January 1906

Leopold II in the sights

If he is a sacked monarch to be rejected by the press - both satirical and political - it is Leopold II.
A King who apparently knows what he wants and puts all his energy into getting it.
To the chagrin of his opponents - and there are many! Who do not skimp on the means to attack the person of the Sovereign. We have collected some of the drawings-charges published during the period 1895 - 1906 and attacking the policy of the "great man". We deliberately dismissed those who openly attack - and often basely - her private life, believing that she was only looking at him.
Oddly enough, the press campaigns against Leopold II seem to make their appearance after the War of 1870.
After this conflagration, the person of the King is regularly called into question, especially for the two main axes of his policy: national defense (with its corollary the personal military service) and its aims on the territories of Central Africa.

The "pyramid to reverse"

On this poster appeared on the walls at the time of the legislative elections, the opposition of the left aims only indirectly the King, top of the social pyramid: it is not him, but the monarchy itself that he must be cut down.
At the same time as all that supports it, capitalism, the army and the clergy.
The author of this poster, remained anonymous, here resumes the favorite themes of end-of-century anarchists.

"Serious" occupations

We know that Leopold II loves Ostend (where the royal villa is) and the sea baths.
This is an opportunity for the designer V. Lemaître of the "Frondeur", weekly satiric Liege, to show the Sovereign engaging in "serious" occupations, a swim with a "little woman".

The "General Cléo"

In its edition of August 15, 1900, the weekly "La Finance Illustrée" openly accuses the king of agiotage in Katanga.
He is referred to as "General Cléo", an ambiguous nickname that refers to one of his mistresses, the very Parisian half-worldly Cléo de Mérode.
It is true that at this moment, Leopold II knows some difficulties of cash ...

"Too big for my henhouse!"

The Sovereign plans to bequeath the Congo to Belgium, which awakens many passions.
There are those who are for ... and those who are fiercely against.
The internal situation of Belgium even has its repercussions abroad. witness this drawing by Johann Braakensiek in the "Weekblad voor Nederland" of 13 January 1895.
The brave Belgian peasant refuses the royal gift, because he considers it too big for his henhouse.

The Sacred Heart ... Parisiennes

In the number "Ravens" dated October 15, 1905 - the King has just laid the foundation stone of the basilica of Koekelberg - our old acquaintance Ashaverus imagine a confrontation between His Majesty Cupid and Leopold II.
To the reproach that the God of Love makes him often make incursions on his territory, the monarch replies: "What wants that, it is the love which I have for the Sacred Heart ... Parisiennes!"

A pill of royal dimension

Still in "The Ravens", Ashaverus is concerned about the budget needed for the construction of the forts of Antwerp, project behind which we find the monarch.
Three hundred million is not nothing!
Leopold II and his Minister of National Defense, Count De Smet de Naeyer, try to swallow the pill to Belgium tied up.

Personal military service

Cover drawing of "The Ravens", unsigned but most likely from the pen of Ashaverus.
We know the unshakable will of the Sovereign to arrive at personal military service for all Belgians.
Represented king of animals by the caricaturist, Leopold II does not lack majesty against his defense minister, nicknamed here "Count Bosco of Finance".