Marriage4 November 1926
Marries Asrtrid, daughter of Prince Charles of Sweden
Historical person
Leopold III Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Leopold III, based on 17 World History Database records associated with Belgium.
17 records1926–195115 events4 places
Chronological biography
1926
1934
Succession23 February 1934
Succeeds as King of Belgium
1939
Peace Mediation7 November 1939
Appeals for peace & offers to mediate
1940
Belgian Army Defends Flanders LineMay 1940
Leopold's army fights in Flanders as German forces press westward through Belgium.
Belgian Withdrawal through Flanders ConductedMay 1940
Belgian forces fall back through Flanders while trying to maintain contact with British and French armies.
German OccupationMay 1940
German forces occupy Bruges during the campaign in Belgium.
Invasion of France12 May 1940
Agrees to let Billote take command of the Allied Armies in Belgium
Belgian Surrender Ends Organised Flanders Defence28 May 1940
Belgium's surrender ends organised Belgian resistance in Flanders while British and French forces continue withdrawing.
Capture of Belgium28 May 1940
Surrenders Belgium to the Germans
Abdication30 May 1940
The Senate makes demandis Leopolds dethronement on "moral" & "juridicial" grounds
Invasion of France30 May 1940
The Leader of the Belgian Chamber charges Leopold with surrendering to Germany
Neutrality27 October 1940
Belgium declares its neutrality
1944
Liberation of Bruges12 September 1944
Allied forces liberate Bruges from German occupation.
1950
Restoration20 July 1950
Restored to the throne after exile in Switzerland
Exile of Leopold III22 July 1950
Returns to Belgium after six years in exile
1951
Abdication1 August 1951
Leopolds return threatens civil war. Leopold abdicates in favour of his son Prince Baudouin
Referendum1 August 1951
57% vote for Leopolds restoration in a referendum
Titles and roles
King
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.