Birthday of Princess Marie-Esmeralda

On September 30, 1956, Princess Marie-Esmeralda, youngest daughter of King Leopold III and his second wife, Princess Lilian, was born at Laeken Castle. She was named after her father's favorite place in Venezuela, La Esmeralda (so called, I believe, because the Europeans expected to find emeralds there, and although their hopes were dashed, the name remained).

Apparently, Esmeralda was born during a violent thunderstorm. In her memoirs, she recalls how her father used to tease her, claiming this was why she was never afraid of storms...

"L'autre Sissi"

Patrick Weber entitled his biography of King Albert's consort Elisabeth de Belgique, l'autre Sissi ("Elisabeth of Belgium, the other Sissi"). Like her aunt, the tragic Austrian empress, the Belgian queen had an artistic, unconventional temperament, but how far did the resemblance go? The Italian politician and diplomat, Count Carlo Sforza (1872-1952), has left us a fascinating comparison of these two Bavarian princesses...

Artistically gifted- [the Belgian queen] is musical, she paints, and she feels poetry very deeply- one would be tempted to trace these gifts to her descent from the House of Wittelsbach, the members of which have, for generations, been such devoted patrons of art. But this explanation does not explain the personality of Elisabeth, far from it. What is admirable in her is that, keenly perceptive as she is of beauty, she has nothing of that morbid Wittelsbach estheticism that characterized her unfortunate aunt, the Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Elisabeth of Austria made a refuge for herself at the Achilleion in Corfu, and dreamed exquisite dreams there. But she deserted the heavy duties her station in life entailed, the Hofburg in Vienna seemed a prison to her. The new Elisabeth of Bavaria- she was named after her imperial aunt- on the contrary, unites with an exquisitely artistic nature, not only an honest forbearance for her royal task, but also a healthy simple joy in fulfilling it, every time she feels she can do good or be useful- which means every hour of the day.

~Makers of Modern Europe (1969)

Finds

It is actually quite difficult to find information on the Belgian royals' visits to the Congo. Most accounts mention these occasions only briefly. I did, however, unearth these titles:

• Albert, King of the Belgians and Buren, Raymond. Journal de route du Prince Albert en 1909 au Congo. 2008.
• Le Congo belge en images. 1927. (Discusses Prince Leopold's visit in 1926)
• Crokaert, Jacques. Boula Matari: au Congo belge avec le Roi Albert. 1929.

There are also the Carnets de Voyages (1919-1983) of Leopold III which, presumably, include his notes on his African trips in 1926 and 1933. I hope in the future to be able to take a look at these (via interlibrary loans and such) but it will probably take a while!

King & Cardinal

A striking portrait of Albert I, by Eugène de Bremaecker (1879-1963), dating from 1923. Although it was sculpted after the war, it seems the King is still shown in military attire? (Compare this postcard from the war period.) He looks a mixture of sadness, weariness, shrewdness and grim determination (reminds me of this photograph of Albert and Marie-José during the war.) What do you think?Désiré-Joseph, Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines and Primate of Belgium, sculpted by the same artist. (Photo credits)

Albert I: Myth & Reality

King Albert's image has varied widely over the decades, ranging from the shining knight sans peur et sans reproche of World War I propaganda, to (in recent, revisionist historiography) a pacifist, a defeatist, or even a traitor to the Allied cause. But what was the truth? Professor John Rogister attempts to sort through the evidence.

Royal Visits to the Congo: A Timeline

I am gathering information for a series of posts on the royal visits to the Belgian Congo (1908-1960). Meanwhile, here is a timeline of these occasions. Ironically, King Leopold II, who cunningly acquired the colony and shocked world opinion by exploiting it ruthlessly, never set foot in his distant possession.

