Page 35 - Terence J Arbuthnot
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The Order of Leopold
The Order of Leopold (Leopoldsorde in Dutch Ordre de Léopold in French) is one of the three
Belgian national honorary orders of Knighthood. It is the highest order of Belgium and is named in
honour of King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civilian division. The maritime
division is only awarded to personnel of the merchant navy, and the military division to military
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personnel. The decoration was established on 11 July 1832 and is awarded for extreme bravery
in combat or for meritorious service of immense benefit to the Belgian Nation. The Order of
Leopold is awarded by Royal Decree.
Membership can only be granted by the King of Belgium and is reserved to the very most
important Belgian Nationals and to some distinguished foreign persons who contributed in one
way to the Belgian Military, the Belgian Civil Society or the Belgium State.
