Léopold II of Belgium

Léopold II was the King of Belgium from 1865 to 1909, known for expanding his country's influence through the colonization of the Congo. While he intended the Congo Free State as a personal project, it became infamous for severe exploitation, forced labor, and brutal treatment of the local population. His administration prioritized resource extraction, especially rubber and ivory, leading to widespread human rights abuses. International outrage eventually led to the Belgian government taking official control of the Congo in 1908, ending Léopold's personal rule over the territory. His legacy is marked both by his monarch's duties and the significant suffering associated with Congo's exploitation.