tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post7188209672378990925..comments2023-11-02T07:54:22.317+00:00Comments on Unenlightened Commentary.: Book Review: King Leopold's GhostRosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-36884159621100009502011-12-29T13:33:46.331+00:002011-12-29T13:33:46.331+00:00The Belgian royals (Saxe-Coburgs BTW, and thus rel...The Belgian royals (Saxe-Coburgs BTW, and thus related to our lot)are a pretty disreputable bunch.<br /><br />King Baudouin was probably the least bad, and he was a noted Anglophobe (he didn't bother to show up at Liz's coronation)who married a hardline, ultramontine Spanish Catholic. (The latter development causing him to abdicate for a day when asked to give his assent to an Act liberalising abortion- probably the high point of his reign).<br /><br />A good primer on the general awfulness of the Belgian royals is Paul Belien's 'A Throne in Brussels' - which I'd strongly recommend if who wish to delve further into the subject.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27939552.post-24631437383162356692011-12-29T04:09:31.034+00:002011-12-29T04:09:31.034+00:00It is not news that King Leopold allowed appallin...It is not news that King Leopold allowed appalling behaviour in the Congo, it is mentioned in passing in most studies of the Scramble for Africa as is the fact that it was taken off him by the Belgian State out of shame.<br /> It does not get much coverage though simply because it did not affect the main issue in Africa which was conflict between Britain, France and, to a lesser extent, Germany.bannedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02406037760273820029noreply@blogger.com