A Letter from King Leopold II

This is a letter from King Leopold II to Minister Beernaert of the Congo Free State, July 3, 1890

Dear Minister,

I have never ceased to call the attention of my countrymen to the need to turn our view toward overseas lands.

History teaches that countries with small territories have a moral and material interest in extending their influence beyond their narrow borders. Greece founded opulent cities, bastions of arts and civilization, on the shores of the Mediterranean. Later, Venice built its grandeur on its maritime and commercial relations no less than on its political success. The Netherlands have 30 million subjects in the Indies who exchange tropical products for the products of the mother country.

It is in serving the cause of humanity and progress that peoples of the second rank appear as useful members of the great family of nations. A manufacturing and commercial nation like ours, more than any other, must do its best to secure opportunities for all its workers, whether intellectual, capitalist, or manual.

These patriotic preoccupations dominated my life. It is they that caused the creation of the African effort.

My pains were not sterile: a young and vast State, led from Brussels, has peacefully taken its place in the sun, thanks to the kind support of the powers which have applauded its beginnings. Belgians administer it, while other compatriots, more numerous every day, are already making a profit on their capital.

The immense river system of the Upper Congo opens the way for our efforts for rapid and economical ways of communication that will allow us to penetrate directly into the center of the African continent. The building of the railroad in the cataract area, assured from now on thanks to the recent vote of the legislature, will notably increase the ease of access. Under these conditions, a great future is reserved for the Congo, whose immense value will soon shine out to all eyes.

Soon after that memorable act, I thought it my duty, when death will come to strike me, to make it easy for Belgium to profit from my work, as well as that of those who helped me to found and direct it and to whom I give thanks here once again. I thus made, as Sovereign of the Congo Free State, the will that I am sending you; I will request that you communicate it to the legislative Chambers at what seems to you the most opportune moment.

The beginning of enterprises such as those that have so preoccupied me is difficult and onerous. I insisted on bearing the charges. A King, to give service to his country, must not fear to conceive and pursue the realization of a project so adventurous in appearance. The riches of a Sovereign consist of public prosperity. That alone can appear to his eyes as an enviable treasure, which he should try constantly to build up.

Until the day of my death, I will continue with the same thoughts of national interest that have guided me until now, to direct and sustain our African efforts, but if, without waiting for that date, it makes sense for the country to contract closer ties with my Congo possessions, I would not hesitate to make them available to it, I would be happy, while I am alive, to see it in full benefit towards the Chambers as towards the Government for the aid that they gave to me on several occasions in this creation.

I do not think I am mistaken in affirming that Belgium will gain genuine advantages and will see opening before her, on a new continent, happy and wide perspectives.

Believe me, dear Minister,

Your very devoted,

Leopold.

Princess Louise of Belgium/Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry

Our Great Kings, Part II, Leopold II

King Leopold II is probably the most criticized of all the Belgian kings. If he is not it is only because people think no longer it is necessary to criticize him more because he already has been portrayed as the worst person ever possible. Any search for information about him on the internet will show only a repetitive list of the same horrendous accusations, never with any real evidence to support them, and all involving Africa and the Congo Free State. That this is the result of a deliberate smear-campaign is obvious because what can be said about the King that is negative, in his own life and interactions with others, is never mentioned only about his alleged crimes of villainy in Africa even though he never harmed a single African and never even visited Africa. Because this has obviously been a campaign so widespread and successful I will not try to refute everything here but just highlight the important facts about King Leopold II and why he was not a villain but a really great and far seeing king like the others. His faults he had as a man but not as king.

Like his father, King Leopold II was ambition for Belgium but also never over-stepped his authority as a constitutional monarch. What he did do was to take matters into his own hands in a private capacity when the government refused to act. This is why so many of the magnificent buildings that mark his reign were mostly paid for by the King out of his own pocket. In Belgium itself he showed great concern for the safety and wellbeing of his people and worked with determination to make Belgium a more prosperous, more beautiful and more secure country. All of these things he successfully accomplished too. In Africa his humanitarian aims were less successful but the expeditions he sent did wipe out the network of slave-trading and human trafficking going on in central Africa. He also brought a previously unexplored region to the attention of the world with all of the new cultures, wildlife and plants that came with that which no one had ever seen before. Also, his acquisition of the Congo was done peacefully by negotiation with local leaders. No Belgian army was ever sent to Africa to conquer and dominate native peoples.

King Leopold II established the first lights of modernity in the last dark corner of Africa. Missionaries, teachers, civil engineers and architects and business people all started to bring civilization to the Congo. The first roads, schools, hospitals and modern cities were built because of Leopold II. When word reached him that some local officials were abusing their authority and being cruel to the natives it was Leopold II who sent an official commission to investigate this and they were very honest in reporting the good things that had been done as well as the very terrible things. Because of this, these problems were corrected and the abuses ended. King Leopold II was not a cruel man and he hated to see anyone being mistreated or even having criminals put to death. In his private life he was often insensitive but Leopold II, as king, made Belgium a much more important country, much greater and more advanced and prosperous. He was also a great king for Belgium.

