Leopold II of Belgium
Essay by Oscar Auliq-Ice
Leopold II of Belgium, also known as Leopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor, was the King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909. While his reign is notable for some positive achievements, such as the construction of many public works, he is perhaps most infamous for his exploitation of the Congo Free State, a colony he personally owned and ruled as a private fiefdom.
Leopold II acquired the Congo Free State in 1885 at the Berlin Conference, where European powers divided up the African continent. The king saw the colony as a source of personal wealth and set about exploiting its resources and people. The native Congolese were subjected to brutal forced labor, violence, and atrocities, including amputations, torture, and mass killings. The profits from the colony’s rubber, ivory, and other resources were siphoned off to enrich the king and his associates, rather than being used to develop the colony or improve the lives of its people.
The king’s exploitation of the Congo Free State was eventually exposed by journalists and activists, who documented the atrocities and abuses that were taking place. In response to public pressure, the Belgian parliament took control of the colony in 1908, and it became the Belgian Congo. While this brought an end to Leopold’s personal rule, the abuses and exploitation continued under Belgian colonial rule for several more decades.
Today, Leopold II’s legacy is a complicated one. While he is celebrated in Belgium for his role in creating the country’s modern infrastructure and architecture, he is also widely condemned for his brutal exploitation of the Congo Free State. His reign is a reminder of the dark side of colonialism and the exploitation of resources and people that often accompanies it.
In recent years, there have been calls for Belgium to reckon with its colonial past and acknowledge the atrocities committed in the Congo Free State. In 2020, the Belgian parliament voted to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate the country’s colonial past and its legacy in the present day. This is an important step towards acknowledging the harm done to the people of the Congo and working towards a more just and equitable future.
In conclusion, Leopold II of Belgium is a controversial figure whose legacy is defined by his brutal exploitation of the Congo Free State. While his reign brought some positive developments to Belgium, his treatment of the Congolese people is a stain on his legacy and a reminder of the atrocities committed in the name of colonialism. It is important for Belgium and the world to acknowledge this history and work towards a more just and equitable future.
Copyright © Oscar Auliq-Ice
