Once upon a time, there was a ruler who stands as one of history's most infamous figures – King Leopold II of Belgium. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he sought to carve his legacy by controlling the Congo Free State, a land he saw as a potential source of immense wealth and power for his homeland.
Driven by imperialist ambitions, King Leopold II maneuvered skillfully, convincing European powers in 1885 to grant him ownership of the Congo Free State as his personal domain. This allowed him to exploit the region's abundant resources without any checks or balances.
Under his rule, the Congo Free State witnessed unimaginable suffering. King Leopold II governed with an iron fist, employing a system of forced labor to extract rubber from the Congolese people. Those who resisted or failed to meet the stringent rubber quotas faced harrowing consequences – their lives were forfeit, or they endured gruesome mutilation.
Tragically, the toll was staggering, with estimates suggesting that as many as 10 million Congolese perished during his reign, a heart-wrenching testament to the cruelty they endured.
Today, the legacy of King Leopold II casts a long shadow over Belgium, and the Congolese people still bear the weight of the damage inflicted during those dark years. His rule serves as a somber reminder of the indelible scars that colonialism and unchecked exploitation can leave on the pages of history.