Halloween Costume Idea

I understand it is too late for most of you, but I address the readers in the Americas. It is Halloween and you still have no costume. What to do?! Here is an easy idea, go to 'trick or treat' as the most scary King of the Belgians, Leopold II! (I don't think he was scary, I think he has a very incorrect image but you cannot argue with popular opinion) This is an easy last-minute costume to make, especially since the stores I see here start putting out Christmas items as soon as the first cool wind blows through. All you need is something like a blue coat, maybe also attach some brass buttons, then go get a Santa Claus beard from the store and you are done, ready to go 'trick or treat' as the scary King Leopold II. Best I could come up with at this short notice. Happy Halloween to everyone!

Great Military Paintings (fourth part)

King Leopold II presides over army field maneuvers (I assume it is the Queen who is with him?)

New Honour for Antwerp Station

Congratulations to Antwerp Central Stations winning the Europa Nostrum Prize, a European heritage award (international) for restoration projects. Antwerp Central Station was one of the many ambitious building programs of King Leopold II.

The Legacy of King Leopold II

I had not read much about how much controversy surrounded King Leopold II until I came to university and discovered how many people really hate him. All I knew of King Leopold II was the stern figure of pictures and statues but what I associate the most with Leopold II was the many buildings he left behind. As a child I was taken to see the sights and remember it seemed as if everything really magnificent was built by King Leopold II. Because of that I assume is why the image in my mind I have of his reign was an image of splendor and greatness for the country, a time when Belgians were together in big dreams, big adventures and basically acting bigger than most countries so small would. I always like that. It is hard to view all of these tremendous buildings and not have an awesome feeling I think. I wish the coastal retreat had been finished, what I have heard makes me think that would have been magnificent but, here are some favorites I recall of the magnificent monuments left behind by the second King of the Belgians, the legacy of Leopold II.

The Chinese Pavilion at Laeken Palace

The Cinquantenaire

The Royal Greenhouse at Laeken

The Royal Museum for Central Africa

The Japanese Tower at Laeken

The Antwerp Central Railway Station

King Leopold II of the Belgians

Léopold : entre génie et gêne

This post on a new look at King Leopold II was, I thought, quite interesting. Covering his interest in colonialism, his relations with the Church and his image at home and in the Congo:

En 2007, les Editions Racine avaient publié une biographie objective et intéressante de Léopold II par Matthieu Longue. Deux ans plus tard, ils complètent ce livre par un ouvrage collectif co-écrit par une quinzaine d'historiens du nord et du sud du pays (Vincent Dujardin, Mark van den Wijngaert, Michel Dumoulin, Francis Balace, etc.) et par Gustaaf Janssens, le responsable des archives du palais royal. Après avoir rappelé les grands événements de sa vie privée et publique, les auteurs se sont principalement intéressés à sa politique étrangère et coloniale.

Tout commence lors de ses voyages en tant que prince héritier. Léopold a évidemment vu de grands monuments, tels les pyramides de Gizeh ou le Taj Mahal, mais il concevait tous ses voyages comme des confrontations avec des modes d'administration, des opportunités commerciales et financières, des individus et des structures qui remplissaient une fonction de direction dans le monde politique et économique de l'époque. De retour en Belgique, il lit de nombreux livres et revues sur la géographie et le colonialisme.

On n'en parle pas souvent mais cinq ans après son accession au trône, Léopold II est confronté à la guerre franco-prusienne de 1870 qui met en péril notre indépendance. Sur le plan diplomatique, le Roi et ses ambassadeurs rappellent la neutralité de la Belgique à ses puissants voisins et tente d'obtenir des garanties qu'elle ne sera pas envahie. Parallèlement, il fait voter l'augmentation du budget de la Défense par le Parlement, et envoie des soldats tout au long de nos frontières. Malgré que la bataille de Sedan se passe à quelques kilomètres de chez nous, la Belgique n'entrera pas en guerre et aura réussi à préserver son indépendance et sa neutralité. De même, en 1904, Léopold II n'accepte pas les propositions d'alliance antifrançaise de l'empereur Guillaume II.

Un intéressant chapitre sur la religion montre que Léopold II tenait à de bonnes relations avec le Vatican pour des raisons plus politiques que religieuses. Il ne réagit pas à la prise de Rome par l'Italie. Ses relations sont très bonnes avec le pape Léon XIII qui est le chef d'Etat à qui il écrit le plus souvent après la reine Victoria, et qui suit ses conseils lors des nominations des évêques belges. A la demande du Roi, il réprimande le prêtre Daens mais refuse de trop se mêler de ce problème devenu politique. Le pape Léon XIII est le plus fidèle allié de l'oeuvre congolaise de Léopold II et encourage l'installation de missionnaires catholiques. Mais suite aux accusations sur le régime colonial, le Vatican prend définitivement ses distances avec le souverain belge à partir de 1905.

