Order of Leopold (Austria)

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Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold
Grand Cross Star of the order
Awarded by The Head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Type	Dynastic order
Royal house	House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Motto	INTEGRITATI ET MERITO and OPES REGUM CORDA SUBDITORUM
Awarded for	Civil and military merit
Status	Dormant
Sovereign	Karl von Habsburg
Grades	Grand Cross First Class Commander Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary
Next (lower)	Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)
Equivalent	Order of the Starry Cross
Ribbon of the order (except 1st Class)

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold (German: Österreichisch-kaiserlicher Leopold-Orden) (Hungarian: Osztrák Császári Lipót-rend) was founded by Franz I of Austria on 8 January 1808. The order's statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, in common with the other Austrian and later Austro-Hungarian decorations, war decoration (represented by a laurel wreath) and/or swords were added to reward meritorious service and bravery in the face of the enemy.

An Imperial Decree of 1 February 1901 ordered that in future, the senior grade would be split into two separate awards. From then onwards, there were four ranks: Grand Cross, First Class, Commander, Knight.

Until 18 July 1884, the award of the order also entitled the recipient, if he was not already of that standing, to be raised to the following appointments and/or ranks of the nobility:

• Grand Cross: Privy Councillor
• Commander: Baron
• Knight: Ritter