Created by King Leopold II on 30 December 1888, in his capacity as king of the independant state of Congo, and incorporated in the Belgian awards system on 10 October 1908, this order serves to bring forward the recipients' services rendered to Congo (or the Belgian colony of Congo) and, in general, to the cause of African civilisation. Be it noted that it was not necessary for the recipient to have actually spend some part of his/her life in Africa, services rendered could have been performed elsewhere. The classes are as follows :