Les auteurs évoquent ensuite avec beaucoup d'objectivité les critiques internationales contre le régime colonial de Léopold II au Congo, et les résultats de la commission d'enquête de 1905. Une analyse minutieuse des caricatures présente le Roi comme un monarque autoritaire, un colonisateur sanguinaire ou un coureur de jupons. Laurence van Ypersele fait remarquer : "Sous le règne de Léopold II, la caricature rêve d'un roi Père de la patrie, tout entier offert au pays comme il le serait à sa famille, proche et aimant. Tout au long de son règne, les critiques se font de plus en plus sévères. Or, la frustration de l'opinion publique va creuser et renforcer l'attente d'un roi idéal. On comprend mieux, dès lors, la popularité dont a bénéficié son successeur dès son avènement : le roi Albert Ier apparaissait comme l'incarnation même de ce rêve".

Depuis l'indépendance du Congo, Léopold II n'est presque plus cité dans les discours officiels, sauf lors de l'hommage que lui a rendu le président congolais Joseph Kabila dans un discours prononcé au Sénat belge en 2004. L'analyse des manuels scolaires belges démontre que l'oeuvre coloniale y est glorifiée jusque les années 1980-1990, alors qu'on met désormais en évidence les abus qui y ont été commis. Stéphanie Planche place ce changement en parallèle avec l'évolution politique de notre pays : "Léopold II semble réussir le tour de force d'être désormais à la fois défendu et conspué, comme symbole et comme antisymbole, d'une Belgique unitaire et de son érosion : une qualité qui, dans le contexte belgo-belge, lui confère une charge et une portée toutes singulières, et lui prédit certainement encore une longue vie posthume". Quant aux jeunes Congolais, ils le considèrent comme le fondateur de leur pays, tout en rappelant les points négatifs de la colonisation.

Cet ouvrage collectif n'est pas destiné au grand public. Il permettra aux passionnés d'histoire d'avoir des éclairages nouveaux sur le règne et l'historiographie autour de Léopold II, un souverain très controversé. Les auteurs suggèrent également plusieurs pistes de recherche non encore explorées.

Blog sur la famille royale belge

King's Day!

Today is King's Day in Belgium, celebrated on the feast day of St Leopold of Babenburg, a tradition started in 1866 by King Leopold II. With changes in the Church calendar some talked of changing the date but King Baudouin decided to keep it the same.

The Children of Leopold II

Princess Louise-Marie was the first daughter of King Leopold II, born on 18 February 1858 in Brussels. Her relationship with her parents was not ideal, her father being too busy for her and her mother being overly strict. As is often the case this led Princess Louise to become a rebellious character and the most famous flirt of the Belgian royal house. In 1875 she was married to Prince Philippe of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry and later had two children. However, the King disliked the marriage because he was growing distrustful of the Prussians/Germans but her mother approved only because Philippe had a connection with her beloved Hungary. However, it was not a happy marriage at all. While in Vienna Princess Louise-Marie suggested the marriage of Princess Stephanie to the Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf. In 1897 she left her husband after falling in love with an officer in a Croatian regiment of the Austrian army. Her children left her and her husband was wounded in a duel with her lover. The man later went to prison for forgery but in 1906 Louise-Marie and Philippe were finally divorced. Her high living left her with little money and she went to an asylum. When her old lover, Géza Mattachich, got out of prison he helped spring her and they ran away to Paris where they lived till his death. The Princess was then taken care of by Queen Elisabeth until her own death in 1924 in Wiesbaden.

Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant, the only son of King Leopold II, was born in Brussels on 12 June 1859. His birth was a great joy for the country and the royal house; the promise of the continuation of the dynasty. His parents did not have the best marriage but his birth was what it was all about and it was the hope for a son and heir, more than anything else, that kept the King and Queen together for the good of the country. His older sister had been named after her grandmother and Leopold was named after his grandfather (and his father too). When Leopold II became king in 1865 the little Prince Leopold became the Duke of Brabant and he was groomed with the expectation that he would one day be King of the Belgians. However, that was not to be since his young life was cut short when he fell in a pond at Laeken when he was only 10 years old in 1869. He did not drown but came down with pneumonia (it was January and very cold) and died because of that. The usually stern King Leopold II was crushed by the death of his son, collapsing in sobs in public beside the coffin of his little boy. Those who are quick to characterize Leopold II as cold and unfeeling should remember that very public emotional moment. Prince Leopold was buried at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels.

