Whensday: Léopold II in 1865

On December 17, 1865 Léopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor van Saksen-Coburg en Gotha became Loepol II, king of Belgium. He was the second king of Belgium, following Leopold I, his father. He was 30 years old when he became king and reigned until his death in 1909 at the age of 55. He was king for exactly 44 years and remains the longest reigning king of Belgium. 

Leopold is best known for his ruthless deeds done I the Independent Congo Free State which he established. Many historians now look back on that time with disgust. Léopold II used Congo as a personal zoo en discovery ground. The Congo was his personal property, after all. 

Many of the best known places in Belgium were built during his reign and under his charge. The Jubel Park and Dudenpark in Brussels and the Central Station in Antwerp are examples of these. Besides these public buildings he also built various buildings for himself, including the Botanical Gardens in Laken, the Japanese tower and Chinese pavilion near the palace and even special houses in France. The Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French coast was considered one of the most expensive houses in the world in 2009. 

Congo was finally relinquished from Léopold II to the Belgian state in 1908. Belgium bought the area from the king (or he was forced to sell it). From 1908 until 1960 Belgian Congo was a colony of Belgium until it became the country of Congo. The true history of what Léopold II did in his private state of Congo only truly came to light decades later. 

Family of Léopold II were woven into the families and governments all over the world. His sister was empress of Mexico. Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom was a full niece. But in the end all of his ties died out. Today there is only a branch of the house of Bonaparte (his youngest daughter had married Napoleon Victor Bonaparte).

(Photo is of the Victory Arch in Jubelpark Brussels)