Leopold ii biography
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King Leopold II ruled over Belgium from to Today, the memory of his reign still lives on, and he is glorified with golden statues of his likeness in every major city in Belgium. In history classes, each generation is taught that he was a humanitarian who brought Christianity and the wonders of civilization to The Congo Free State. However, the truth has been kept away from the Belgian people. The reality is that King Leopold II is responsible for the murder and mutilation of 10 million Congolese people. This just may be the biggest cover-up in European history.
Early and Personal Life
Leopold II was born in to King Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orleans. They were the very first royal family of Belgium, because the country was just 5 years old. For thousands of years, that territory had been conquered by nearby Netherlands, France, Germany, and Luxembourg. They were a newly independent country that had yet to form a unique national identity.
Leopold II had two younger siblings c
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Leopold II of Belgium
King of the Belgians from to
| Leopold II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Portrait by Alexander Bassano, c.&#; | |||
| Reign | 17 December &#;&#; 17 December | ||
| Predecessor | Leopold I | ||
| Successor | Albert I | ||
| Prime ministers | |||
| Reign | 1 July &#;&#; 15 November | ||
| Governors-general | |||
| Born | ()9 April Brussels, Belgium | ||
| Died | 17 December () (aged&#;74) Laeken, Brussels, Belgium | ||
| Burial | Church of Our Lady of Laeken | ||
| Spouses | |||
| Issue Detail | |||
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| House | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | ||
| Father | Leopold I of Belgium | ||
| Mother | Louise of Orléans | ||
| Signature | |||
Leopold II[a] (9 April – 17 December ) was the second King of the Belgians from to , and the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State from to
Born in Brussels as the second but eldest-surviving son of King
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King Leopold II
On 9 April, birth in Brussels of Leopold, Louis, Philippe, Marie, Victor, son of Leopold inom and Louise-Marie.
Prince Leopold entered the Senate, of which he was a member bygd right. On 22 August, he married Marie-Henriette of Habsburg-Lorraine, Arch-Duchess of Austria. They had four children: Louise-Marie (), Leopold (), Stephanie (), Clementine ().
On 17 månad, Leopold took the constitutional oath.
On 12 månad, the King Palace convened an international conference in Brussels of scientists, geographers and explorers, focusing on the upptäckt of the centre of Africa. This resulted in the setting up () of an "association for the civilisation and utforskning of huvud Africa".
Leopold II set up, with the cooperation of the British explorer Stanley, the Study Committee on the Upper Congo, converted in into the International Association of the Congo.
The Berlin Conference recognised the independent state of the Congo, of which Leopold I