Ordre Royal Prince Louis Rwagasore, medal, Burundi,

Royal Order of Prince Louis Rwagasore, medal (Ordre Royal du Prince Louis Rwagasore, médaille)

Gilt metal rhombus-shaped medal with laterally-pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a stippled ground with the Cross of the Order centrally, being a cross pattée alisée with a circular central gilt medallion bearing the full-face portrait of Crown Prince Louis Rwagasore, the letters ‘L’ and ‘R’ above left and above right respectively; the reverse plain; on original ribbon mounted for wear in the Belgian style. The Order was created in 1962 by King Mwambutsa IV in five classes and a medal. Prince Louis Rwagasore (1932-1961) was son of King Mwambutsa IV and a leader of Burundi’s independence movement. He won a major victory in the elections of 1961 and became prime minister but was assassinated two weeks later. Burundi became independent eight months later and his father created the order in his memory. The monarchy was overthrown in 1966 and the Order became defunct. As a consequence, the order is rare in all classes.