• 1909- Prince Albert (later King Albert I), King Leopold's nephew and heir, tours the Congo, shortly after its annexation by Belgium (previously, it had been under Leopold's personal control.) He is intensely concerned with reform.
• 1925- Prince Leopold, King Albert's son and heir, follows in his father's footsteps by undertaking an extensive journey through the Congo, as part of his preparation for rulership. Like Albert, he returns with sharp criticisms of the colonial régime and suggestions for improvement.
• 1928- King Albert returns to the Congo, with Queen Elisabeth. This is the first time a reigning Belgian Sovereign has visited the colony.
• 1932- King Albert's third visit to the Congo.
• 1933- Prince Leopold's second Congo trip. He is accompanied by his wife, Princess Astrid, who enters wholeheartedly into his hopes and plans for reform.
• 1955- King Baudouin I makes his first state visit to the Congo. The young monarch takes a keen interest in colonial affairs, and, previously shy and reserved, appears to "blossom" on the tour. He is greeted by cheering crowds.
• 1959- King Baudouin's second visit. As Congolese demands for independence mount, the atmosphere is much more tense, even explosive.
• 1960- Belgium agrees to grant the Congo independence. King Baudouin attends the handover of power in the capital, Kinshasa/Léopoldville.

I hope this list is accurate! If you see an error, please correct me.

Night in Bruges

Here is a poem (dated September, 1935) by Australian composer Miriam Hyde, on the death of Queen Astrid. I don't think it is the greatest literature, but I still found it touching. I like the way she captures the grief and solidarity of a whole community.

The carillons are hush’d; still is the night,

And footsteps echo on the cobble-stones.

With faces drawn, under the cold lamp light,

A group of women talk in muffled tones.

Above them, twisted sadly round its pole,

Hangs a limp flag of Belgian colours three;

And there with one another they condole,

Sharing their grief with love and sympathy.

The black canal glides noiselessly along

Under the lonely bridge; and stars are bright.

Perhaps, somewhere among the twinkling throng,

Queen Astrid’s soul to Heav’n has added light.

What do you think of the poem? (Please also read The Broken Rose on King Albert I).

(Photo: Han-sur-Lesse at night, in the public domain. I know it is not Bruges but it was the best I could do).

In Memoriam: Leopold III, King of the Belgians

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the death of Leopold III, King of the Belgians from 1934 to 1951 (1). His passing was quite sudden and unexpected. He had been admitted to hospital for a heart operation, but his doctors were fairly optimistic and the King expressed his full confidence in the top quality medical team (including his old friend, renowned surgeon Michael DeBakey) that had come to his aid... The operation went smoothly. Sadly, however, only hours later, while still under anesthesia, the King's heart failed. His life had been full of tragedy, controversy and tumult but his death was peaceful.

Nonetheless, it came as a painful shock to his family, and to many of his people. The website of the Cercle Léopold III has a brief but deeply moving description (by Christophe Veys) of the days following the King's death:

Voici quelques pensées d'hommage au Souverain que j'ai toujours regretté de ne pas avoir eu l'occasion de rencontrer.

Lors du décès du Roi Léopold III, je n'avais que onze ans.

Je me souviens de mon instituteur... qui, en classe, nous avait fait suivre la cérémonie des funérailles à la télévision.

L'émotion marquait le visage de tous mes camarades de cours. Une ambiance lourde régnait...

Les images témoignaient du chagrin du Roi Baudouin et de tous les enfants du Roi Léopold III, blessés une nouvelle fois par le départ de celui qu'ils avaient tant aimé. Un sentiment de douloureuse et profonde sympathie était palpable.

Lorsque le cercueil sortit de l'église Saint Jacques sur Coudenberg, porté par les Chasseurs Ardennais, un silence absolu enveloppait alors la place Royale de Bruxelles. Pas un mot ne fut proféré par la bouche de ceux qui avaient autrefois accusé le Roi.

Ceux qui l'avaient blâmé hier lui rendaient hommage aujourd'hui, au moins par leur silence, devenu éternel…

***

Here are a few thoughts in homage to the Sovereign I have always regretted never having had the opportunity to meet (2).

