The Order of the Black Star (Ordre de l'Étoile Noire) was an order of knighthood established on 1 December 1889 at Porto-Novo by Toffa, future king of Dahomey (today the Republic of Benin). Approved and recognised by the French government on 30 July 1894, after the establishment of the new statutes of 30 August 1892, according this distinction to all those who worked to develop French influence on the west coast of Africa.
The establishment of the Order in the style of the Legion of Honor was the result of Toffe of Porto-Novo's victory over King Benhazine of Abomey and the establishment of French influence.The Order of the Black Star is a French colonial award
Classes The order has five classes: Grand-Croix (Grand Cross), Commandeur avec Plaque (Commander with Plaque), Commandeur (Commander), Officier (Officer), and Chevalier (Knight).
Grand-CroixCommandeur avec PlaqueCommandeurOfficierChevalier
The order was deprecated by decree on 3 December 1963, and superseded by the Ordre National du Mérite. Extant members of the order are permitted to wear their original decorations.
Recipients
Grand Crosses Amha Selassie Hamengkubuwono VIII Edgard de Larminat Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Charles Debbas Commanders with Plaque Michel Arnaud Pedro Correia de Barros Gustaf Bonde (1911–1977) Smedley Butler Jacob Emil van Hoogstraten Harry J. Malony Jacques Massu Ernest Dichmann Peek Bengt Rabaeus Howard Robertson (architect) Sisavang Vong Commanders Ewart Culpin William H. Hay John H. Hughes (general) Palden Thondup Namgyal Pakubuwono X Wilhelm Winther Arthur Young (police officer) Smedley Butler El Hadj Diallo Alfa Bakar John H. Sherburne"General Sherburne Receives Decoration," Boston Post, April 9, 1920, p. 22. Edward Vollrath Officers John Thomas Kennedy Agbanon II Knights Jacques Chirac Philip Sassoon George A. White Agbanon II Unknown Class Willy Coppens John F. Curry Ernest J. Dawley Pierre Pouyade Michael Scott (golfer) Emmet Harris2nd Lieutenant US Infantry (New York) d. 13 August 1919. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774 - 1985; Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917 - 1922 File Unit: Hanf - Harrisburg entry 1481 and 1482 Amiel Sayo Gabriel Pounaba Ibrahim Tello
References