About
Second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, and self-made autocratic ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908. He is commonly referred to as the Builder King due to the large number of buildings, urban projects and public works he commissioned. His administration of the Congo Free State was known for its brutality, including forced labor, kidnapping and the amputation of hands when the quota of rubber was not met. In 1908 the Belgian Government took over the administration, reconstituting the Congo Free State as the Belgian Congo.
Before Fame
In 1855, After serving in the military, he became a member of the Belgian Senate. He took the oath of office at age 30 when his father died in December 1865.
Trivia
During his reign, workers were given the right to form labor unions. Free, secular, compulsory primary schools were also established and supported by the state. Child labor laws were passed, restricting anyone under the age of 12 from working. It was established that workers would get compensation for workplace accidents and that Sunday was a day off.
Family Life
He was the second child of the reigning Belgian Monarch, Leopold I and his second wife, Louise. His mother died when he was 15 years old. His older brother, Louis Philippe, died the year before he was born so he grew up as heir to the throne. At 18, he married Marie Henriette of Austria, cousin of the Emperor of Austria and granddaughter to the late Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. They had three daughters and one son, the last of which died of pneumonia at age nine. He was known to have many mistresses. He and his wife separated in 1895. His sister Charlotte became the Empress Carlota of Mexico.
Associated With
Queen Victoria, the British Monarch at the time, was his first cousin.
