- Born
- Died
- Birth nameLéopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor von Sachsen-Coburg-Saalfeld
- Leopold II (French: Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor, Dutch: Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor; 9 April 1835 - 17 December 1909) was the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909 and, through will and effort, the absentee owner and autocratic ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908.
Born in Brussels as the second but eldest surviving son of Leopold I and Louise of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the Belgian throne in 1865 and reigned for exactly 44 years until his death, the longest reign of a Belgian monarch to date. He died without surviving legitimate sons. The current Belgian king descends from his nephew and successor, Albert I.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bonitao
- SpousesBlanche Delacroix(December 12, 1909 - December 17, 1909) (his death, 2 children)Queen Maria-Hendrika of the Belgians(August 22, 1853 - September 19, 1902) (her death, 4 children)
- Children
- RelativesPrince Albert(Cousin)Queen Victoria(Cousin)King Ferdinand of Bulgaria(Cousin)King Albert I(Niece or Nephew)Charles Napoléon(Great Grandchild)Duchess of Kent and Strathearn(Aunt or Uncle)
- Approached Henry Morton Stanley with the idea of introducing Western civilization and Christianity to the Congo. In reality, the king had set up a private holding company he passed off as a scientific and philanthropic association. Although Stanley refused to impose treaties struck with tribal chiefs that would have ceded sovereignty over their lands, Stanley was indirectly responsible for helping Leopold establish rule over the Congo.
- First cousin of Queen Victoria.
- Maternal grandson of Louis Philippe I, the last King of France.
- Married Blanche Delacroix 5 days before his death to legitimate their two children.
- Uncle of King Leopold III.
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