Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Belgium, Congo Free State, Order of Leopold II, 1st issue (1900-1908) Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with ‘shield’ obverse, with neck cravat, obverse central surround re-enamelled, good very fine, rare £250-300

Between 1885 and 1907 the Congo Free State was the personal colonial possession of King Leopold II of Belgium. Under Leopold’s administration, the country was ruthlessly exploited and the population terrorized - with mass killings, maiming, torture and enforced slavery being the norm. By 1900 news of the regime of terror began to leak from the unfortunate country and in 1908, due to mounting public and diplomatic pressure, the country was removed from Leopold’s private rule and became a colony of Belgium known as the Belgian Congo.

The Order of Leopold II was instituted by Leopold II as King of the Congo Free State on 24 August 1900. This was the fourth order to be created by the King in his capacity as ruler of the state, the others being the Order of the African Star in 1888, the Royal Order of the Lion in 1891 and the Order of the Crown in 1897. As with the others, the Order of Leopold II was taken into the Belgian honours system in 1908, unlike the others, its design was modified, with the Belgian Lion replacing the shield and the motto ‘Union Fait la Force’ replacing ‘Travail et Progres’.