New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-19
KING LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM.

KING LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM.
Our advices by the Cuba announce the death
of King Leopold /. of Belgium, monarch
whose name has often been conspicuous in the
history of the thirty-four years during which
he occupied the Belgian throne. At the time
of his death King Leopold was 75.years OF age
being born on Dec. 16, 1890. lie was one Of
the most aged monarchs of Europe, only two
the Landgrave of HesSe-IIamburg and the
Prince of Reuss- Schleiz-being his elders
King Leopold descended from The ducal
house of Saxc.COburg, being the youngest son
of the Duke Francis of e-Saalfeld Coburg,
who was the grandfather of the present Duke OF
SAKE Coburg- -Gotha. The latter prince, there
fore, and Prince Albert, the late Prince Consort
of England. were his nephews. He was also an
uncle of King Ferdinand of Portugal (the father
of the present king) and of Queen Victoria
whose mother, the Duchess Of Kent, was his
sister.
In May. 1916. Leopold married the Princess
Charlotte, the Princess Royal of England, who
was daughter of George the Fourth, then
Prince Regent, and heir to the throne Had
his wife lived. Leopold would have become, IN
the course of time, Prince Consort, position
which his nephew Prince Albert, subsequently
obtained by marrying Queen Victoria; but
Princess Charlotte died in November, 1917,
AFT .r having been delivered Of still-born child
Leopold's relations 10 the English Court con-
tipued. however TO remain most intimate. Oh
his marriage he had been made Duke OF Ken
dali. with pension of $3.50, 900 year.
He declined. in I-3O, the Crown of Greece,
but in the following year, accepted that o
Belgium. In 1892, he married Princess Louisa
the daughter of Louis PHILIPPE, by whom he had
\ three children, Prince Leopold, Duke of Bra
> bant. who succeeds bis father rs King Leopold
IL; Prince Philip, Count of Flanders, ano
Princess Charlotte, the wife of Maximilian o
Mrpico. Queen I.ouisa died in 1e5O. OF lat'
king Leopold was reported to have entered a
morcanaic marriage with German lady and
to have greatly offended his children by his at
} tempt 10 introduce his wife at Court.
In bis private life Leopold was known TO be
one of the most parsmonous princes, aud to
have amassed very large property. He lived
in general, retired, and carefully abstained from
; taking personal part in the conflict between
the Liberal and the Catholic parties which con
tinued during all his reign. He was by
death, although his children were brought ny
Catholics, his natural sympathies were with the
r Liberal party but he was careful TO withhold
any public exhibition of his own views, aud
always subordinated them to the majority OF the
; Belgium Parliament.
As regards foreign policy, King Leopold was
frequently called upon by other soveregns to
give his advice on important questions. He
was anxiously intent upon avoiding any com
) plications with foreign Powers, aud upon
strengthening, by all means within his power,
the independence of bis Kingdom. In this ell
deayor he was, on the whole, very successful,
as Belgium throughout his reign enjoyed pro-
found peace. Even with Louis Napoleon, who
soquestrated property of his wife, together with
that of the other members of the House of Or
leans, he managed 10 remain on good terms.
The death Of Leopold leaves. however the
prospects OF Belgium somewhat clouded Louis
Napoleon hardly coneeals his desire TO annex,
at least, the French-speaking portion Of the
; kingdom of France, and the sstute Prime Min
lister OF Prussia, Count Bismark, is known TO
make desperate efforts 10 confirm the Emperor
in this opinion, speculating, in case of the
destruction OF Belgian independence, on the
annexation Of the Flemish or German districts TO
Prussia OF the ability OF King Leopold l. TO
avert this foreign danger little is as yet known,
aud il remains 10 be seen whether he will be as
successful a. his father TO conjure the gathering
storm.