Leopold II of Belgium

Leopold II was the King of Belgium from 1865 to 1909, known for his personal interest in exploring and collecting art. However, he is infamous for colonizing the Congo Free State during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He claimed to aim for development and civilization, but his rule led to brutal exploitation of the Congolese people, involving forced labor, severe punishments, and human rights abuses. Eventually, international outrage forced Belgium to take control of the territory, renaming it the Belgian Congo. Leopold’s legacy is complex, marked by his contributions to art and architecture but also by severe humanitarian atrocities in Africa.