1-632-972 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

Leopold II, King of the Belgians, 19th century. The brother of Empress Carlota of Mexico and cousin to Queen Victoria, Leopold II (1835-1909) was the second King of the Belgians. He is best remembered for founding the Congo Free State in 1885 with the intention of exploiting its rubber, ivory and mineral resources, ruling as its sovereign. The local population were subjected to brutal exploitation by their colonial rulers, resulting in atrocities and an estimated 5-15 million deaths. When news of the situation reached the outside world in 1905, there was an outcry, leading to international pressure forcing Leopold to transfer the administration of the Congo to the Belgian state.