Frasi di Leopoldo II del Belgio

Leopoldo II del Belgio, nome completo Leopoldo Luigi Filippo Maria Vittori di Sassonia-Coburgo-Gotha, in francese Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor de Saxe Cobourg-Gotha, in fiammingo Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor de Saxe Cobourg-Gotha , principe del Belgio, duca di Brabante, fu re dei Belgi dal 10 dicembre 1865 fino alla sua morte.

Ricordato prevalentemente per la fondazione e la brutale amministrazione dello Stato Libero del Congo, progetto che egli portò avanti quasi da privato cittadino. Si rivolse a Henry Morton Stanley per aiutarlo nella gestione dello stato e alla Conferenza di Berlino del 1884-1885, il Belgio fu in grado di presenziare col proprio impero coloniale in continua espansione, nella totale mancanza di rispetto dei costumi e delle tradizioni locali.

Leopoldo estrasse una grande fortuna dal Congo, inizialmente con l'esportazione di avorio, poi forzando la popolazione locale a trarre gomma dalle piante. Interi villaggi vennero requisiti per farne luoghi di deposito e lavorazione della gomma stessa, causando la morte di 10 milioni di congolesi su un totale di 25 milioni. La scandalosa amministrazione del Congo da parte di Leopoldo II viene ancora oggi ricordata come uno dei crimini internazionali più infamanti del XIX secolo e lo stesso sovrano venne poi costretto a cedere la sovranità dello stato e la sua amministrazione al governo belga, che resse la colonia ancora per mezzo secolo. Wikipedia  

✵ 9. Aprile 1835 – 17. Dicembre 1909
Leopoldo II del Belgio photo
Leopoldo II del Belgio: 34   frasi 0   Mi piace

Leopoldo II del Belgio: Frasi in inglese

“I do not want to miss a good chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent African cake.”

Thomas Pakenham, The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent From 1876 to 1912, New York: Avon Books, 1992, 22.

“The Congo Free State is unique in its kind. It has nothing to hide and no secrets and is not beholden to anyone except its founder.”

Clive Foss, The Tyrants: 2500 Years of Absolute Power and Corruption, London: Quercus Publishing, 2006, ISBN 1905204965

“India has never cost England one centime. it paid back What it cost. India provides a livelihood for all benjamins of English families.”

Origine: https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-3 Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020] ISBN 9789463962094 Prince Leopold II In Singapore in a letter to his father King Leopold I expressing admiration for British colonialism. note: Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire

“In the Far East, compulsory labor can work wonders, just like here... If only Belgium wanted to see that. This could create "inexhaustible resources and exploiting the soil and peoples of the Far East can only be brought to civilization and well-being in this way."”

ISBN 9789463962094 Prince Leopold II in a 1863 travel note in admiration for Ferdinand de Lesseps when visiting Egypt and the digging sites of the Suez Canal by tens of thousands of cheap workers.
Origine: https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-3 Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020

“I sleep poorly. This long abstinence is destroying me. My nature needs frequent contacts with the beautiful gender. I don't understand how priests can live like this.”

Origine: Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020 https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-2-0 ISBN 9789463962094 Prince Leopold II in a letter to his father Leopold I on may 1861 when recovering from a cold on vacation in villa Solitude in Austria complaining how he misses female company.

“Trading posts and colonies, gentlemen, have not only strengthened the commercial positions of the peoples concerned; these nations owe their greatness to these institutions.”

Origine: Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020 https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-2-0 ISBN 9789463962094 Prince Leopold II in his function of Senator in the Senate of Belgium.

“I have only one goal and one desire, namely to give myself a practical instruction, to get to know the world and its inhabitants. There will come times when this knowledge will be of use to me.”

https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-1-0 Prince Leopold II on his second wedding trip in a letter to his father Leopold I of Belgium in 1854.

“I believe we must set up three children's colonies, the aim of these colonies is above all to furnish us with soldiers.”

Origine: King Leopold's Ghost https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kingleopoldsghost Leopold II in a letter to the Congo Governor General: Camille Janssen, 1890.

“Nothing is more difficult than arriving at a court where nobody knows anyone in the world, add to that the Austrian Etiquette, and you can imagine what kind of evening I had to endure.”

Leopold II - Het Hele Verhaal (Aflevering 1) https://odysee.com/@BelgianCongo:3/Leopold-II-Het-Hele-Verhaal-Aflevering-1:1 Prince Leopold in a letter to his brother Prince Philippe and sister Princess Carlota, on being received by the Austrian court to meet his future bride 'Marie Henriette of Austria'.

“I have no other desire than to leave Belgium bigger, stronger and more beautiful.”

Pierre Vercauteren: A king unjustly maligned. (Page 18) https://www.memoiresducongo.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Leo2-Vercauteren.pdf Leopold II on the evening of his accession in 1865 confided to the baron Lambermont. Léopold II, Count Louis de Lichtervelde (p.55).
Quotes related to Belgium

“Whoever has a cold is stupid, because he just had to avoid catching a cold.”

Origine: Did you know: Leopold II was a hypochondriac. https://www.rtbf.be/culture/article/detail_le-saviez-vous-leopold-ii-etait-hypocondriaque?id=10710184

“Our only programme is the work of moral and material re-generation.”