Princess Stéphanie was born at Laeken on 21 May 1864, the second daughter of Leopold II and even at a very young age was considered her duty to marry for the country. The Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria was looking for a wife and Princess Louise-Marie suggested her sister Princess Stéphanie and in the absence of any other royal Catholic princess the agreement was made for another Belgian-Austrian marriage. Because she was so young the wedding had to be put off until she was mature enough to have children and in 1881 the couple were married in Vienna in a very glamorous ceremony. Alongside the members of the Austrian Imperial Family the future Kaiser Wilhelm II attended as did the famous King Edward VII of the British Empire. However, the marriage was not very successful and Rudolf was known for being unfaithful. The Austrian Empress Elisabeth did not welcome her and neglected by her husband Princess Stéphanie fell in love with a Polish count. In 1889 Rudolf killed himself and his mistress and in 1900 in Italy she married a Hungarian count and moved to his country. She survived both world wars and had to flee from the Soviets before her death on 23 August 1945.

Princess Clémentine of Belgium was the last child of Leopold II, after his birth the King and Queen lived apart feeling their was no chance of having another son and heir. Her mother raised her strictly but Leopold II allowed her more freedom until the death of her mother when she had to become the leading female royal of Belgium. She had a good relationship with the King until he opposed her romance with Prince Victor Napoleon Bonaparte. She asked again and again to marry the Prince but the King did not want his daughter marrying a Bonaparte. However, Princess Clémentine was patient and persevered. After Leopold II died she finally married her Prince Napoleon in Italy in 1910 with the blessing of the new monarch King Albert I. Prince Victor later became head of the Bonaparte family (Napoleon V), making Princess Clémentine the wished-for “Empress of the French” for those loyal to the Bonaparte family. After so many years of endurance and sacrifice for others it is satisfying that she was so happy with Prince Victor Napoleon who she absolutely adored and loved. They had two children, a daughter and a son and heir for the Napoleonic dynasty (Napoleon VI). Sadly her husband died in Brussels in 1926 and she must have worried terribly over her son who was almost killed a number of times during World War II in the French Resistance and German captivity. She died in Nice in 1955.

The Belgian Kings

Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, came to the throne on July 21, 1831. His reign was a crucial period and by his wisdom and close relations with the royal houses of Europe ensured that Belgium started out on a firm foundation of stability and with the support of the European community. A veteran of the Russian Imperial Army and the Napoleonic Wars he had been married to the heiress to the British throne (who died) and then married Louise-Marie de Bourbon, daughter of SM Louis-Philippe, King of the French. His astute leadership won the respect of the people and brought the diverse Belgian population together. When revolutions swept Europe in 1848 Belgium remained a safe haven of peace and stability and progress because of the appreciation the people had for his leadership. He established ties of marriage by his children with the Houses of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern and he was one of the most widely respected statesmen of his time, known as the "Nestor of Europe".


Leopold II, son of Leopold I, became King on December 17, 1865 and was determined to make Belgium a magnificent and respected country. He had a great interest in geography and philanthropy. He employed the explorer Henry Stanley to explore the Congo basin and this in time developed into the creation of the Congo Free State of which Leopold II was Sovereign King. He organized an expedition to eradicate the Arab slave trade in central Africa and another to aid in suppressing extremists in Egypt. He also allowed volunteers to go defend the Papal States from Italian nationalists. Belgium became a colonial empire thanks to Leopold II but he is best remembered for the great buildings and monuments he left behind, many of which he paid for himself. He was a man of big ideas and big aspirations. He had even bigger visions of ways to build up the country that he never got to see completed. Unfortunately all of his success aroused alot of jealousy and he was not very popular with the rest of Europe.


Albert I, nephew of Leopold II, became King of the Belgians on December 23, 1909. He was a very humble and religious man and a man with strong convictions. He was very down-to-earth but devoted to duty. In 1914 he refused to sacrifice the neutrality or sovereignty of his country and led the tiny Belgian army to war against the invading Germans. He showed great courage and leadership in the most difficult circumstances, staying with the army and leading them throughout the war, becoming a respected Allied commander and leader of an army group. He was honored all over the world because of his heroic defiance and bold leadership. He wanted to end the war peacefully but this was not possible. After the war he was merciful to his enemies, pushed for universal suffrage and for the further development of Flanders (much of which had been ruined by the war). He took a great interest in every part of his country and was also a man who loved the outdoors. This sadly led to his death in a mountain climbing accident.


