X-Nico

8 unusual facts about Albert I of Belgium


Belgium–Israel relations

In February 2010, a plaque honoring King Albert I, husband of Elizabeth of Bavaria, was unveiled at Albert Square in Tel Aviv in the presence of the Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai and Ambassador Bénédicte Frankinet.

Campanile Basso

King Albert, hero of the First Word War, died in 1934, a year after his ascent of the Via Preuss, also in a fall, at Marche-les-Dames.

King Albert of Belgium (le Roi Alpiniste) climbed Campanille Basso in 1933 by the Via Preuss, giving name to the Terrazzino Re dei Belgi.

Chasseurs Ardennais

On 10 March 1933, King Albert I changed the unit's name from 10e de ligne to Régiment des Chasseurs Ardennais.

Grace Vanderbilt

Following the War, she and her husband frequently returned to Europe, becoming friends and guests of numerous members of European royalty including Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, King Albert I of Belgium, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Queen Marie of Romania, the Shah of Iran, and every British monarch since Queen Victoria.

Henri Smets

When he became the Belgian cross country champion, he was honored by Belgian King Albert I of Belgium.

Henry I. Kowalsky

Kowalsky sought out the friendship of the Belgian heir apparent, Prince Albert, during one of the Prince's trips to the United States.

Joseph Guillemot

The 10 000 m final was brought forward by almost three hours by the request of King Albert.


Anton Docher

During his long stay to Isleta, he met celebrities of this time like the royal family of Belgium, Willa Cather and George Wharton James among others.

De Panne

Famous people who lived or died in De Panne include King Albert I and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium (who lived there during World War I), and John Aidan Liddell, VC, who died in De Panne in August 1915.

Une voix dans le désert

In August 1915 Belgium had been invaded by the German army: the big cities had been destroyed, the carnage on both sides was incalculable and King Albert and his army were driven to the banks of the river Yser in West Flanders.

William Herbert Phillipps

For over 25 years Sir Hubert was honorary consul for Belgium in South Australia and for his services was created Chevalier of the Order of Leopold by Albert, King of the Belgians.


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