This early 19th century medal, an Order of Knighthood, may share a connection to my partner’s family history. You see, my partner’s last name is Flandrick, Province of Flanders, with an ancestor related to Queen of Flanders. This medal given for actions of merit to Belgian notable persons, bestowed by the Kings of Belgium for 192 years. I became interested in this medal after writing last week’s article about a reader’s different honorary medal, and dug it out of hiding.
A Diplomatic Gift
This medal, technically called a badge, is an award of the National Honorary Order of Knighthood, founded by Leopold I (1831-1865), the first King of the Belgians. The medal is given by royal decree as a diplomatic gift to notables in the military, maritime service, and civilians of Belgian birth. Other recipients include foreign dignitaries who served the Belgian people. For example, Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who helped liberate Belgium from German occupation. Current King of the Belgians, Philippe, recently bestowed the Order on Belgian/American psychiatrist Ester Perel, made a Knight of the Order of the Cross in 2022. Emmanuel de Merode, the director of the conservation area Virunga National Park of the DRC, received the Order.
Felix de Merode created the design in 1832 and Leopold I approved the color and grades of honorific titles. The Grand Cordon or Commander’s Cross badge, as they called it, is worn on a shoulder sash of purple silk. Sometimes awarded with a large gold or silver breast star worn on the coat. If the Order is given in recognition of acts of charity, there’s a silver stripe in the purple silk. If for valor, there’s a gold stripe. My medal, the civil award, is made only for those over 42 years-old who served Belgium for at least 20 years in a meritorious field.
The design shows a Maltese Cross on either sterling silver or gold, surrounded by a green enameled wreath of laurel and oak leaves between the arms of the cross. A central cartouche features a lion rampant in black enamel, surrounded by a red enamel ring. The inscription reads, “L’ Union Fait La Ponce;” or unity makes strength. Interestingly, that motto, originated in Homer’s Iliad “even weak men have strength in unity.” It’s also found on the coat of arms of Belgium, Bolivia, Malaysia, Georgia, Haiti, and Bulgaria.
The Order of Knighthood
Similar to orders granted by France, the Order originated after the Belgian Revolution of 1830. The Dutch controlled the United Netherlands at the time, but French speakers revolted to form an independent Belgium. Hence the “unity” phrase in the medal. After some bloody skirmishes in Brussels, the Dutch retreated, and a Constitutional Monarchy envisioned. They found a king, an aristocrat of Bavaria, who accepted the throne, Leopold of Saxe Coburg, uncle to Victoria’s HRH Prince Albert.
Two weeks after Leopold was crowned, the Dutch again attacked, and conflict raged for eight years. Thus, Leopold desired an Order of Knighthood to honor those who fought in the Belgian Revolution, and those who served the Belgian people as a whole. Leopold unified Belgian’s nine provinces, including liberal progressives, and Catholic conservatives. People called him the “Nestor” of Europe after the wise negotiator in Homer’s Iliad. He aimed to remain neutral in negotiations with Napoleon III, French Emperor, and the court of Queen Victoria.
Leopold created this Knighthood to unite the country, even bestowing the order on aristocratic couples who wed and formed their own “courts,” as a diplomatic gift to honor Belgian leaders, the military, and the aristocracy.
A particularly trying time, the mid-19th century, in the history of Belgium, when it seemed that Leopold’s efforts to achieve unity failed, the Dutch, shut down Belgian trading seaports and banned Belgian merchants to trade in Dutch colonies. An economic crisis loomed, and in Flanders, a famine forced a third of the population to emigrate, 1845-9. If not for the struggle in Flanders under Leopold, my partner’s family might never have come to Minnesota! Remember his name is Flandrick.
The Order of Knighthood is rare, and in excellent shape and worth $350.