Leopold III, son of Albert I, became King unexpectedly on February 23, 1934. Like his father, Leopold III was very religious and very heroic. Even as a boy he had volunteered to fight in the trenches with the army as a regular soldier. He was a devoted father and a great patriot who wanted to keep his country united and neutral. When Nazi Germany invaded Belgium, like his father, he led the army in a heroic fight, holding off the Germans longer than any other of the Low Countries. Finally he was forced to surrender or see his men massacred but he did not abandon them and stayed in Belgium to endure the occupation with his people and to ease their suffering as much as possible. He hoped after such a disaster a new begining could be made with a stronger, more united Belgium with a more efficient and dutiful government. However, he was betrayed by the self-serving politicians he most opposed and he had to go to Switzerland. The people wanted him back but he would not risk conflict and abdicated the throne.


Baudouin, son of Leopold III, was thrust onto the Belgian throne on July 17, 1951 at a time of great turmoil and instability. In such a position it is no wonder King Baudouin would have rather been a priest. However, he was a dutiful king and soon won the respect of everyone by his calm and kind manner and his simple but deep religious faith. However, Belgium had changed and more changes came. King Baudouin went to Africa to give the Congo its independence, though he had misgivings about how prepared they were for total separation. The country also divided officially into Flanders and Wallonia with their own governments for each in addition to the national one. Society was also going through many changes that King Baudouin opposed and he had problems of conscience at times when doing his duty clashes with his traditional moral code. However, King Baudouin was very popular and widely respected around the world though he and his wife Queen Fabiola were sad that they could never have children.


Albert II, brother of King Baudouin, became King on August 9, 1993 and is probably the most active monarch in Europe today. As divisions in the country grew deeper the King has had to work harder and harder to hold the ship of state together. So frustrating has this become that many have said everyone is Flemish or Walloon and only the King is Belgian. Probably no other Belgian king has had to deal with what Albert II has had to deal with; social changes, growing demographic changes, the "War on Terrorism", constantly bickering parties that refuse to cooperate, the economic crisis and the growing position of the European Union. Probably no other King and Royal Family have been so heavily scrutinized in Belgian history as Albert II and his family or been so often asked to justify their position. However, through it all he has kept his good humor and continues to labor on to keep his dysfunctional family of subjects together as one country as he first swore to do.

New Movie to Show on Leopold II

Details from the Blog sur la famille royale belge. I wish I could be there to see it. At the initiative of l'Association Dynastie et Patrimoine Culturel on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 14:30 at the Prince Albert Club in Brussels reporter, editor, writer Patrick Weber will show the film, "Leopold II, the Man Behind the Beard". There will be many pictures of the industrious king and many scenes from the video archives and information from many original documents used. Weber is said to be 'passionate about the monarchial system' and will focus on trying to find the true personality of King Leopold II, what drove him onward, what were his motivations and to get beyond the controversy that seems always surrounding the memory of Leopold II to get to the real facts about him. After seeing so much negative of this king, I have to be a little skeptical hearing that, but I hope that it is true and the film will show the fair and dispassionate facts about this always criticized sovereign.

This screening is free to the public but there is limited seating so anyone who can go needs to reserve their place early. L'Association Royale Dynastie et Patrimoine Culturel that replaced the Friends of the Dynasty Museum of which King Albert II is honorary president, will relate the history of the country from independence and will have a number of related collections on display. They have done similar exhibits in the past on King Albert I and Queen Astrid. They also put out a newsletter (bilingual) for royal historians.

Now I need to go do something to forget myself being homesick.

New Book on King Leopold II

Fils du roi Léopold Ier et de la reine Louise-Marie, Léopold naît en 1835 à Bruxelles. Des professeurs viennent lui enseigner l'histoire, la géographie, l'économie politique, la religion, etc. L'écrivain Henri Conscience lui apprend le néerlandais. Son enfance est assombrie par le décès de sa mère en 1850.

En 1853, le prince Léopold devient sénateur de droit. A plusieurs reprises, il prononce des discours suggérant l'agrandissement du port d'Anvers, la nécessité d'une politique d'expansion coloniale et de grands travaux dans la capitale. Sa vie familiale n'est pas très heureuse : mariage politique sans aucun amour avec l'archiduchesse Marie-Henriette d'Autriche, décès de leur fils Léopold, mariages ratés de leurs filles Louise et Stéphanie. Seule la princesse Clémentine trouvera le bonheur...après la mort de ses parents.

Léopold II monte sur le trône en 1865. Grâce à son statut de neutralité, la Belgique réussit à se maintenir en dehors des conflits internationaux du XIXème siècle. Léopold II s'efforce de rendre notre pays moins vulnérable : il obtient la construction des fortifications de Liège, Namur et Anvers, et la réforme du service militaire qu'il signe quelques jours avant sa mort en 1909. Auparavant, le recrutement de l'armée belge se faisait sur le volontariat et le tirage au sort avec possibilité de se faire remplacer (moyennant une somme d'argent). Ce système est aboli en 1909 et remplacé par le service d'un fils par famille.

