Leopold I of Belgium

Leopold I (Leopold George Christian Frederick; Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony; 16 December 1790 – 10 December 1865) was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians.  This was following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands.  He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His children included Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico.  He was also an uncle of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

He was born in Coburg and died in Laeken.

Titles and styles
 16 December 1790 – 12 November 1826 His Serene Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duke of Saxony
 6 April 1818 – 12 November 1826 (in the UK) His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duke of Saxony
 12 November 1826 – 21 July 1831 His Serene Highness (His Royal Highness in the UK) Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony
 21 July 1831 – 10 December 1865 His Majesty The King of the Belgians

First marriage
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor first married Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1816. Charlotte was the daughter of the Prince Regent (later George IV of the United Kingdom). But they didn't have any children because the marriage only lasted for 1 year. Here's why:

On 3 November 1817, when the Princess’s labour began, she was particularly overdue and a long and difficult delivery resulted in the birth of a still-born son two days later. After the birth Princess Charlotte initially appeared to recover, but due to complications she died five hours later in the early hours of 6 November.

References

Category:1790 births
Category:1865 deaths
Category:Monarchs of Belgium
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society
Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece