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THE INTERNATIONAL AND ROYAL
COUNCIL FOR ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY 2008
( Founded 2002 by Royal Charter )
The Register of Orders of Chivalry
Registre des Ordres de Chevalerie
The Official Listing of The Imperial
and Royal European Orders of Chivalry
The Imperial Orders of Knighthood
of The Russian Empire
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The Ceremonial Insignia of The Imperial
Russian Order of Saint Andrew
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AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM HER IMPERIAL HIGHNESS
THE GRAND DUCHESS MARIA WLADIMIROVNA OF RUSSIA
Concerning the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
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By the Grace of God we the Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna , Head of the Imperial House Of Russia and Grand Master of the Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia.
On 1 August (19 July O.S) 1929, in fulfilment of the intentions of the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II and in honor of his memory as the Supreme Commander of the valiant Imperial Army and Navy of old, Our Grandfather the Emperor Kirill I of blessed memory, established the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the purpose of which was to award the veterans of the Great War of 1914-1918. According to the First Statute of the Order, the right to this Order was given to all those who took part in the said war.
The conditions of life in exile prevented the establishment of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in full accord with the project presented to the Emperor Nicholas II at the time, namely that the Order should comprise three classes. It was established that the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker should have just one class and that it should be hereditary, so that the senior member of the family in direct descent from the original recipient of the Order should have the right to wear the decoration with a parade uniform. The Order was of a commemorative nature, and the possible alteration of the Statute and the determination of the rights and privileges it would confer were postponed until Our Family could return to Our Homeland.
During the first decades after the establishment of the Order many thousands became Knights of the Order: generals, officers and other ranks; bishops and priests of the Russian Orthodox Church and Members of Our House who had taken part in the Great War, officers of the medical service and some foreign nationals who had distinguished themselves in allied military and naval action. All of them received this decoration for the bravery and valour they showed in the defence of the Russian State against the foreign enemy. However, with the passage of time, practically nobody is alive who would have the right to receive the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in accordance with the original Statute, as the great majority of them have gone to a better world.
The Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, however, was designed as an award to the defenders of Russia. My Imperial Grandfather, the Emperor Kirill I, undoubtedly intended the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to be conferred on all loyal sons of the Motherland who served selflessly in its defence. Even in 1922, in his address to the soldiers of the Red and the White Armies soon after the end of the Civil War, My Grandfather proclaimed: "There are not two Russian armies. There is, on both sides of the Russian border, just one Russian Army which is wholeheartedly devoted to Russia, to its ancient heritage, its traditional aims. It will save Our much-suffering Homeland".
Ten years later, in his address to the soldiers of the Red Army of 25 (12) November 1932, the Emperor Kirill I maintained that the Red Army and Navy "are turning into that Russian force which would be able to save Russia from foreign invasion, from internal collapse and from communist violence". "Russian soldiers!" wrote My Grandfather, "I address Myself to you. Your power is the guarantee of the safety and inviolability of the Russian State. As you are now the armed forces of Russia, and inseparable from her people, you have become custodians of the age-old glorious heritage of the Russian Army and Navy which have always stood in defence of the Motherland and served as the guarantors of international peace. Nothing temporary, nothing alien, can change the essence of your military service. You have already understood yourselves to be the defenders of the homeland. There shall come a time when this understanding will determine the fate of Russia.
For the present, you must prepare yourselves for the future. Russia needs a strong Army and Navy. Your duty is to increase the power of the Army and Navy, to raise its spirit, to harden its discipline, to work stubbornly on its technical advancement".
These words, written not quite seventy years ago, have retained all their significance up to the present day. They bear eloquent witness to the fact that the Imperial Founder of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker always valued military service most highly, no matter what the political structure in Russia at any particular time in history. This same view was held by My late Father, the Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich; and I and My Son and Heir, the Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, also hold this view. For this reason, on behalf of the Imperial House of Russia, I wish with all my heart to recognize the contribution of the current generation of defenders of the Motherland to the strengthening of Russia's defence.
Now that, once again, We have the opportunity to visit Our homeland and to participate, insofar as We are able, in the process of the renewal of its historical values and traditions, We have seen fit to include the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker among Our Family Orders, and, at the same time, to enact a new Statute, which extends the right to be awarded this Order to the military servicemen of Russia for high personal achievement in service, for bravery and valour in the carrying out of military duties, for ensuring the high military preparedness of the armed forces and of Russia's defence capability, for the exemplary fulfilment of military duties by personnel serving in units under their command and the achievement of a high level of military training. In the general order of seniority among the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders, the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker now follows that of the Order of St. Anne.
The hereditary right to succeed to membership of the Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is abolished. Individuals who have been awarded the Order in accordance with the 1929 Statute and with the Amended Statute of 1938 shall be considered as follows: those of I and II Class rank according to the Table of Ranks shall be considered as being Knights of the First Class of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker; those of III and IV Class - as Knights of the Second Class; those of V to XIV Class - as Knights Third Class. Any new petitions for award of the Order on the basis of the old Statute will not be accepted following Our signature of the present Decree, with the exception of the petitions of those who served in the Great War of 1914-1918.
