Belgium, 20 Franc 1790-1865
6.4516 g., .900 GOLD, .1867 oz AGW.
Leopold I (of Belgium) (1790-1865), king of the Belgians (1831-65). The son of Francis Frederick,
duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Leopold was born in Coburg, Germany; he was originally named Georges
Chrétien Frédéric. As a youth during the Napoleonic Wars, Leopold fought in the Russian army. In 1816
he married Princess Charlotte Augusta, daughter of Prince George, later King George IV of Great
Britain. In 1830 Leopold refused the Greek throne but the following year was elected the first
monarch of Belgium after that country was separated from the Netherlands. The first eight years of
his reign were marked by differences with the Dutch that were settled in 1839 by a treaty reaffirming
the neutrality of Belgium. The remainder of his reign was marked by peaceful development of the
country. He was succeeded by Leopold II, a son by his second marriage in 1832 to Louise d'Orléans,
daughter of Louis Philippe, king of France.
"Leopold I (of Belgium) ", Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia.
