Leopold II of Belgium facts for kids

Leopold II
Leopold II
King of the Belgians
Reign	17 December 1865 – 17 December 1909
Predecessor	Leopold I
Successor	Albert I
Born	9 April 1835; Royal Palace, Brussels, Belgium
Died	17 December 1909 (aged 74); Royal Palace, Laeken, Belgium
Spouse	Marie Henriette of Austria
Issue	Louise Marie, Princess of Kohary; Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant; Stéphanie, Crown Princess of Austria; Clémentine, Princess Napoléon
House	House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Father	Leopold I
Mother	Louise of Orléans
Religion	Roman Catholic

Leopold II (Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor) (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909) was King of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second (but oldest surviving) son of Leopold I and Louise of Orléans. He succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and was king until his death.

Leopold is mainly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State. He lay claim to the Congo, an area now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He treated the people badly in order to make money. His harsh rule was responsible for the death of between five to 15 million Congo people. The Congo became one of the most infamous international scandals of the early 20th century. Leopold was forced to give control of it to the government of Belgium.

Biography

Leopold II married Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria, in Brussels on 22 August 1853.

On 15 November 1902, Italian anarchist Gennaro Rubino tried to assassinate Leopold. Rubino fired three shots at the King. The shots missed Leopold and Rubino was immediately arrested.

Leopold II had a wedding ceremony with Caroline Lacroix, on 14 December 1909, five days before his death. This was not legal under Belgian law.

He was succeeded as King of the Belgians by his nephew Albert, son of his brother Philippe.

Titles and styles

9 April 1835 – 17 December 1865 His Royal Highness The Duke of Brabant, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Duke in Saxony.
17 December 1865 – 17 December 1909 His Majesty The King of The Belgians. Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke in Saxony.

Images for kids

Leopold in 1844, by Franz Xaver Winterhalter
Leopold II at his accession to the throne
Map of the Belgian Congo (1884)
Leopold II's funeral procession passes the unfinished Royal Palace of Brussels, December 22, 1909
The triumphal arch of the Cinquantenaire complex in Brussels
Monument in Arlon (Belgium)."I have undertaken the work in the Congo in the interest of civilization and for the good of Belgium."
Leopold and Marie Henriette
Leopold II with the coat of arms of the Belgian Congo. Ghent, Belgium.
Bronze bust of Leopold II at the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
Caricature of Leopold II. The caption reads: A constitutional king.
Caroline LaCroix, Leopold's mistress.
Equestrian statue of Leopold II, Regent place, Brussels.
Tomb of Leopold II and Marie Henriette.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels, which Leopold II founded, seen from the boulevard named after him.
Krönungsmedaille Leopold II. – Thronbesteigung am 17 Dezember 1865 – von Léopold Wiener.