The Congo Free State was a state in Africa created and headed by the former Belgian monarch, Leopold II as a personal union with Belgium. On 29 May 1885, after the closure of the Berlin Conference, the king announced that he planned to name his possessions "the Congo Free State", an appellation which was not yet used at the Berlin Conference and which officially replaced "International Association of the Congo" on 1 August 1885. [1][2][3]
Establishmentedit
The Belgian legislative chambers, in a resolution passed by the House of Representatives on April 28, 1885, and by the Senate on April 30, had authorized Leopold II to become head of another state: "His Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians, is authorized to be the head of the state founded in Africa by the International Association of the Congo. The union between Belgium and the new state will be exclusively personal ",[4] "personal" meaning that, "as far as the Belgian government is concerned, what Leopold II does in Africa, he does as a private individual as in a personal union. The government had no business getting involved. And in fact, except for a few rare moments, the King will not even keep his ministers informed of the development of his enterprise".[5] On April 30, 1885, Leopold II assumed the title of sovereign of the independent state of Congo.
Aftermath of the establishmentedit
It was an Englishman, Sir Francis de Winton, vice-administrator general of the Association Internationale du Congo, who officially proclaimed the foundation of the Independent State of Congo in Vivi on July 1, 1885, and the accession of Leopold II as its sovereign.[6] On April 1, 1886, Winton completed his mandate and returned to England, where he was hired by the British East African Association. The capital was later transferred to Boma.
Referencesedit
^Katzenellenbogen, S. (1996). "It didn't happen at Berlin: Politics, economics and ignorance in the setting of Africa's colonial boundaries.". In Nugent, P.; Asiwaju, A. I. (eds.). African Boundaries: Barriers, Conduits and Opportunities. London: Pinter. pp. 21–34.
^Cornelis, Sabine. 1991. "Stanley au service de Léopold II: La fondation de l'Etat Indépendant du Congo (1878-1885)". In H. M. Stanley: Explorateur au service du Roi, edited by Sabine Cornelis, 41-60. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa.
^Crowe, S.E. (1942). The Berlin West African Conference, 1884–1885. London: Longmans Green.
^Bulletin officiel de l'État indépendant du Congo, années 1885 et 1886.
^Jean Stengers, La Fondation de l'État indépendant du Congo, Liège, Université de Liège, coll. « L'Histoire aujourd'hui », p. 5.
^Notice biographique Francis de Winton, Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer.
April 17, 2024
proclamation, congo, free, state, congo, free, state, state, africa, created, headed, former, belgian, monarch, leopold, personal, union, with, belgium, 1885, after, closure, berlin, conference, king, announced, that, planned, name, possessions, congo, free, s. The Congo Free State was a state in Africa created and headed by the former Belgian monarch Leopold II as a personal union with Belgium On 29 May 1885 after the closure of the Berlin Conference the king announced that he planned to name his possessions the Congo Free State an appellation which was not yet used at the Berlin Conference and which officially replaced International Association of the Congo on 1 August 1885 1 2 3 Establishment editThe Belgian legislative chambers in a resolution passed by the House of Representatives on April 28 1885 and by the Senate on April 30 had authorized Leopold II to become head of another state His Majesty Leopold II King of the Belgians is authorized to be the head of the state founded in Africa by the International Association of the Congo The union between Belgium and the new state will be exclusively personal 4 personal meaning that as far as the Belgian government is concerned what Leopold II does in Africa he does as a private individual as in a personal union The government had no business getting involved And in fact except for a few rare moments the King will not even keep his ministers informed of the development of his enterprise 5 On April 30 1885 Leopold II assumed the title of sovereign of the independent state of Congo Aftermath of the establishment edit It was an Englishman Sir Francis de Winton vice administrator general of the Association Internationale du Congo who officially proclaimed the foundation of the Independent State of Congo in Vivi on July 1 1885 and the accession of Leopold II as its sovereign 6 On April 1 1886 Winton completed his mandate and returned to England where he was hired by the British East African Association The capital was later transferred to Boma References edit Katzenellenbogen S 1996 It didn t happen at Berlin Politics economics and ignorance in the setting of Africa s colonial boundaries In Nugent P Asiwaju A I eds African Boundaries Barriers Conduits and Opportunities London Pinter pp 21 34 Cornelis Sabine 1991 Stanley au service de Leopold II La fondation de l Etat Independant du Congo 1878 1885 In H M Stanley Explorateur au service du Roi edited by Sabine Cornelis 41 60 Tervuren Royal Museum for Central Africa Crowe S E 1942 The Berlin West African Conference 1884 1885 London Longmans Green Bulletin officiel de l Etat independant du Congo annees 1885 et 1886 Jean Stengers La Fondation de l Etat independant du Congo Liege Universite de Liege coll L Histoire aujourd hui p 5 Notice biographique Francis de Winton Academie Royale des Sciences d Outre Mer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Proclamation of the Congo Free State amp oldid 1210860971, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
