LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM: (1835-1909) King of the Belgians 1865-1909. Leopold was the founder and sole

LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM: (1835-1909) King of the Belgians 1865-1909. Leopold was the founder and sole

LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM: (1835-1909) King of the Belgians 1865-1909. Leopold was the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State, a private project undertaken on his own behalf. He used explorer Henry Morton Stanley to help him lay claim to the Congo, the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo. A good L.S., `Leopold´, one page, 4to, Brussels, 30th April 1875, to the President of the Republic of Bolivia, in French. The King of the Belgians reports on his nephew´s birth, Prince Albert, the future King of the Belgians and his successor, stating in part `… Son Altesse Royale Madame la Comtesse de Flandre, la belle-soeur bien aimée, est heureusement  accouchée le 8 de ce mois d´un Prince qui a reçu le nom de Albert Léopold..´ (“Her Royal Highness Madame la Comtesse de Flandre, the beloved sister-in-law, fortunately gave birth on the 8th of this month to a Prince who received the name of Albert Léopold.”) Further sending his best wishes of prosperity for the country of Bolivia. Small tear to the left edge not affecting the text or signature. VG

 

Albert Léopold was born 8 April 1875, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Prince Philippe was the third (second surviving) son of Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians and the younger brother of King Leopold II of Belgium Albert was initially the third in the line of succession to the Belgian throne as his reigning uncle Leopold II's son had already died. When, however, Albert's older brother, Prince Baudouin of Belgium, who had been prepared for the throne, also died young, Albert, at the age of 16, unexpectedly became second in line (after his father) to the Belgian Crown.