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Léon-Charles-Édouard Hanolet (25 November 1859 – 1 December 1908) was a Belgian soldier, explorer and colonial administrator. He is known for his explorations in 1894–1895 in what is now the Central African Republic, which led to an agreement between France and Belgium that the Ubangi-Mbomou rivers would form the boundary between their territories. He defended the
Lado Enclave The Lado Enclave (; ) was a leased territory administered by the Congo Free State and later by the Belgian Congo that existed from 1894 until 1910. Situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile in what is now South Sudan and northwest Uganda, it wa ...
against the retreating Mahdist forces in 1898.


Early years (1859–1888)

Léon-Charles-Édouard Hanolet was born in Mehaigne,
Éghezée Éghezée (; ) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Namur, Belgium. On 1 January 2010 the municipality had 15,169 inhabitants. The total area is 102.81 km2, giving a population density of 146.93 inhabitants per km2. The ...
, Namur, Belgium on 25 November 1859. He made his career as a soldier. He enlisted in the 6th line regiment. On 25 June 1883 he was appointed second lieutenant in the 13th line regiment. In 1888 he volunteered to serve in the
Congo Free State The Congo Free State, also known as the Independent State of the Congo (), was a large Sovereign state, state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by Leopold II of Belgium, King Leopold II, the const ...
.


First Congo tour: Zongo (1888–1891)

Hanolet embarked for Africa on 17 June 1888. Henri Avaert arrived in Boma on 21 September 1888, where he assumed command of the ''
Force Publique The ''Force Publique'' (, "Public Force"; ) was the military of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo from 1885 to 1960. It was established after Belgian Army officers travelled to the Free State to found an armed force in the colony on L ...
'' from Léon Roget. He was assisted by lieutenants Fiévez, Debergh and Hanolet, 13 Belgian non-commissioned officers and soldiers, and 28 Hausa or Bangala instructors. After a few months with Avaert in
Bas-Congo Kongo Central (), formerly Bas-Congo, is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Matadi. History At the time of independence, the area now encompassing Kongo Central was part of the greater province of ...
Hanolet was attached to the fourth Ubangi expedition, organized by
Alphonse van Gèle Alphonse van Gèle, also written van Gele or Vangele (25 April 1848 – 23 February 1939), was a Belgians, Belgian soldier who served as the List of colonial governors of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo, Vice-Governor General of the Congo F ...
. The expedition left
Léopoldville Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, with an estimated population of 17 million ...
on 21 May 1889 in the steamers '' En Avant'' and ''Association internationale Africaine'', and a large canoe. It was led by Van Gèle and included district commissioner
Georges le Marinel Georges-Edouard le Marinel (29 June 1860 – 20 November 1914) was a Belgian soldier, engineer, explorer and colonial administrator. He is known for leading explorations of the country around the Ubangi River and Mbomou River, which later became ...
, Hanolet, lieutenant Édouard De Rechter and sub-lieutenant Léon Busine. The expedition reached Zongo on 25 June 1889, where a station was founded as a base of operations with Hanolet in command. The ''Association internationale Africaine'' was almost lost in the Zongo rapids. Hanolet commanded this post for two years, assisted by Busine. The French founded the post of
Bangui Bangui (; or Bangî in Sango language, Sango, formerly written Bangi in English) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities in the Central African Republic, largest city of the Central African Republic. It was established as a Fren ...
opposite Zongo soon after. Hanolet was reported to have forcibly ended the trade in slaves by the Bobangi in the Bangui-Zongo area, although slaves do not seem to have formed a significant part of the workforce. Hanolet was succeeded by Lieutenant Heymans on 15 May 1891. On 17 July 1891 he embarked for Europe from Boma.


Second Congo tour: North of Mbomou (1892–1895)

