In 1885 this country's Leopold II established the Congo Free State as his own personal property
The United 
States became the first country to recognize the Congo Free State under the 
rulership of... [DOC] [TLE] Leopold II | king of Belgium | Britannica.com [PAR] Feb 11, 2015 ... Leopold II and the Congo Free State ... the same territory as the modern-day 
Democratic Republic of the Congoas his personal property.