Historical and Commemorative
Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
MAJORITY OF THE DUKE OF BRABANT, CROWN PRINCE LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM
WIENER, Léopold: Belgium, 1853, Bronze, 75 mm Leopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor (1835-1909) was the eldest son of
Leopold I by his second wife Louise of Orleans. He was created duke of
Brabant in 1846. In 1853 the 18-year-old reached his majority and took his
oath as crown prince, the event commemorated by this medal. He succeeded
his father in 1865, becoming King Leopold II of Belgium. As king,
Leopold
II was to become one of the most hated men on two continents for his
colonization and exploitation of the people of the Congo Basin. The
history of Leopold’s subjugation of the area is documented in Adam Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost.
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