Order of the African Star

Order of the African Star
*Ordre de l'Étoile africaine*
*Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster*
Order of the African Star; Ordre de l'Étoile africaine; Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster ;
	Knight's cross of the order of the African star.
Awarded by Kingdom of Belgium
Type	Order of Merit with five classes and three medals
Established	1888 (Order of Congo Free State); 1908 (as Belgian Order)
Motto	TRAVAIL ET PROGRÈS -; ARBEID EN VOORUITGANG
Awarded for	Meritorious acts, "promotion of African civilisation"
Status	Still living members, but no longer awarded since 1962
Grand Master	His Majesty King Philippe
Grades	Grand Cross; Grand Officer; Commander; Officer; Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Leopold
Next (lower)	Royal Order of the Lion
	; ;

The Order of the African Star (Dutch: Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster; French: Ordre de l'Étoile africaine) was established by Leopold II of Belgium on 30 December 1888, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to Congo and for the "promotion of African civilisation in general". It was incorporated into the Belgian honours system on 10 October 1908 following the annexation of the Congo Free State by Belgium. The motto of the Order is "Travail et progrès" (French: Labour and progress; Dutch: Arbeid en vooruitgang). The King of the Belgians is its Grand Master; although the Congo is no longer a Belgian colony, it is still considered to be a Belgian Order by tradition.

The Order of the African Star is theoretically awarded by royal decree with approval by the Council of Ministers. Following the independence of Congo in 1960, the Order of the African Star is no longer awarded, although it officially still exists.

Classes

The Order of the African Star is administered by the FPS Foreign Affairs and has five classes and three medals:

Grand Cross, which wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
Grand Officer, which wears the badge on a necklet and a smaller star on the left chest;
Commander, which wears the badge on a necklet;
Officer, which wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
Knight, which wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
Medals in Gold, Silver and Bronze on a ribbon on the left chest.

Notable recipients

Grand Crosses

Grand Officers
Commanders
Officers
Knights

Paul Costermans

Gold Medals
Silver Medals

Kristian Løken

Bronze Medals
Unknown Classes

Insignia

The Badge of the order is a white enamelled five-pointed star with blue borders, surrounded by a crown of green enamelled palm leaves. The central disk shows a gold star on blue enamelled background surrounded by a gold ring displaying the motto of the order: Travail et Progrès (work and progress). The reverse is similar to the obverse but with a central disc of red enamel with a stylised 'double L' crowned Leopold II monogram superimposed. The whole badge is topped by a royal crown linked to the ribbon.

The Plaque is a 10-pointed star, with (for Grand Cross) alternating faceted golden points and rayed silver points, or (for Grand Officer) made of plain silver with alternating faceted points and rayed points. The central disc shows the obverse of the badge, including the surrounding green enamelled palm leaves, and in the top the 'double L' Leopold II monogram. The whole plaque is topped by a royal crown.

The Medal is round in gold, silver and bronze versions, with a suspension in the form of a royal crown with two pendelia and a ribbon ring. The obverse shows a finely ribbed central area with bead surround, with a star superimposed. The surrounding circlet carries the motto of the order: Travail et Progrès (work and progress) - the later issues are bilingual including the Dutch Arbeid en Vooruitgang in the lower half of the circlet. The reverse is a stylised 'double L' crowned Leopold II monogram within a palm wreath.

The Ribbon of the order is azure blue with a large central pale yellow stripe. When awarded in war time, the ribbon of the Order may be adorned with a silver of gold palm.

The Ribbon bar of the order is worn on the semi-formal dress uniform.

Collar of the Order

Ribbon bars & Decorations
Grand Cross	Grand Officer	Commander	Officer	Knight


	Gold Medal	Silver Medal	Bronze Medal
.				.
.				.

Award conditions

The Order of the African Star was awarded for especially meritorious service of any field performed in the Belgian Congo and, "promotion of African civilisation in general". Its award was rare, and though on behalf of the King, it required the approval of the Council of Ministers.

References

Royal Decree of 26 March 1953 Creating Palms for the Order of the African Star and the Royal Order of the Lion when Awarded in War Time (Moniteur Belge of 14 April 1953)
Borné A.C., Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Bruxelles: 1985)
Van Hoorebeke P., 175 Ans de l'Ordre de Léopold et les Ordres Nationaux Belges (MRA: 2007)

External links

Order of the African Star at Medals of the World
Archived 23 December 2012 at archive.today – alternate version of the above, with pictures

v t e Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium
National orders	Order of Leopold Order of the African Star Royal Order of the Lion Order of the Crown Order of Leopold II
Pre–1914	Civic Guard Merit Medal 1830 Star of Honour Iron Cross 1830 Volunteers' Commemorative Cross 1870–71 Commemorative Medal Service Star
World War I	War Cross 1914–18 Fire Cross 1914–1918 Yser Cross and Medal Volunteer Combatant's Medal 1914–1918 Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1918 War Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1917 African Campaigns Liège Medal Maritime Decoration 1914–1918 Political Prisoner's Medal 1914–1918 Deportees' Cross 1914–1918 1914–1918 Medal for National Restoration King Albert Medal Queen Elisabeth Medal Inter-Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 Civic Decoration 1914–1918 Commemorative Medal of the National Committee for Aid and Food
World War II & Korean War	War Cross 1940–45 Maritime Medal 1940–1945 1940–1945 Military Combatant's Medal Volunteer's Medal 1940–1945 1940–1945 African War Medal 1940–1945 Colonial War Effort Medal Abyssinian Campaigns Commemorative Medal Resistance Medal 1940–1945 Civilian Resistance Medal Civilian Disobedience Medal Political Prisoner's Cross 1940–1945 Prisoner of War Medal 1940–1945 Escapees' Cross 1940–1945 Medal for Resistance against Nazism in the Annexed Territories Medal of the Recruiting Centers 1940 Medal of Belgian Gratitude 1940–1945 Commemorative Medal of the 1940–1945 War Foreign Operational Theatres Commemorative Medal
Current military awards	Military Decoration for exceptional service, bravery or exceptional devotion Military Cross Military Decoration for faithful service Cross of Honour for Military Service Abroad Commemorative Medal for Armed Humanitarian Operations Commemorative Medal for Foreign Operations or Missions Commemorative medal for missions or operations regarding the operational defense of the territory Meritorious Service Medal
Current civilian awards	Civil decoration for acts of bravery, selfsacrifice and philanthropy Civil decoration for faithful service Labour Decoration Laureate of labour
Commemorative medals	Commemorative Decoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Railroads Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Leopold II Commemorative Medal for the 75th Anniversary of the Belgian Postal Service Centenary of National Independence Commemorative Medal Commemorative Medal for the Centenary of the Telegraphic Service Commemorative Medal for the 100th Anniversary of the Belgian Postal Service Commemorative Medal of the Reign of King Albert I Commemorative Medal for the "European March of Memory and Friendship" "Four Days of the Yser" Commemorative Medal
Belgian Red Cross	Order of the Belgian Red Cross Blood Donour's Medal 1940–1945 Cross of Honour of the Belgian Red Cross 1940–1945 Belgian Red Cross Decoration
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