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THE INTERNATIONAL AND ROYAL
COUNCIL FOR ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY 2008
( Founded 2002 by Royal Charter )
The Register of Orders of Chivalry
Registre des Ordres de Chevalerie
The Official Listing of The Imperial
and Royal European Orders of Chivalry
The Royal Belgian Orders of Knighthood
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(Above)
The Ceremonial Insignia of
The Royal Order of Leopold I
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF LEOPOLD I
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5 classes, in a military, a maritime and a civil division
THE ORDER OF LEOPOLD I is the first Belgian Order, both in the order of wear as for its intitution. Created in 1832 (decrees of 11 July and 3 August), it is awarded to persons, holding higher rank in life, usually for the length of a career or for exceptional service. In practice long time service is alternatively rewarded by the Order of the Crown and, 5 years later, the Order of Leopold I. Some examples : officers in the armed forces receive the Order usually after 20 years of service, 5 years after having received the Order of the Crown; public servants in higher office are eligible after 10 to 20 years (again, 5 years after being awarded the Order of the Crown). Promotion in the Order comes after another 10 years (i.e. after having been promoted 5 years earlier in the Order of the Crown). Private persons, e.g. physicians, engineers, lawyers, presidents of important institutions or firms, famous artists etc.,can also be awarded the Order. The badge of the Order has on its reverse the intertwined letters "LR" (Leopold Rex) mirrored on themselves. The obverse has the Belgian Kingdom's motto around the central medallion's edge : either the bilingual Flemish/French "EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT - L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE" (Unity makes power) or the French only, pre-1951 version. Ribbon emblems such as palms, crossed swords (see also Belgian WWII decorations), gilt or silver stars are usually connected with wartime services os are ribbons having a central gilt stripe or gilt edges (see Belgian WWI Decorations, Order of Leopold II for this ribbon version). The Military Division of the Order has crossed swords between the Order's cross and crown, the (very rare) Maritime Division crossed anchors.
Each of the three divisions has the following classes :
Grand Cordon - Grand Officer - Commander - Officer and Knight.
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(Above)
The Ceremonial Insignia of
The Royal Order of The Lion
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE LION
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5 classes and 3 medals
This Order was created by King Leopold II, as king of the independant state of Congo, in 1891 and was later, in 1908, incorporated as a colonial order into the Belgian awards system. Award of the Order were for meritorious services to the Belgian colony or its sovereign. The Order's badge has 2 intertwined letters "C" (Congo) between the cross arms and the reverse medallion bears l intertwined letters "L" (Leopold) over the letter "S" (Sovereign). The Order's motto, "TRAVAIL ET PROGRES" (Labour and progress) surrounds the obverse central medallion (a gilt lion on blue enamel). The different classes of the Order (whereby medals are awarded to NCO's and other ranks, to "lower" rank public servants, etc.
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(Above)
The Ceremonial Insignia of
The Royal Order of The Crown
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE CROWN
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5 classes and 2 palms and 3 medals
This Order was also, in 1897,created by King Leopold II, as king of the independant state of Congo, and later, in 1908, incorporated into the Belgian awards system. It was awarded for distinguished artistic, literary or scientific service in the commercial or industrial field or for (long) service to the country or in Africa. The same ribbon emblems or ribbon variations as with the Leopold I Order have been instituted for this Order as well. "Lower" ranks (military, public servants or other civilians) are awarded Palms.
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF LEOPOLD II
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In 1900 King Leopold II, as King of the independant state of Congo, created another order (see top pictures) which was later, in 1908, incorporated into the Belgian awards system (see pictures below). It was awarded for services to the King. In fact it is again a long service order and awarded as such instead of the rarer Leopold I Order (but also alternatively with the Order of the Crown). The usual emblems and ribbon variations (see Belgian WWI Decorations) are applicable to this Order as well.
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THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE AFIRICAN STAR
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5 classes and 3 medals
Created by King Leopold II on 30 December 1888, in his capacity as king of the independant state of Congo, and incorporated in the Belgian awards system on 10 October 1908, this order serves to bring forward the recipients' services rendered to Congo (or the Belgian colony of Congo) and, in general, to the cause of African civilisation. Be it noted that it was not necessary for the recipient to have actually spend some part of his/her life in Africa, services rendered could have been performed elsewhere.
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"CHRISTUS VINCIT, CHRISTUS REGNAT, CHRISTUS IMPERIT"
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For Further Information
The Correspondence Address is:
The Imperial and Royal Society
of The Almanach de Chivalry,
Royal Mail Post Office Box 276,
Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0UL,
United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
Fax: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
E-mail: almanachdechivalry@msn.com
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The Official Website of Almanach de Chivalry
Crown Copyright Held © 2002-2008, All Rights Reserved
WEBSITE LINKS:
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