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Leopold II, king of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. He led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin. Although he played a significant role in the development of the modern Belgian state, he was also responsible for widespread atrocities committed under his rule against his colonial subjects.

Leopold II ruled Belgium from 1865-1909 - activists want this statue in Brussels removed due to his brutal regime in Congo Free State By Georgina Rannard & Eve Webster BBC News

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

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.

1908 The law of 18 October made the independent State of the Congo a Belgian colony. 1909 On 14 December, the King signed the law on compulsory military service. He died three days later.

In the last years of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, King Leopold II of Belgium ruled the Congo Free State with a tyranny that was peculiarly brutal even by the cruel and deeply...

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.

Leopold II was the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, and the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908.