Baudouin I

For more information on Baudouin I, visit Britannica.com.

Baudouin (bōdūăN') , 1930–93, king of the Belgians (1951–93), son of Leopold III. He joined his father in exile (1945–50) in Switzerland. After their return to Belgium his father's unpopularity led to Baudouin's appointment (1950) as regent, and on Leopold's abdication (1951) Baudouin ascended the throne. In 1960 he married Fabiola de Mora y Aragón, a Spanish noblewoman. He was succeeded by his brother, Albert II.

King of Belgium (1951–1993). Although he exercised the prerogative of rule after August 11, 1950, when the Belgian parliament accepted Leopold III's offer to abdicate, he did not formally ascend the throne until July 17, 1951.

Quotes:

"It takes twenty years or more of peace to make a man; it takes only twenty seconds of war to destroy him."