As did My Imperial Grandfather, I strongly believe that Almighty God will lead Russia, cleansed through suffering, to a new life, inspired by faith in its glorious future through the testament of its glorious past.
May award of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker be a recompense by the Imperial House of Russia to those who labour for the defence of the Motherland, who through their labor and blood have at all times served to increase the greatness of our Homeland.
H.I.H. the Grand Duchess
Maria Wladimirovna
Given at St. Briac
4 August (22 July) 2001
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF SAINT ANDREW
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The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was the first and the highest order of chivalry of the Russian Empire. The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It had only one class, and was only awarded for the most eminent civilian or military merit.
Fyodor Golovin was the first cavalier of the order. Until its abolition after the Russian Revolution of 1917, just over one thousand awards were made. During the monarchy, recipients of the Order of St. Andrew also automatically received the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the White Eagle, the Order of St. Anne, first degree, and the Order St. Stanislaus, first degree. Moreover, recipients of lower ranks were automatically promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general or vice admiral.
The insignia of the order consisted of: Badge: an enamelled crowned black double-headed eagle bearing a blue St. Andrew's Cross (saltire) with St. Andrew crucified upon it; on the arms of the saltire were the Latin letters 'SAPR' (for 'St. Andrew, Protector of Russia'). It was worn on a pale blue sash over the left shoulder, or on special occasions on an elaborate 'collar' (chain). Star: eight-pointed silver star bearing a miniature of the badge on a golden background at the centre, surrounded by the motto "For Faithfulness and Loyalty" ("Za Veru i Vernost") on a blue ring. It was worn on the left chest. The insignia of order could be awarded 'with diamonds' as a special distinction. The St. Andrew's Cathedral, St. Petersburg was the chapter church of this chivalric order.
Concerning Russian Federation, The order has been re-established by the Orthodox Church of Russia on December 27, 1988 with the same name, but different insignia and statutes. It also has been re-instated as the highest civilian and military award of the Russian Federation by Presidential Decree No. 576 on July 1, 1998. Among the first recipients of the Order after its re-establishment were academic Dmitry Likhachev, gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov and Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Order of St.Andrew , (1 Class)
Founded : By Emperor Peter the Great 30 November (11 December) 1698.
Ribbon : Light blue.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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The Ceremonial Insignia of The Imperial
Russian Order of Saint Catherine
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THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF SAINT CATHERINE
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The Order of St. Catherine, the only Order of the Russian Empire for women (Excluding the Order of Saint Olga, given only in 1916-1917), was founded in 1714 in order to commemorate and immortalize the actions of Empress Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great, whose selfless sale of her jewelry and property to pay the ransom of the Cossacks who were captured by the Turks in 1711 earned her the admiration of the court and country.
The statutes of the Order were first published in 1713, and on the 24th of November 1714, on the Empress' name day, Peter the Great personally bestowed the insignia of the Order upon the Empress Catherine, creating her Grand Mistress of the Order. The order was to be limited to "Persons of the feminine sex" and was given in two classes; The Grand Cross, which entitled the bearer to wear a star and badge of the order, and the Small Cross, which entitled the bearer the right to wear the badge only. The badges were worn on the end of a white moiré sash trimmed with gold, with the embroidered motto: "Za Lyubov I otchestvo" (For Love, and For the Fatherland)
Every Russian Grand Duchess was conferred the Grand Cross of the Order at her christening (or marriage into the Romanov family), and Princesses of the Imperial Blood were invested upon attaining their majority at 18. In addition to the members of the Imperial Family, 106 women were allowed to be members of the order; 12 Dames Grand Cross, and 94 Dames Small Cross. Peter decreed that Catherine, and every subsequent Empress, would serve as Grand Mistress of the Order for life. Women elected to the Order were so honored because of their philanthropic and charitable work outside of their work at Court.
On February 5, 1727, Prince A.A. Menshikov was given the Order of Saint Catherine "in tribute to his modesty". He was the only man ever to be so honored, and a portrait of him survives wearing the Order of St. Catherine.
On April 5th, 1797, the appearance of the Order was altered by Paul I. Deciding that the white sash of the Order was too similar to that of the Order of the Knights of Malta (of which he was Grand Master), Paul changed the sash from white with gold to scarlet moiré with silver.
On the 20th of October, 1856, Alexander II decreed that henceforth, the star and badges of the Order were to be diamond-set. The Grand Cross and badge were to be completely set with diamonds, while the badges for Dames Small Cross were to be a mixture of diamonds and filigree work. There were plans for special robes for the order, as well as a collar chain for the members of the Imperial family, but these plans were never executed.
Dames of the first class wore the sash (10mm wide) over their right shoulder, with the badge attached to a bow embroidered with the motto of the order at their waist. The star was worn on the left side of the breast. Women of the Small Cross wore the badge suspended from a bow (4.5 cm wide) on the left shoulder. Women were elected members of the Order by the Emperor, but their patents were signed by the Empress, who served as Grand Mistress. Since the Empress served as Grand Mistress for life, it can be assumed that Empress Maria Feodorovna was the last Grand Mistress of the Order before the Revolution. The honor of membership in the order cannot be underestimated. Membership offered Dames of the Order complete access to the Imperial family, and a lifetime connection to them. When the last Empress and her daughters went into exile in Siberia, they took their badges and stars with them. They were recovered in 1933.
