Background
He reigned under the Regency of Queen Ririkumutima, until he came of age.
He reigned under the Regency of Queen Ririkumutima, until he came of age.
He was enthroned king of Burundi at Muramvya, 16 December 1915. He was given the title of Mwami, or King. He was invested with full ruling powers, 28 August 1929.
Like other Burundian kings, he was an ethnic Ganwa.
During the early part of his reign, Burundi was transferred from Germany to Belgium following World War I. He was the king of Burundi when it was granted independence, 1 July 1962, and become an independent constitutional monarchy, which suffered much turmoil including the assassinations of at least three prime ministers. He had to continue switching prime ministers to stay in favor with both Hutus and Tutsis.
In March 1966, he appointed his only surviving son as Regent, and entrusted him with full executive powers. Thereafter lived abroad, mostly in Switzerland.
He spent the rest of his life in Switzerland until he died in 1977.
National Honours Grand Master of the Royal Order of Prince Louis Rwagasore (1 July 1962). Grand Master of the Royal Order of Ruzinko (1 July 1962). Grand Master of the Royal Order of Karyenda (1 July 1962). Grand Master of the Military Order of Karyenda (1 July 1962). Foreign Honours Belgium: Grand Officer of the Order of the African Star (1949). Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II (2 June 1955). Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1 July 1962). Belgium: 1940–1945 Colonial War Effort Medal (1950). Sweden: Knight of the Order of the Seraphim (1963). Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1962). Norway: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1963).
