The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold

• Time Period: Pre World War I
• Institution: 8 January 1808
• Country: Austria, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold (or Österreichisch-kaiserlicher Leopold-Orden in German) was founded on 8 January 1808 by Franz I of Austria.

The order’s statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, crossed swords were instituted to reward bravery in the face of the enemy. An Imperial Decree of 1 February 1901 ordered that then onwards, there were four ranks:

• Grand Cross.
• First Class.
• Commander.
• Knight.

Until 18 July 1884, the award of the order also entitled the recipient, if he was not already of that standing, to be raised to the following appointments and/or ranks of the nobility:

• Grand Cordon: Privy Councillor.
• Commander: Baron.
• Knight: Ritter.

After 1918, the Order was no longer awarded.

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold Design

The badge of the Order consists of a red enameled gold cross, with white enamel edging. The obverse displays the initials “FIA” in gold on a red enamel background. The Cross is surmounted by a golden Emperors’ Crown.

The ribbon was red with two narrow white side-stripes. The Grand Cross could also be awarded with diamonds.

Both the Grand Cross and the First Class Members of the Order wore their orders in the form of a sash with the Order attached to the Bow and respectively an eight-pointed and a four-pointed breast Star on formal occasions. The Commanders’ Cross was worn to the neck, suspended from a 52 mm wide ribbon; the Knight wore his Order on a triangular ribbon on the left breast.

The Mottoes of the Order were “INTEGRITATI ET MERITO” and “OPES REGUM CORDA SUBDITORUM“.