Second King of the Belgians from 1865-1909 and self-made autocratic ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885-1908. 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.' 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. After serving in the military, in 1855 he became a member of the Belgian Senate. He took the oath of office at age 30 when his father died in December 1865.
