A series of lanthanides(III) complexes containing Schiff base ligand, {[LnL(NO 3 ).H 2 O]•xH 2 O {Ln: La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy, H 2 L: N,N-bis-(2-hydroxy-5-nitro-benzylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine Schiff base ligand}, have been synthesized by reaction of the ligand with Ln(NO 3 ) 3 •xH 2 O in the presence of NaOH.Structures of these complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermal gravimetric and various spectral methods (IR, UV-Vis, 1 H, and 13 C NMR). The proposed formula, of the complexes consists of one Ln(III) ion with the coordination number of seven. Two coordination sites are occupied by one bi-dentate nitrate anion, another site is occupied by one water molecule and the remaining four coordination sites are occupied by one deprotonated tetra-dentate ligand molecule. Fluorescence emission spectra of Ln(III) complexes exhibit ligand-centred emission peak with a blue shift compared with that of free H 2 L. This can be explained on the basis of ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) that occurs upon L -2 coordination to Ln(III) ions. Antibacterial activity of H 2 L and its Ln(III) complexes has been tested against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains.