Order of the Lion (Belgium)

The Order of the Lion was founded in 1891 by King Leopold II of Belgium as an Order of Merit for the Congo State . In 1908 it became part of the Belgian order and has not been awarded since 1960.

Order classes

The order consists of five classes and a medal of merit in three levels:

• Grand Cross
• Grand Officer
• commander
• officer
• Knight
• Merit Medal
  • gold
  • silver
  • bronze

Order decoration

The medal is a white enameled, blue-rimmed cross made of gold with two interlocking C (Congo) in the cross angles. In the blue enameled medallion a golden Belgian lion. All around the inscription TRAVAIL ET PROGRES (work and progress). On the reverse the two entwined letters LS (Leopold Souverain).

Carrying method

The grand cross is carried with a sash from the left shoulder to the right hip. The eight-pointed breast star is identical in class I and II. Commanders wear the award around their necks, officers and knights on a ribbon on their left chest. Officers also have a rosette on the ribbon. The knight's medal is made of silver.

The ribbon is bluish red with blue-yellow stripes.

The Grand Cross can also be worn on a gold collar on special occasions . This consists alternately of three links and shows a royal crown, an L with an intertwined S and a medallion with the Belgian lion on a blue background.

literature

• Paul Ohm Hieronymussen: Handbook of European Orders in Color . Universitas, Berlin 1975, ISBN 3-8004-0948-8 -