The scramble for Africa began in the mid-1870's with the purpose to colonize the "Dark Continent". In 1876 Leopold II employed Sir Henry Stanley to acquire as much land in the Congo Basin as he possibly could, which he did. With the treaties that Stanley had obtained, Leopold was able to claim the Congo legitimately, he named himself sovereign of the Congo Free State/Independent State of the Congo.

In 1908 Belgium took the lands for itself as the Belgian Congo. Leopold II was succeeded by his nephew Albert I, who ruled from 1909-1934. He in turn was succeeded by his son, Leopold III, who ruled through 1951. He turned power over to his son Baudouin in 1951 while in exile and it was under Baudouin's reign that the Belgian Congo achieved its independence in 1960. MORE...