
* Kerstrede 18 December 1975, (ed.V.Neels), ''Wij Boudewijn, Koning der Belgen. Het politiek, sociaal en moreel testament van een nobel vorst, deel II'', Gent, 1996.
* H. le Paige (dir.), ''Questions royales, Réflexions à propos de la mort d'un roi et sur la médiatisation de l'évènement'', Brussels, 1994.

==External links==
* [http://www.monarchie.be/history/baudouin Official biography from the Belgian Royal Family website]
* {{PM20|FID=pe/001150}}
* [https://archives.africamuseum.be/agents/people/312 Archive Baudouin of Belgium], Royal museum for central Africa

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{{s-bef|before=[[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Duke of Brabant]]|years=1934–1951}}
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{{s-break}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold III]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of the Belgians]]|years=1951–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]}}
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{{Belgian royal princes}}
{{Princes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}}
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