Louis Joseph Royaux was a Belgian soldier, colonial administrator and explorer. He was born in Dinant on the 28 November 1866 the son of Alexander Royaux and Florentine Royaux (née Beaulot). On 3 April 1888 he enlisted in the 10e régiment de ligne of the Belgian Army, and was appointed as an instructor in the regiment's school in late 1890. He entered the service of the Congo Free State on 1 September 1892 as a sergeant of Force Publique, sailing from Antwerp aboard the "Lulu Bohlen" on 6 September 1892.