Royal Order of the Lion.
Ordre Royal du Lion
This Order came into existence by two royal decrees on the 9th April
and the 28th July 1891 by the King-Sovereign of the Independent
state of the Congo, Leopold II. The order was created to recognise
merit and special service to the Congo, although not necessarily
from within the Congo. When the Congo Free State was annexed by
Belgium in 1908 the Order was integrated into the Belgian awards
system.
The Order is in the familiar pattern of five classes with a medal
attached:-
Class |
Entitled to wear; |
1st |
Grand Cross / Grand Croix |
Large diamond shaped star of the order worn
on a sash.
Also a small number of individuals have been entitled to
wear the collar of the order. |
2nd |
Grand Officer / Grand Officier |
Large Maltese cross shaped 'star' of the order
worn on a sash. |
3rd |
Commander / Commandeur |
Badge of the order worn on a neck ribbon
(badge slightly larger than the two lower classes) |
4th |
Officer / Officier |
Badge of the order in gilt, rosette on the
ribbon, (illustrated) worn on the left breast |
5th |
Knight / Chevalier |
Badge of the order in silver, worn on the
left breast. |
Medal of the order / Medailles ( Gold,
Silver and Bronze) |
Medal ( see separate page ) |
Badge of the Order,
description; A white enamel Rupert cross with a perimeter
channel of blue enamel, with the angles in-filled with filigree
'back to back' letter "C"s for "Congo". Suspension by means of a
pivoting royal crown and ring. Obverse medallion depicts the crowned
Belgian lion on a blue enamel background within a circlet inscribed
with the motto of the Congo "TRAVAIL ET PROGRES"
N , - the medallion is surrounded by a scalloped channel of
blue enamel. Reverse, similar to the obverse but with a central
medallion of red enamel with the crowned royal monogram "L/S/L"
superimposed.
Ribbon: Amaranth purple, with narrow pale yellow edge stripes
bordered with pale blue. |