Hanolet was promoted to captain-commander. On 10 May 1892 he embarked for Africa in
Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...
, accompanied by Florimond Delanghe, and arrived in Boma on 18 June 1892. He was assigned to the Ubangi-Bomu expedition to
Bangassou Bangassou is a city in the southeastern of Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and ...
, commanded by Le Marinel in place of Van Gèle. Le Marinel left for Europe and was in turn replaced by Georges Adolphe Balat. Balat died on 19 April 1893 leaving Hanolet in charge of the Upper Ubangi and
Mbomou Mbomou is one of the twenty prefectures of the Central African Republic Since 10 December 2020, The Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central ...
. Hanolet was eager to resume exploration to the north but staff shortages caused long delays. He established the post of Gandu at the confluence of the Mbomou and
Chinko River The Chinko River (or Shinko River) is a river of the Central African Republic. It is a right tributary of the Mbomou River. Environment The upper reaches of the Chinko river define the border between the Haute-Kotto and Haut-Mbomou prefectures. ...
, which he placed under Lieutenant Raphaël Stroobant on 30 May 1893. Soon after he appointed Stroobant to found the post of Darbaki. In October 1893 the expedition to the
Chari River The Chari River, or Shari River, is a long river, flowing in Central Africa. It is the main source of water of Lake Chad, which is located at the junction of four countries: Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Geography The Chari River flows f ...
was assembled in Bangassou. Lieutenant Cowe, head of the
Bakouma Bakouma is a sub-prefecture in the prefecture of Mbomou in Central African Republic. The area is known for its prosperity of mineral resources which have for a long time remained unexploited. History Bakouma was founded in September 1892 when t ...
post, died on 7 October 1893. Hanolet replaced him by Gérard. He also established posts at Dabago and Sattet to secure communication with the rear. In November 1893 Le Marinel, now a state inspector, resumed command of Haut-Ubanghi-Mbomou. In mid-December 1893
Théodore Nilis Théodore Victor Edouard Adolphe Arthur Nilis (27 June 1851 – 23 April 1905) was a Belgian soldier and colonial official. Early years (1851–1881) Théodore Victor Edouard Adolphe Arthur Nilis was born in Brilow, Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussi ...
was assigned by Le Marinel to lead a reconnaissance expedition to Dār Fertit, with lieutenants Charles de la Kethulle, Gérard and Gonze as his deputies. The expedition left
Bangassou Bangassou is a city in the southeastern of Central African Republic, lying on the north bank of the Mbomou River. It has a population of 24,447 (2003 census) and is the capital of the Mbomou prefecture. It is known for its wildlife, market, and ...
on 28 December 1893, with the goal of reaching Hofrah-el-Nahas on the Bahr-el-Fertit. On 15 February 1894 it reached Sango at the confluence of the Badabo and Mbili rivers. It stopped at Katuaka (), home of chief Acmed Curcia. The post later known as Fort de l'Adda was founded there, with Gérard as commander assisted by Henrion. The column was stopped by floods and did not go further. It returned via Kuria, which it reached on 1 April 1894, and on 24 April 1894 arrived at Dabago, where Hanolet was waiting. In May Nilis and de la Kethulle returned to
Rafaï Rafaï is a town and sub-prefecture on the Chinko River, in the Central African Republic Prefectures of the Central African Republic, prefecture of Mbomou. Its estimated population is about 14,000 people. History The Sultanate of Rafaï was the l ...
. In 1894 Hanolet ascended the Mbari River, a right tributary of the Mbomou. His expedition finally left for the north in February 1894. Hanolet travelled up the valley of the Bali (Mbali) river and the upper
Kotto River The Kotto River (or Koto River) is a tributary of the Oubangui River in the Central African Republic. Its source is on the south side of the Bongo Massif, near Mount Toussoro on the border between the Central African Republic and Sudan. It flows ...
, following the road of the Arab caravans. His expedition reached Dabago at on the Ndji River. He described the country as flat, and sometimes walked for six hours without crossing a stream. The advance party reached Bellé (Mbélé) on 4 April 1894. Mbélé was in the Chari basin. At this time it was one of the most important trading centers of North Central Africa, with several thousand inhabitants, receiving traders from Rafaï, Zémio, Banggassou and Wadai. Hanolet joined the advance party at Mbele on 16 June 1894. In Yango () they met nine Arab merchants from the Wadai. The merchants provided information about the Wadai and Dar Runga. Based on this, Hanolet decided to send Van Calster and Inver ahead to contact El-Senoussi, Sultan of
Dar al Kuti Dar al Kuti ('Dar al-Kuri' in some sources) was an Islamic state in the center and northwest of the present Central African Republic which existed from around 1830 until 17 December 1912. From around 1800 the name Dar al-Kuti was given to a stre ...
, and ask him to submit to the Congo Free State. They pushed west from Mbélé to near El-Kouti (Châ) where
Paul Crampel Paul Crampel (17 November 1864 – 9 April 1891) was a French explorer who explored Africa in the areas of present-day Gabon and Chad. He was killed while on an expedition to Lake Chad. Biography Crampel was born in Nancy. After finishing ...
had been assassinated. The country had suffered repeated invasions, and the remaining inhabitants were huddled in fortified settlements. They crossed the divide between the Congo and Chad basin, a low ridge no more than high. The intent had been to continue to Dar al-Kuti, and try to annex it to the Congo Free State, but the expedition was exhausted. The Belgians returned to Dabago on 1 November 1894, and were accompanied by a band of traders from
Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis (from , meaning "three cities") may refer to: Places Greece *Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in the Pelasgiotis district, Thessaly, near Larissa ...
who were going to Bangassou. The Belgian expeditions caused a dispute with the French that led to an agreement that the Bomu would be the northern border of the Congo Free State in this region. On 18 August 1894 France and Belgium signed a convention that established the Mbomou as the border between their colonies, so the country explored by Hanolet was now part of the French territory. Hanolet embarked from Boma on 14 April 1895 for Europe.


