leopold is mainly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the congo free state. he lay claim to the congo, an area now known as the democratic republic of the congo. he treated the people badly in order to make money. his harsh rule was responsible for the deaths of between five to 10 million congolese people. the congo became one of the most infamous international scandals of the early 20th century. as a result, leopold ii was forced to give control of it to the government of belgium. despite owning and ruling it as a dictator, leopold ii never visited the congo free state and africa.