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For the full article, see Leopold II . Leopold II, orig. Léopold-Louis-Philippe-Marie-Victor, (born April 9, 1835, Brussels, Belg.—died Dec. 17, 1909, Laeken), King of the Belgians (1865–1909). Succeeding his father, Leopold I, he led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin.
Sep 9, 2022 · Explore the life and reign of King Leopold II of Belgium. Gain knowledge of his domestic agenda. Learn about his genocidal rule in the Congo and its impact. Updated: 09/09/2022.
- Birth
- Rise to Power
- Reign
- Congo Free State
- Atrocities Committed
- A Tarnished Legacy
- Personal Life
Leopold was born the second child of King Leopold l and Louise-Marie, the daughter of King Louis Philippe of France on April 9, 1835. His elder brother, crown prince Louis Philippe died the year he was born. His sister was Empress Carlota of Mexico and Queen Victoria was his first cousin. He was described as a shy and socially awkward child. By 185...
The young prince became a member of the Belgian senate in 1853 and was adamant about Belgium acquiring colonies. Between 1855 to 1865 he traveled to India, Europe, Africa, and China. He was interested in Belgian trade relationships with other countries. In 1865, King Leopold l died and was succeeded by his eldest son Leopold II, who was crowned kin...
The young king was hungry to make significant reforms as outlined in his letter to his brother, Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders. He wanted his nation to be prosperous as as well as a force to be reckoned with. During Leopold II’s reign, the following reforms were made; universal male suffrage was put on the statutes, trade unions were legalized,...
Leopold really wanted Belgium to acquire colonies so he set his sights on Africa, central Africa to be specific. With the help of famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley, Leopold took control of a territory seventy-six times the size of Belgium. The clan chiefs were deceived to sign over their lands in exchange for the cloth, trinkets, alcohol, and ot...
Leopold II was called the “Butcher of the Congo” by some leaders who frowned at the brutal treatment he meted out to his Congolese colony. In the late 1890s, a young British clerk, Edmund Dene Morel discovered the natives were held at gunpoint to work. He wrote, “I had stumbled upon a secret society of murderers with a king for a [partner].” Leopol...
Leopold II’s popularity declined in his country because of the brutalities perpetrated during his rule over the Free State of Congo. It came as no surprise when his subjects booed during his funeral procession in 1909. Following Congo’s independence from Belgium in 1960, the statues of Leopold II were moved to the national museum. 110 years after K...
Leopold II had six children with two women, however, he died without a male heir. Therefore, the Belgian Crown was passed to Albert I, the son of Leopold’s brother, Philippe, Count of Flanders. In the last decade of his life, the king raised a lot of eyebrows when he began living with a young prostitute called Caroline Lacroix. He thus became the t...
Leopold II of the Belgians (April 9, 1835 – December 17, 1909) succeeded his father, Leopold I of Belgium, the first king of the independent Belgium, to the Belgian throne in 1865 and remained king until his death. He was the brother of Charlotte, Empress of Mexico and cousin to Queen Victoria.
Biography: Leopold II was the King of Belgium from 1865—when he succeeded his father, Leopold I—until his death in 1909. He is perhaps best known for his role in establishing the Congo Free State as a private venture, resulting in widespread human rights abuses with enduring effects.
After the atrocities in King Leopold II‟s Congo Free State started to become publicized, Belgium felt threatened and paid Leopold to sell the Congo to the state. Belgium annexed the Congo from 1908 up to 1960 maintaining Leopold‟s policies and turning the Congo into a. mining economy, minus the forced labor camps.
