Congo
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Medals of Democratice Republic of Congo Ed Emering |
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Vangeyt Grégory |
Also see medals of Zaire
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The Order Of Leopold II (Ordre de Leopold II) was instituted on 24 August, 1900 by King Leopold II as an Order for the Congo State, but became a Belgian Order in 1908 when Belgium took over the Congo as a Colony. The original award was known as the Decoration of the Order of Leopold II (Decoration de l'Ordre de Leopold II) and consisted of 3 classes as follows: 1st Class (Gold Cross), 2nd Class (Silver Cross) and 3rd Class (Medals in Gold, Silver or Bronze). The ribbon was 36mm wide, dark blue with a 6mm black central stripe. The ribbon of the 1st class award contained a rosette. After a few years, a Constitutional Decree of the Independant State of Congo (No. 5) was published on 1 May, 1903 which revised the Order to consist of 6 classes as follows: Grand-Croix, Grand-Officiers, Commandeurs, Officiers, Chevaliers and Medals. The order may be conferred on civilians and on the military, on Belgians and on foreigners, as a reward for services to the Monarch and as a token of his personal goodwill. Military personnel decorated who have been mentioned-in-dispatches during the First or Second World Wars bear on the ribbon a gold or silver palm with an "A" for "Albert" or an "L" for "Leopold". (Ref: Orders, Medals and Decorations of Britain and Europe by Paul Hieronymussen).
