Belgium | 1991 | 5 Francs | King Baudouin I

 

King Baudouin of Belgium

Baudouin (1930–1993) became King of the Belgians in 1951 after his father Leopold III abdicated. He reigned for 42 years until his death in 1993. The eldest son of Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden, he had no children, so he was succeeded by his brother, Albert II.

During his reign, the Belgian Congo gained independence, an event marked by tense exchanges with Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Baudouin represented Belgium at major international events, including the 1963 state funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. In 1976, the King Baudouin Foundation was established to improve living conditions in Belgium. He also held prestigious honors, including knighthood in the Orders of the Golden Fleece and the Garter.

Baudouin died unexpectedly of heart failure in Spain in 1993, leading to nationwide mourning. Half a million people paid their respects during his lying-in-state, and he was buried in the royal vault at Laeken.

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