Albert I (April 8, 1875 - February 17, 1934) was King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934. The son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, he was the first monarch of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. A soldier through and through, Albert served in the Belgian army from 1895 and was promoted to the rank of Major-general in 1914. He led his country in World War I, and after the war was welcomed home as a national hero. He was actively involved in the nation's political reforms, working to improve labor laws, and was known as a king of peace. His reign ended with his death on February 17, 1934. His consort, Elisabeth, stayed in the country for an extended period after his death, continuing her husband's charitable legacy. Albert I left behind a nation deeply connected to his name and many monuments established in his memory.