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CharlottePrincess of Belgium, only daughter of King Leopold I.
Date of Birth: 07.06.1840
Country:  Belgium |
Content:
- Biography of Charlotte
- Marriage and Reign in Mexico
- Downfall and Tragic End
- Adoption and Rumored Affair
Biography of Charlotte
Princess of Belgium, the only daughter of King Leopold I. Charlotte, Princess of Belgium from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, later became the Empress consort of Mexico. She was the only daughter of King Leopold I and his second wife, Louise of Orléans, and the sister of Leopold II and Philippe, Count of Flanders. She was named after Leopold's first wife, Princess Charlotte of Wales, who died in childbirth. Charlotte was a first cousin to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert, as well as Ferdinand II of Portugal.
Marriage and Reign in Mexico
On July 27, 1857, Charlotte married Austrian Archduke Maximilian (1832-1867), the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Maximilian was appointed as the Viceroy of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom, and the couple spent several years in Italy. In 1863, with the support of French Emperor Napoleon III, Maximilian was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico. After their arrival in Mexico in 1864, the couple were crowned and settled in Mexico City, making Chapultepec Palace their residence. As Empress, Charlotte changed her name to Carlota, following the Spanish style.
Downfall and Tragic End
Only a few months after their coronation, Napoleon III decided to withdraw his support for Maximilian's Mexican project. The new Emperor faced opposition from Republicans and the United States. Seeing the instability of their position, Charlotte returned to Europe in an attempt to find support for her husband. However, her efforts were in vain, and she began to show symptoms of schizophrenia and severe stress. She never returned to Mexico. The distressing news from Mexico and the failure of her mission took a toll on Charlotte's health. She suffered from schizophrenia and spent her remaining years under medical care in her castle near Brussels. She died without ever knowing that her husband was executed by firing squad in 1867.
Adoption and Rumored Affair
Charlotte and Maximilian did not have any children. In 1865, the imperial couple adopted Agustin and Salvador Iturbide, the grandsons of former Mexican Emperor Agustin Iturbide. However, after the fall of the monarchy, the adoption became invalid. According to rumors, in 1866, Charlotte had an affair with Belgian officer Alfred van der Smissen, and the result of their relationship was the birth of Maxim Weygand. Weygand, who would later become a French general, neither confirmed nor denied this information.