CONGO FREE STATE. HC Deb 20 May 1903 vol 122 cc1289-332 https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1903/may/20/congo-free-state
Quotes related to Congo

“I will give them my Congo, but they have no right to know what i did there.”

Quotes related to Congo
Origine: King Leopold's Ghost https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kingleopoldsghost King Leopold Ii in Letter to aid, 1908.

“In dealing with a race composed of cannibals for thousands of years, it is necessary to use methods which will best shape their idleness, and make them realize the sanctity of work.”

Quotes related to the Congo Free State
Origine: King Leopold's Ghost https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kingleopoldsghost Newspaper interview, 1906.

“Small country, small people.”

King Leopold's Ghost https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kingleopoldsghost Leopold II, Hair to the Belgian throne, 1866.

“We must put an end to anarchy and its continuing preaching.”

Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020 https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-6 ISBN 9789463962094 Leopold II in 1885 about the protests and Social unrest due to extreme poverty among the many farmers in Belgium.

“At the moment, neither the Spanish, the Portuguese, nor the Dutch are willing to sell. I intend to discreetly inform myself if in Africa if there is nothing to do.”

All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 6. Baron Auguste Lambermont (1819-1905), A key figure in the background of early Belgian colonialism http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#_ftn194 Leopold II in a key letter to Baron Lambermont after the failed colonial efforts in the Philippines and Tonkin, On August 22, 1875. AMBuZa. Papiers Lambermont, volume V, section 9, Leopold II to Baron Lambermont, August 22, 1875. For publication and photographic reproduction: ROEYKENS, A. Les débuts de l'œuvre africaine de Léopold II, 1875-1879, 95-96.
Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire

“If God gives me a long life and allows me to carry out my task, then Brussels will become a city of exceptional category.”

Leopold II, Het hele Verhaal, Johan Op De Beeck Horizon, 2020 https://klara.be/leopold-ii-aflevering-2-0 ISBN 9789463962094

“I want it to be and it will be.”

All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), Emile Banning (1836-1898): The Don Quichotte of the ‘liberal civilization’ in Congo http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#_ftn194 Banning had a final private meeting with the king, which, according to the anecdotal press, culminated in this bitter altercation. WALRAET, M. Emile Banning. Un grand Belge, 54.

“I want the great effort which must permanently open Africa to civilization to take a date in Belgium.”

Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire
Origine: Inculturation of Christian marriage in the Belgian Congo. 1919-1950. The Policy Making of the Mission Superiors on Polygamy; their directives to the missionaries and influence on the policy of the State. (Betty Eggermont) CHAPTER 3. THE COLONIZING GOVERNMENT. http://www.ethesis.net/polygamie/polygamie_deel_I_hfst_3.htm Leopold to Jean-Baptiste Nothomb in June 1876. cited in STENGERS (J.), op.cit., p.VII.

“Hopefully they won't mess up my Congo!”

Quotes related to the Congo Free State
Origine: Mémoires du Congo - Shame or Pride https://www.memoiresducongo.be/nl/schaamte-of-fierheid/

“I'm still working, but we have to start by putting forward a diplomatic arrangement. This point obtained, we would have a good chance of success. For the moment, the Belgian shipping word in China should not be used at any price.”

Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire
Origine: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 5. A prospectus by the military Chazal and Brialmont, The Importance of General Chazal in Colonial Politics. http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Minister Chazal, who had little ambition in an almost impossible Chinese adventure, Confronting the French practicalities and the British stubbornness of that expedition was most likely the last thing on his mind. Even the experienced king had already given up all hope. The enthusiastic young Leopold did not give up and started to advise the minister himself. KMLKG, Papiers Chazal, 111/13, the Duke of Brabant to Chazal, October 4, 1859.

“Of all the outlets, the safest and most stable, both for products and for capital, is obviously that of a colony.”

Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire
Origine: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), Preface:A historiographical picture of Leopold II (1835-1909) http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 STENGERS, J. “The place of Leopold II in the history of colonization.” The New Clio, I-II (1949-1950), 517.

“If instead of talking about neutrality, the Chamber took care of our trade, Belgium would become the richest in the world.”

All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), Preface:A historiographical picture of Leopold II (1835-1909) http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Leopold to Edouard Blondeel, the Belgian Consul in Egypt, 1855.

“If I do not promise Belgium a splendid government like that which founded its independence, nor a great King like him whom we mourn, then at least i believe to be a Belgian King in heart and soul, whose whole life belongs to the country.”

Origine: Bulletin Officiel de Congo Belge - Années 1908 et 1909, page 174. https://archive.org/details/bulletin-officiel-de-congo-belge-annees-1908-et-1909/page/n373/mode/2up King Leopold II in a speech on 17 december 1865.

“A Prince must not speak the language of the tribunes and proclaim absolute principles in terms which are likely to deeply offend those who are of another opinion than his own.”

Origine: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 5. A prospectus by the military Chazal and Brialmont, The Importance of General Chazal in Colonial Politics. http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 KMLKG, Papiers Chazal, 65/1, Chazal aan de hertog van Brabant, 28 juni 1859.

“You just have to dare to succeed.”

Origine: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), Preface:A historiographical picture of Leopold II (1835-1909) http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Parliamentary Annals of Belgium. Legislative session of 1855-1856. Senate. Brussel, n.d., 67.

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