Congo Free State
Congo Free State was a colony in Congo Basin and Katanga (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from 1885 to 1908 CE, about 23 years. Its people spoke Latin and Romance languages (Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian).
King Leopold II of Belgium ran the Congo as a private possession. Forced rubber collection enforced by hostage-taking and mutilation caused millions of deaths, and an international outcry made Belgium annex it in 1908.
See Congo Free State on the interactive timeline
Facts
- Dates
- 1885 to 1908 CE
- Duration
- 23 years
- Type
- Colony
- Region
- Congo Basin and Katanga, Central and Southern Africa
- Language family
- Latin and Romance
- Capital
- Boma
Came from
Became
Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time
- Berlin Conference ends
- Witwatersrand gold rush
- Rinderpest sweeps southern Africa
- Second Boer War begins
- Herero and Nama genocide
- Maji Maji rebellion
Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa
- Kingdom of Kongo
- Zulu Kingdom
- Kingdom of Buganda
- Bunyoro-Kitara
- Portuguese Mozambique
- Portuguese Angola
- Luba Empire
- Lunda Empire
- Sultanate of Zanzibar
- British Cape Colony
Elsewhere in the world at the same time
- Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty)
- Ottoman Empire
- Ottoman Empire
- Portuguese Empire
- Qing dynasty
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Haiti
- Russian Empire
- Dutch East Indies
Questions
When did Congo Free State exist?
1885 to 1908 CE, about 23 years.
Where was Congo Free State?
Congo Basin and Katanga, in Central and Southern Africa. Its capital was Boma.
What language did Congo Free State speak?
Latin and Romance. This family includes Latin, Italic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian.
What came before Congo Free State?
Lunda Empire and Yeke Kingdom (Garanganze).
What came after Congo Free State?
Belgian Congo.