C'est sous le règne de Léopold II que sont votées d'importantes lois sociales : suppression du livret d'ouvrier, droit de former des syndicats, âge d'admission des enfants dans les usines fixé à 12 ans, interdiction du travail de nuit aux enfants de moins de 16 ans et du travail souterrain pour les femmes de moins de 21 ans, réparations pour les accidents de travail, repos dominical, etc.

Fortement industrialisée, la Belgique manque de matières premières. C'est la raison principale pour laquelle Léopold II s'intéresse à l'Afrique centrale et plus précisément à la région du fleuve Congo que vient de reconnaître l'explorateur anglo-américain Stanley. Dès son retour en Europe, il rencontre le Roi qui fonde en 1878 le Comité d'études du Haut-Congo. Le Congrès de Berlin en 1885 reconnaît l'Etat indépendant du Congo avec le roi Léopold comme souverain. Ce dernier lègue sa colonie à la Belgique en 1908.

Surnommé le roi bâtisseur, Léopold II entreprend de grands travaux dans la capitale : transformation du palais royal, création de grandes avenues et de parcs publics, construction des serres royales de Laeken et des arcades du Cinquantenaire, etc. Il développe également la station balnéaire d'Ostende où il séjourne régulièrement.

Matthieu Longue a écrit une biographie objective, sérieuse et agréable à lire. Il parle à la fois de la vie privée et du règne de Léopold II, tout en rappelant la situation politique, économique, sociale, religieuse et militaire de la Belgique à cette époque. Seule lacune : il manque un chapitre sur les origines et le fonctionnement de la Donation Royale, créée en 1903 par Léopold II.

Je laisse à l'auteur le soin de conclure : "Léopold II s'est vu affublé d'une bien vilaine étiquette dans la mémoire collective belge et ne mérite pas la réputation infamante qu'on lui attribue généralement car, d'après nous, sans sombrer dans l'apologie léopoldiste, il demeure, sans doute encore plus que son père, notre plus grand roi et nous lui souhaitons de reposer en paix, pour l'éternité, au panthéon des hommes illustres qui, de par leur destinée, ont écrit l'Histoire. Toujours à notre avis, seules ses frasques et sa passivité complice concernant les crimes du régime léopoldien au Congo ternissent le blason royal. Pourtant, sans oublier ce fait déplorable, cette bien vilaine souillure ne suffit pas à effacer le souvenir de l'action bénéfique d'un souverain qui oeuvra au service de ses compatriotes et de la grandeur de la nation".

"Léopold II : une vie à pas de géant" de Matthieu Longue, éditions Racine

post de Blog sur la famille royale belge

Cleo de Merode

Pictures of the world famous Cleo de Merode, one of the alleged girlfriends of King Leopold II.

Parc du Cinquantenaire

The Parc du Cinquantenaire is one of the famous monuments of Brussels and one of the most beautiful in the world. It was planned, as the name implies, to be the center of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence and was commissioned by King Leopold II. He wanted something of simple design but sufficient grandeur and majesty to show that in those 50 years the Kingdom of Belgium had become a magnificent and prosperous country. Gideon Bordiau was the primary architect who labored on the project for 20 years until he died in 1904 after which King Leopold II employed the French architect Charles Girault to finish the job. However, it was a struggle to complete and meant a fight with the government that only one as firm and determined as Leopold II could win.

As with almost everything in those days the Belgian government did not want to spend alot of money on anything (as opposed to these days when the government wants to spend too much money on everything) and they fought Leopold II for every penny that was to go for the project and this put construction far behind schedule. The ground where it was built was originally an empty field where the Belgian army was drilled. The centerpiece of the parc was to be the magnificent triumphal arch, bigger even than the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. However, because of the struggles with the government over money this was not even finished when the 50th anniversary celebrations were held. A wooden temporary arch had to be put up for the occasion and the final version was not done until 1905 and so the full glory was at least available for the 75th anniversary of independence. Even then, it was only done when a frustrated King Leopold II paid the expenses from his own money to finish the parc.

Today the Cinquantenaire is still a monument of proud, independent Belgium. The main attractions now are the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History which goes back to 1910 when such displays were so popular a full museum was established. It houses artifacts from the entire military history of Belgium from the colonial forces of the Congo, both World Wars, volunteers sent to Mexico and Italy, expeditions to the Orient and modern peace-keeping missions. There is also a magnificent art museum displaying treasures from ancient Egypt, classical Greece and Rome, the Orient, the Middle East and creative objects and items from the local area back to the Middle Ages. There is a museum called Autoworld displaying historic automobile models from across Europe and the United States. In the northwest corner is the Great Mosque of Brussels. Originally a pavillion built in the Muslim-Arabic style, in 1967 to mark a visit by the King of Saudi Arabia to Belgium King Baudouin decided to turn the pavillion into a functioning mosque. It also has an Arabic language and Islamic religion schools.

