Was Leopold II an enlightened despot?

Leopold II, (born May 5, 1747, Vienna—died March 1, 1792, Vienna), Holy Roman emperor from 1790 to 1792, one of the most capable of the 18th-century reformist rulers known as the “enlightened despots.”

Who was the king of Austria in 1791?

Leopold II
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor

Who criticized King Leopold?

International opposition and criticism from the Catholic Party, Progressive Liberals and the Labour Party caused the Belgian parliament to compel the king to cede the Congo Free State to Belgium in 1908. The deal that led to the handover cost Belgium the considerable sum of 215.5 million Francs.

Who succeeded Leopold II?

Albert I
Leopold, however, made the Belgian government pay him for his prized possession. He died the following year. Because his only son had predeceased him, Leopold’s nephew Albert I succeeded to the throne. Historical map of the Belgian Congo (1908–60).

How accurately does the term enlightened despot describe Catherine the Great What about with Joseph II explain?

The term ‘enlightened despot’ described Catherine The Great very well. She ruled with absolute authority, but also wanted to reform Russia. She proposed reforms, and recommended allowing religious toleration and abolishing torture and capital punishment.

How many hands were cut off in the Congo?

In the 23 years (1885-1908) Leopold II ruled the Congo he massacred 10 million Africans by cutting off their hands and genitals, flogging them to death, starving them into forced labor, holding children ransom, and burning villages.

What happened to King Leopold II of Belgium?

On 17 December 1909, Leopold II died at Laeken, and the Belgian crown passed to Albert I, the son of Leopold’s brother, Philippe, Count of Flanders. His funeral cortege was booed by the crowd in the expression of disapproval of his rule of the Congo.

How many statues of King Leopold II are there in Belgium?

There are at least 13 statues to Leopold II in Belgium, according to one crowd-sourced map, and numerous parks, squares and street names. One visitor to the Africa Museum, where an outdoor statue was defaced last week, disagreed with the idea of removing them – “they’re part of history,” he explained.

How old was Leopold when his wife died?

She died of tuberculosis that same year, when Leopold was 15 years old. At the age of 18, Leopold married Marie Henriette of Austria, a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and granddaughter of the late Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, on 22 August 1853 in Brussels.

How many progeny did King Leopold II have?

The Princess of Austria bore Leopold II four progeny. Out of which, only one was a boy who also passed away at a young age from pneumonia. Leopold had a collection of mistresses. Caroline Lacroix, a 16-year-old French prostitute, was one of his favorites who later gave him two sons who were ineligible for the throne.