Prince of Liège
Encyclopedia
Prince of Liège was a substantive title
awarded by King Albert I of the Belgians
to his youngest grandson, Prince Albert
, the present king Albert II
, while he was third in line to the throne of Belgium
, and used from June 7, 1934, until August 9, 1993. Since he became the King of the Belgians on 1993, Albert II no longer bears the title Prince of Liège. His wife, the present Queen Paola
, was known as the Princess of Liège from their marriage in 1959 until 1993.
His elder brother prince Baudouin later king Baudouin I, was known as the Count of Hainaut while his father prince Leopold, later king Leopold III was the Duke of Brabant
at the time of Albert's birth. Leopold's brother held the title of Count of Flanders
.
All the titles that were common in the Belgian Royal Household thus being given, a new style had to be created.
The title is reminiscent of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a noble title of the Holy Roman Empire
which ceased to exist in 1795.
King Albert II decided in 2001 to no longer award courtesy titles such as Count of Flanders
, Count of Hainaut and Prince of Liège. The heir to the throne will be awarded the title Duke of Brabant
, current title held by HRH prince Philippe.
It is therefore likely that Albert II will be the only Prince of Liège.
Substantive title
A substantive title is a title of nobility or royalty held by someone , which was acquired either by direct grant or inheritance...
awarded by King Albert I of the Belgians
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
to his youngest grandson, Prince Albert
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, the present king Albert II
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, while he was third in line to the throne of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and used from June 7, 1934, until August 9, 1993. Since he became the King of the Belgians on 1993, Albert II no longer bears the title Prince of Liège. His wife, the present Queen Paola
Queen Paola of Belgium
Paola, Queen of the Belgians , is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium....
, was known as the Princess of Liège from their marriage in 1959 until 1993.
His elder brother prince Baudouin later king Baudouin I, was known as the Count of Hainaut while his father prince Leopold, later king Leopold III was the Duke of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
at the time of Albert's birth. Leopold's brother held the title of Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
.
All the titles that were common in the Belgian Royal Household thus being given, a new style had to be created.
The title is reminiscent of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a noble title of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
which ceased to exist in 1795.
King Albert II decided in 2001 to no longer award courtesy titles such as Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, Count of Hainaut and Prince of Liège. The heir to the throne will be awarded the title Duke of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
, current title held by HRH prince Philippe.
It is therefore likely that Albert II will be the only Prince of Liège.
Princes of Liège (Kingdom of Belgium)
- AlbertAlbert II of BelgiumAlbert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
(1934-1993)