At the death of King Leopold III, I was only 11 years old.

I remember my teacher...who had our class watch the funeral ceremonies on television.

Emotion marked the faces of all my classmates. A heavy atmosphere reigned...

The images testified to the grief of King Baudouin and all the children of King Leopold III, wounded afresh by the loss of the man they had loved so much. You could feel a sentiment of painful, deep sympathy.

As the casket left the Church of St. Jacques-sur-Coudenberg, carried by the Ardennian Rifles, an absolute silence enveloped the Royal Square in Brussels. Not a word from the lips of those who had once accused the King.

Those who had blamed him before, rendered him homage that day, at least by their silence, which had become eternal...

The King's children. (Marie-Christine is the only one missing). From left to right: Prince Alexandre, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, King Baudouin I, Prince Albert (now King Albert II), Princess Marie-Esmeralda.
Queen Fabiola supports the stricken Princess Lilian.

King Baudouin's tears.

(1) These are the dates of his reign. Nonetheless, he was allowed to use the title of 'King' even after his abdication (see Keyes, Echec au Roi and Jullian and Désiré, Un couple dans la tempête)

(2) I regret never meeting him, too!

Gunfire at Marche-les-Dames???

I stumbled upon a curious article, Albert 1er, la mort d'un roi, by one Didier Demeter. Like many others before him, he casts doubt on the official version of Albert's death. According to the author, Charles Hennuy, a resident of Marche-les-Dames, reported hearing a gunshot echoing through the cliffs on the fatal day around 4 pm (roughly the time the King was thought to have died), but the inquest failed to investigate this claim. Never before have I come across this assertion, although I was familiar with Hennuy's name. He is mentioned in various accounts as one of the villagers enlisted by the royal entourage (incognito) to assist them in finding the King's body. Does anyone know if this man really ever made such a claim? I am not sure whether to believe the article, it is rather odd. The author's critique of the inquest into the King's death is interesting, detailed and in-depth, but then he falls to making nasty insinuations about Albert and Elisabeth without any proof. (I have discussed some of these old rumors, HERE). I also found it totally unnecessary, and rather ludicrous, to drag the theft of the Just Judges into the story.

Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

Prince Guillaume is the youngest child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg. Born in 1963, he attended secondary school in Luxembourg and Switzerland. He continued his studies at the University of Grenoble (where he earned his baccalaureate in 1982), at Oxford, and at Georgetown (where he received his degree in International Relations in 1987). He has worked for the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. and the European Commission in Brussels. In 1994, he married Sybille Weiller, a lovely young Frenchwoman. Sybille's mother is an Italian aristocrat of Spanish royal descent, Donna Olimpia Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi. The couple have four children.

In 2007, Connecticut's Sacred Heart University awarded Prince Guillaume an honorary doctorate. Dr. Edmond Israel, chairman of Cedel International and former chair of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, delivered the laudatio:

Sacred Heart University is a blessing for those who are studying here and know how to listen also...with the ears of their heart. Prince Guillaume who is honoured today, is one of those human beings who listen with the ears of their heart, and that is why he is a source of inspiration for those who prepare their future.

While conferring the degree, Dr. Anthony Cernera, President of Sacred Heart University, spoke in similar glowing terms:

Your Royal Highness, (with) your life of strong social leadership and generous compassion, you’re witness to the values that we espouse for our students and the University community inspires all of us, and we are grateful for your presence among us. Sacred Heart University brings great honor on itself today by honoring you.

Apparently, Guillaume and Sybille are keenly interested in youth, education and inter-faith dialogue. I am rather wary of the latter, I have to admit. I am not opposed to open discussion of religious differences, and, if possible, reconciliation, but union must be based on the truth and there is a danger that truths of faith may be gravely compromised in all the effort to reach a consensus. Nonetheless, I have no idea what approach the princely couple take to these issues, so I will not launch into criticisms.