A colonial order of chivalry was an

order of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order (distinction), order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic Military order (religious society), military orders of the ...

awarded by European colonial states in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

for those who conquered and administered their territories. They were sometimes adopted by post-colonial successor states, or remained one of the former imperial power's orders of chivalry. The orders of the states of the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

are not colonial orders, and owe their existence to their nations' personal union with the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

or to their own governments or parliaments.

Belgium

Order of the African Star The Order of the African Star ( nl, 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 ...

(1888) *

Royal Order of the Lion The Royal Order of the Lion (french: Ordre Royal du Lion; nl, Koninklijke orde van de Leeuw) was established by King Leopold II of Belgium on 9 April 1891, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to t ...

(1891) * Order of the Crown (1897) * Order of Leopold II (1900)

France

* Royal Order of Cambodia (1864) *

Order of the Star of Anjouan The Ordre de l'Étoile d'Anjouan (Order of the Star of Anjouan) was a French colonial order of knighthood founded in 1874. History It was established in 1874 by sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar of the Grande Comore island of Anjouan, reorganised ...

(1874) *

Order of the Dragon of Annam The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam (, , ; french: Ordre impérial du Dragon d'Annam, Ordre du Dragon Vert) was created in 1886 in the city of Huế, by Emperor Đồng Khánh of the Imperial House of Annam, upon the "recommendation" of th ...

(1886) *

Order of Nichan El-Anouar The Ordre du Nichan El-Anouar (Arabic: ''Order of the Light'') was established in 1887 as a colonial order of merit of the Tajurah sultanate in French Somaliland and abolished as a result of the order reform on 3 December 1963. History On 21 ...

(1887) * Order of the Black Star (1889)

Italy

* Colonial Order of the Star of Italy (1914)

Portugal

* Order of the Empire (1932)

Netherlands

The Netherlands had no colonial orders, even though governors-general of the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...

often called for such orders to be created. There were numerous other awards for service in the Dutch East Indies, the most notable being the establishment of the

Cross for Courage and Fidelity The Cross for Courage and Fidelity (Dutch: ''Kruis voor Moed en Trouw'') is a military award that was established by Queen Emma of the Netherlands by Royal Decree on 7 March 1898. The cross replaced the old Medal for Courage and Fidelity, which h ...

and the Star for Loyalty and Merit.

Spain

* Order of Africa (1933)

United Kingdom

*Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (1818) Originally for Malta and the Ionian islands, later Empire-wide *Most Exalted

Order of the Star of India The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: # Knight Grand Commander (GCSI) # Knight Commander ( KCSI) # Companion ( CSI) No appointments ...

(1861) *Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (1877) *Imperial

Order of the Crown of India The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system. The Order was established by Queen Victoria when she became Emperor of India, Empress of India in 1878. The ...

(1878) Female only *

Order of Burma The Order of Burma was founded by Royal Warrant on 10 May 1940, and conferred in a single class. It was awarded by the Governor of British Burma for long, faithful and honourable service by Governor's Commissioned (i.e. native Burmese) Officers i ...

(1940) {{DEFAULTSORT:Colonial Orders Of Knighthood