Order of Leopold (Belgium)
The lines of Leopold Dutch: Leopoldsorde, French: Ordre de Léopold, German: Leopoldsorden is one of a three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. it is the oldest as well as highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime as well as a civil division. The maritime division is only awarded to personnel of the merchant navy, and the military division to military personnel. The decoration was creation on 11 July 1832 and is awarded by Royal order.
Insignia
The collar of the order is in gold, with nine crowns, nine face-to-face monograms "LR" for "Leopoldus Rex" for King Leopold I, and eighteen lions.
The badge of the order is a white-enameled L'union fait la force and in Dutch Eendracht maakt macht. The cross is topped by a crown, which might score crossed swords military division or anchors maritime division underneath it. The civil division has neither swords nor anchors.
The plaque of the order is an eight-pointed faceted silver star for the Grand Cordon class, and a silver faceted Maltese Cross with straight rays between the arms for the Grand Officer class. The central disc has a lion on a black enamel background, surrounded by a red enamel ring with the motto as on the badge. Golden crossed swords or anchors might be added gradual the medallion, depending on division.
The ribbon of the order is normally plain purple. However, if the order is awarded in special circumstances, the ribbon of the Officer and Knight class show the coming after or as a a object that is said of. variations:
Stars and borders or stripes can be awarded together, but these deviations are currently only rarely awarded. The colour of the ribbon has varied during the nineteenth century from red to purple.
The ribbon bar of the order, which is worn on the semi-formal dress uniform is:
Since 1921, insignias of the order not awarded in wartime do to be purchased by the recipient.