Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/40

14 THE ORDER OF LEOPOLD.

As the Order of St. Stephen was exclusively destined for the nobility, the Emperor Francis I. founded, on the 7th January, 1808—the day after his marriage with his third wife, Louise of Modena—a new Order, named after the Emperor Leopold II., and extended it to all meritorious subjects, civil or military, without regard to rank or birth.

The first distribution of the Order took place on the 8th January, 1809.

The Austrian Emperors are the sole Grand Masters, and have full power to confer the Order upon any one they please.

The badge (Plate II. Nos. 10 and 11) is an octagonal red enamelled cross of gold, and white encasement. On the obverse of the round red centre are, in monogram, the initials 'F. I. A.' (Franciscus Imperator Austrize), while in the white mounting are the words: 'Integritate et Merito' (For integrity and merit). The reverse is white, surrounded by a golden oak wreath, and containing the motto of the Emperor Leopold II.: 'Opes regum corda subditorum" (The riches of kings are the hearts of their subjects). Between each of the four arms of the cross are seen three oak leaves with two acorns, while the whole is surmounted by the imperial crown of Austria.

This Order is also divided into three classes. The Knights of the Grand Cross wear the decoration across the right shoulder, suspended by a red ribbon with white stripes at the borders, loosely hanging towards the left hip. Close to it, on the left side of the breast, is a silver octagonal star, the centre of which contains the obverse of the cross insignia. (Plate V.