Order of Leopold (Belgium)

Order of Leopold
Ordre de Léopold
Leopoldsorde
Order of Leopold Grand Cross set of insignia
Order of Leopold
(Civil Grand Cordon set of insignia)
Awarded by Belgium King of the Belgians
TypeOrder of Merit with five degrees
Established11 July 1832
MottoL'UNION FAIT LA FORCE -
EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT
EINIGKEIT MACHT STARK
(Union makes strength)
(Unity Makes Strength)
EligibilityBelgian and foreign citizens
Awarded formeritorious service to the Belgian state or society
StatusActive
Grand MasterHis Majesty King Philippe
Grades
  • Grand Cordon
  • Grand Officer (since 1838)
  • Commander
  • Officer
  • Knight (OL)
Statistics
First inductionFrench Sapper Valentin Ausseil
Precedence
Next (higher)None (highest)
Next (lower)Order of the African Star

Ribbon (knight)

Leopold I, first King of the Belgians, Founder and First Grand Master of the Order.
Uniform of HM Albert I, Royal Collection of Belgium
Count Paul de Smet de Naeyer, Grand Cordon
King Albert II (on the right) in 2005, with the Dominican Ambassador to Brussels
Cartoon depicting king Leopold II of the Belgians who is throwing medals to crowd

The Order of Leopold (Dutch: Leopoldsorde, French: Ordre de Léopold, German: Leopoldsorden) is one of the three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. It is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and 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 established on 11 July 1832 and is awarded by Royal decree.


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