Ο Leopold I of Belgium (“King Leopold I” & “Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld”, 1790-1865), King of Belgium from 1831 to 1865, was the first monarch of the independent country and played a key role in establishing the new kingdom. Born in the House of Saxe-Coburg, he was the son of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and the Germanic Princess Marie-Louise of Savoy. Before assuming the reign of Belgium, he had served as a military commander and had contributed to the European political scene, participating in important diplomatic and military activities.

Leopold I was known for his prudence and political stability during his reign, guiding Belgium through difficult times, such as the independence of the state from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the contradictions that existed in the new society. He also had a role in the establishment of the Belgian constitution.

As far as Freemasonry was concerned, Leopold I was a member of the Masonic Brotherhood and specifically of the Scottish Press, to which he had been initiated during his stay in England. It has been reported that he was a member of a lodge under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of England, reinforcing Freemasonry’s association with the elite of the time.

During the early years of his life, he was initiated in a lodge connected to the royal court of Britain, as he had close relations with the British royal family.

Leopold I’s association with Freemasonry is often recorded in historical records. Tectonic connections were very common among members of the royal families of Europe, and Leopold I’s involvement in Freemasonry was part of the wider cultural and political network linking aristocrats across Europe at the time.

His devotion to Freemasonry would connect him with the ideas of brotherhood and personal growth promoted by the Fraternity.

He died on 10 December 1865 in Brussels.