The Cinquantenaire, as a parc, has undergone many modifications over the years from its begining as a setting for the exhibition and independence celebrations. It will surely undergo more modifications in the future depending on the need. It is a glorious spectacle, displaying well the accomplishments of the past and present alike. It must also be one of the most welcoming to visitors and interactive national monuments in the world. The country owes a debt of gratitude to King Leopold II for the laborious completion of this exceptionally beautiful tribute to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Ordre de Léopold II

The Order of Leopold II is a distinction of Belgian knighthood and one that is unique in many ways from the others. In origin it was not Belgian at all but African being instituted by S.M. King Leopold II as king-sovereign of the Congo Free State. It was instituted on August 24, 1900 as a way to recognize those who had performed some act of daring or bravery or someone who had otherwise shown great talent in their service to the king. In 1908, when the Congo Free State was taken over by the Belgian government, the Ordre de Léopold II became a Belgian distinction of knighthood. Today it still remains and is often awarded at the appropriate times throughout the year. The general qualification is still the same as it always had been; performing meritorious service for the King of the Belgians. It is seen as more flexible than other knight medals and a little more as a gift of the King's favor than other national distinctions.

Also, unlike, perhaps, as in times past, there is much more standardization for the decisions of who becomes a chevalier. Some cases are still awarded as they always have been; for some great act of military bravery or being distinguished in civilian life so that the King wishes to recognize them. However, in probably most cases the Order of Leopold II is now become more of a "long service award" since it is usually automatically given to soldiers for certain years of service, officers are usually automatically given one when they retire and usually automatically are given the order if they are appointed as an aid to the King or Duke of Brabant. Usually a person must be over the age of 42 to be given the award but this restriction does not apply to people in the military who are considered.

The order is available in eight degrees starting with a bronze medal, a silver medal and a gold medal. Then there is the degree of knight, then officer, then commander, then grand officer and finally the highest degree with is the grand cross. The design is a Maltese cross topped by a crown with the Belgian lion symbol in the center surrounded by the national motto. When the award was first made before 1908 the centre was decorated with the national emblem of the Congo Free State and surrounded by the Free State motto, "Travail et Progrès". There are also other minor distinctions that may be awarded depending on the act which merited the award or if it is done in war or peace. The Foreign Affaires ministry is in charge of the national distinctions of knighthood though there are always some spaces reserved for people who merit the award but not for the usual criteria. It is considered the third greatest honor of the Belgian knighthoods.

"King Leopold II was a visionary hero"

"King Leopold II was a visionary hero"

Former Belgian foreign minister Louis Michel defends the second King of the Belgians from his many modern-day detractors.

Interview with King Leopold II

Publishers' Press - December 11, 1906

Brussels, Belgium - Dec 10, 1906

In an interview given personally today to the correspondent of the Publishers' Press, King Leopold of Belgium denied categorically the reports which have been circulated so widely of atrocities practiced in the Congo.

His common sense would have helped him from indulging in cruelties such as those he is accused of practicing, the King declared, even if he was not moved by humanity to do so.

The old King also paid a high tribute to America and Americans, especially to President Roosevelt, whom he described as a "splendid type of the splendid American nation."

The correspondent was received by King Leopold in his working room in the royal palace at Laaken, outside of Brussels, where the monarch resides. His Majesty was alone in the room, busy at his desk when the correspondent was announced. He at once arose and shook hands with the visitor, saying:

"I am very glad to see a representative of the American press. I have great admiration for most of the newspapers of America. I know most of them try to be honest and straightforward and usually judge an international question on its merits.

"Your Minister asked me to receive you and I am happy to have the opportunity of meeting you as a citizen of one free country talking to a citizen of another."

Asking the correspondent to be seated, the King continued:

"The whole of America is full of wonder to me. I have often wished to visit the United States to see all for myself but fear that dream will not be realized. I am an old man now, and no longer have my former strength. There are many great men in America today. In the two houses of Congress are many brilliant minds. Occasionally it has been my good fortune to meet American legislators in Belgium, and I highly prize the remembrance of these gentlemen. Any country might be proud of such men.

"President Roosevelt I esteem highly for his great qualities. He is a splendid type of the splendid American nation."

The conversation turned on the subject of the charges of cruelty and misgovernment in the Congo, and Leopold said:

"It is curious what satisfaction certain people get spending their lives libeling others. I suppose there is nobody in Europe painted as a monster of such blackness as I am. The words used in picturing my perfidy cannot be repeated in polite society. Nero, it is said, was a saint compared to me. I am an ogre, who delights to torture helpless African negros."

The King mockingly congratulated the correspondent because he had visited him without trembling, and said:

"Let me see if you have a revolver in your pocket to protect yourself. Have you armor under your coat? No. I am surprised. Why do you risk your life in this foolish manner?"

"Then it is not true that atrocious conditions exist in the Congo region?" was asked.

