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 Leopold
was elected the first King of Belgium in 1831,
and ruled until his death in 1865. During his
reign Belgium's parliamentary government was
created, electoral law was reformed, and a
national bank was established. |
 Leopold II
reigned over Belgium from 1865 to 1909. The most
significant events of his reign centered on his
desire to make Belgium an important colonial
power. The result of that desire was creation of
the Congo Free State, a vast area in central
Africa that he brutally exploited for personal
gain. |
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