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Leopold II of Belgium

1835–1909 · Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. Born at Brussels. Died at Laeken.

See Leopold II of Belgium on the tree On the map Thrones

Reigned

1865–1909

King of the Belgians

A king who owned a colony

From 1885 to 1908 the Congo Free State was the personal property of Leopold II of Belgium. Its rubber came from forced labour, and estimates of the population decline under his rule run from 1 to 15 million. Belgium took it over in 1908.

Family

Father: Leopold I of Belgium
Mother: Louise of Orléans
Married: Marie Henriette of Austria 1853
Caroline Lacroix 1909
Children (4): Princess Louise of Belgium 1858
Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant 1859
Princess Stéphanie of Belgium 1864
Clémentine of Belgium, Princess Napoléon 1872
Siblings (3): Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium 1833
Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders 1837
Charlotte of Belgium 1840

Related to

Leopold II of Belgium was the 29× great-grandson of Charlemagne.
Leopold II of Belgium was the first cousin of Victoria.
Leopold II of Belgium was the 4× great-grandson of Louis XIV of France.