"Of course not. People should credit us with common sense, even if they will not allow that humanity exists outside their own country. It would be absurd for us to mistreat the blacks because no State prospers unless the population is happy and increasing. America knows perhaps, better than any other country, how true this is."

"Many of the people maligning us are doing so from interested motives. It seems a new trade has arisen in the world, that of calumniation. There are those who make their living by forming associations to protest against everything under heaven.

"Recently a certain American missionary made sensational Congo charges and bitterly attacked me. Some on wrote of his language and received a letter from him saying he had never been to the Congo. All his charges were based on hearsay. In this manner many reports as to the Congo circulated, while these who speak from first-hand evidence magnify particular incidents into generalities. Charges about Congo cruelty spreading the false reports finally to believe they are true.

"I do not deny that there have been cased of misjudgment on the part of Congo officials. Most likely cruelties, even crimes have been committed. There have been a number of convictions before Congo tribunals for these offenses. I do deny that every effort as far as possible has not been made to stop the ill treatment of natives no only by white people, but by natives themselves.

"No Government in the world has remedied all the grievances within its own jurisdiction. It is a curious fact that when one country seeks to produce a local millennium it always seizes on territory belonging to some one else for the experiment. the Scripture parable about the beam and the mote is of as much significance today as nineteen centuries ago. It would be more philanthropic to strengthen our hands, more for the benefit of civilization, for all white persons to stand united than for some to abuse us, which certainly does not augment the respect it is good for the African natives to have for the white race. It would be of more interest to civilizations to show the natives that Christians have good feelings for their neighbors.

"Our God says we must all have Christian fellowship, one for another. Certainly this example is not being shown the blacks by those white men who attack the Congo so maliciously."

Leopold dwelt at some length on what has been accomplished in the Congo, saying:

"We have been fortunate in reducing smallpox in Central Africa by the introduction of vaccine. We have stopped the Congo slave trade and prohibited alcohol from entering the country, but steamers on the rivers have built and are building railways and introduced the telegraph. Now we are sending out motor cars.

"All this is only the beginning of our work. by the concessions we have given, especially concessions to Americans, we have reduced almost to nothing the territory of barbarism. Now we must fight the dreadful disease known as sleeping sickness, which has depopulated not only the Congo but also Uganda. We hope with the help of Almighty God to succeed in stamping out this scourge in Africa. In dealing with a race composed of cannibals for thousands of years, it is necessary to use methods which will best shake their idleness and make them realize the sanctity of work."

"It is asserted you are financially interested in the Congo and make a huge fortune there yearly. Is this so?"

Leopold replied: "It is absolutely false. I am the ruler of the Congo, but the prosperity of the country no more affects me financially than the prosperity of America increases the means of President Roosevelt. I have not one cent invested in Congo industries and I have not received any salary as Congo Executive in the past twenty-two years.

"In no shape or form have I bettered myself financially through my relationship with the Congo. On the contrary, I have spent large sums of my own in developing the country - sums amounting in the aggregate to millions. I am poorer not richer because of the Congo. The betterment of the country and the improvement of the conditions of the natives are the only objects of my efforts.

"I know there are persons so constituted that they are unable to appreciate such a statement. They believe readily enough, however, false charges that I am rolling in wealth at the expense of dying natives. They see me as a boa constrictor, squeezing the life out of the blacks in order to put gold into my purse.

"Why should I do such a thing? Of what use is money to me? I am not in the prime of life. I have passed threescore years and ten on my earthly journey. I cannot take money out of this world, why should I pile up gold for the sake of wealth? I have sufficient for my wants and do not wish for more. I am not a business man. I am a ruler, anxious only for the welfare of my subjects. It is more to me than money to a miser for me to know my work in the Congo has not been vainly spent. From a wild African forest, inhabited by cannibals, the Congo is developed wonderfully, its revenues increasing from nothing to $10,000,000 annually.

"But what has been accomplished is nothing to what will be. There is fabulous wealth in the country. I am making every effort to see that it is properly developed. I cannot conceive anything that will give a greater return than planting rubber trees there. Rubber sells for $2,000 a ton, and the Congo is the natural rubber region of the world. To care for the future supply of rubber is on the objects of the new so-called American Company formed to invest money in Congo realty.

"This is not purely an American corporation; half of the shares are held by Belgian financiers. The new company has two objects - first, to prospect for and work mines, and, second to plant rubber forests on modern principles. I have no pecuniary interest in the company, but the Congo has, for, as in the case of all concessions given in the Congo, shares meets the expense of the Congo Government and the dividends it now receives are sufficient to pay the whole interest on the Congo national debt. To see this development of the Congo is my reward."

Leopold rose, extended his hand, and asked the correspondent to extend his compliments to the American Minister, thus indicating that the audience was at an end.