Third Congo tour: Lado (1896–1899)

Hanolet left
Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
on 6 June 1896 to return for his third term, this time as a general commissioner. When he reached Boma he was appointed to the Bangale district. He reached Nouvelle-Anvers (
Makanza Makanza or Mankanza is a town in the Province of Équateur, Équateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquarters of Makanza Territory, Makanza territory. History Makanza was formerly known as Bangala Station and then as Nouvell ...
) on 23 August 1895, where he served for more than a year. In November 1897 he took over command of the
Lado Enclave The Lado Enclave (; ) was a leased territory administered by the Congo Free State and later by the Belgian Congo that existed from 1894 until 1910. Situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile in what is now South Sudan and northwest Uganda, it wa ...
from Louis-Napoléon Chaltin. He launched the armed steamer ''Van Kerchhoven'' and eight whalers on the Nile to defend Rejaf and Lado from a return of the Mahdists, who were retreating from the British in the north. Several Belgian soldiers died in a Mahdist ambush on 21 May 1898, and this was followed by a more serious attack by a group led by the Emir Adlem Bouchara at Rejaf during the night of 3–4 June 1898. During the Battle of Rejaf the Mahdists entered the enclosure but were beaten back with high casualties, including most of their leaders. About half of the African defenders were rendered
hors de combat ''Hors de combat'' (; ) is a French term used in the laws of war to refer to persons who are incapable of performing their combat duties during war, thus generally not treated as active combatants but rather protected persons. Examples include ...
. To guard against a renewed attack Hanolet decided to establish a post in Lado, and assigned the task to Commander , who arrived two weeks after the attack on Redjaf with 500 troops after defeating the rebels in the expeditionary force of Francis Dhanis. In November 1898 Honolet and Henry were visited in Lado by the English Colonel Cyril Godfrey Martyr, who had arrived from Uganda with a company of Sudanese troops to reoccupy
Gondokoro Gondokoro (formerly Ismailïa) island is located in Central Equatoria. The island was a trading-station on the east bank of the White Nile in Southern Sudan, south of Khartoum. Its importance lay in the fact that it was within a few kilometres o ...
and the right bank of the Nile. Hanolet handed over command to Henry on 2 January 1899 and left Redjaf. He was appointed secretary of state by the king on 1 March 1899. He left Boma for Europe on 24 March 1899.


Later career (1901–1908)

On 14 March 1901 Hamolet embarked for Africa in Lisbon. As state inspector of the
Uele District Uele District (, ) was a district of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo. It roughly corresponded to the current provinces of Bas-Uélé and Haut-Uélé. Landscape The Uele District, shown as the Uellé District on an 1897 map of the Congo ...
he paid considerable attention to registering and counting the arms and ammunitions of the local sultans. He returned to the Lado Enclave, where Chalton again handed over to him. He started construction of a road for motor vehicles to bring supplies from Dungu to Rejaf. With the threat from the Mahdists gone the region returned to peace and prosperity. At the end of his term he left Rejaf and returned to Europe on the ''Philippeville'', reaching Antwerp on 4 August 1903. He did not resume his service with the Free State or the army, but became an administrator of the
Abir Congo Company The Abir Congo Company (founded as the Anglo-Belgian India Rubber Company and later known as the Compagnie du Congo Belge) was a company that Exploitation of natural resources, exploited natural rubber in the Congo Free State, the private prop ...
and of the American Congo Company. Hanolet died in
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode Saint-Josse-ten-Noode ( French, ) or Sint-Joost-ten-Node ( Dutch, ), often simply called Saint-Josse in French or Sint-Joost in Dutch, is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the north-eastern part o ...
, Brussels, Belgium on 1 December 1908.


Publications

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Notes


Sources

* * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hanolet, Leon Charles Edouard 1859 births 1908 deaths Belgian soldiers Belgian explorers Congo Free State people