The Insignia The badge of the order, shown above, features at its center an enameled image of Saint Catherine in a white gown with a red cloak. In her right hand, the Saint holds a large white cross (a symbol of her faith) and behind her a large wheel (the symbol of her martyrdom). In her left hand, the Saint holds a palm frond. Over her head are her initials Sv. E (Svyataya Elizaveta) and between the arms of the cross, the letters D.S.F.R. (Domine Salvum Fac Regem, God Save the Tsar). On the obverse is an image of eagles destroying a nest of snakes at the foot of a ruined tower, at the top of which is a nest of eaglets. Above is the motto "Aequant Munia Comparis" (By her works she is to her husband compared). The Badges were 8.5 cm. high, and 7.5 cm. wide. The eight pointed star, below, of the order was 9 cm wide, made of silver, and set with diamonds. In the center, a silver cross rests on a scarlet enamel field, surrounded by gold letters reading in Russian "For Love and For the Fatherland"
The Function of the Order, The Order of Saint Catherine's function was largely ceremonial. The Order met for a Mass and a banquet every year on the Order's Holiday (24th November). Wearing their court gowns and the insignia of the Order, the women of the Imperial Family, followed by the 106 Dames Grand and Small Cross would lead a procession from the Imperial Chapel to a banqueting hall specially prepared for the occasion. In Moscow, the Hall of Saint Catherine in the Great Kremlin Palace was used for these gatherings, and also served as the Empresses' Throne Room. The Hall of Saint Catherine in the great Kremlin Palace was designed by Konstantin Andreievitch Ton, and impresses because of the elegance of its proportions, rather than by its size. The white ceiling and silver moiré walls, contribute to the feeling of lightness in the room, and the walls are bordered by the scarlet ribbon of the order, the crosses set with large paste stones. The elaborate doors of the hall are masterpieces of the metalworker's art, and feather the star and badge of the order intertwined in branches of gilded laurel. Also of note in the hall are the large Crystal torcheres, which were ordered specifically for this room from Baccarat in Paris. The pilasters and columns in this room are veneered in Malachite. Even today, the beauty and function of the Hall of Saint Catherine remain intact, as All Foreign Delegations and Diplomats are received in this room.
The Order contributed to churches of Saint Catherine, as well as hospitals and Orphanages which honored the Saint. The twelve Dames "Grand Cross" were female members of Foreign Ruling Houses. Queen Alexandra of Great Britain was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Catherine by Alexander II, Princess Alice of Greece (Prince Phillip's mother) was also a member of the Order. The 94 Dames Small Cross were women of the highest nobility, who were part of the Suite of the Empress that had made important philanthropic or charitable works. Only the death of one of these women freed up a place for a new member. As a result, with the exception of the members of the Imperial Family, the women of the Order were generally of advanced age. The Order was at its most popular (and had its highest turnover) in the mid nineteenth century. Nicholas I presented the Order to 176 women. In total, between 1714 and 1917, the Order was presented 734 times in both classes.
Order of St.Catherine the Maryr , (2 Classes)
Founded : Emperor Peter the Great 25 November (7 December) 1714.
Ribbon : Red with silver edge.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
Written by NICK NICHOLSON
Please see: www.alexanderpalace.com
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The Ceremonial Insignia of The Imperial
Russian Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky
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THE ORDER OF SAINT ALEXANDER NEVSKY
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The Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was another medal that was originated by Peter the Great. This was a military award commerating Prince Alexander Nevsky and his war (and victory) against the Swedish invaders ob the river Neva in 1240. The Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was instituted after Peter's death. The ocassion was the wedding of his daughter Anna to Karl-Friechrich, Duke of Holstein. Peter's widow, Tsarina Catherine I, designed the award for feats or arms and loyal service to the country.
There was only one class of this order, and three insignias: a gold cross, an eight-pointed star, and a red moire ribbon. The cross was worn on a ribbon across the left shoulder. The star was pinned to the left side of the chest. A diamond encusted cross and star were the highest class of decoration. Few Russians achieved this highly prestigious award. Riband: a sash of scarlet moire worn over the right shoulder. Star: a star (82 mm wide) worn on the left breast.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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The Ceremonial Insignia of The Imperial
Russian Order of Saint Anne
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF SAINT ANNE
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The Order of St. Anne was established by Duke Charles Frederick in 1735 and named for his wife the Grand Duchess Anne Petrovna of Russia, daughter of Peter the Great (she was not exactly a saint). It became a Russian order when Charles Peter Ulrich (Peter III) Ascended the Russian throne. There were 3 classes: Knights Commanders, Commanders, and Companions, while members of what really was a 4th class have enamelled medallions on their sword hilts together with an inscription "FOR BRAVERY", and wore the riband of the Order as a sword knot. There were also medals of the Order. Like the Order of St. Vladimir, it was originally intended as a civil decoration, but after 1855, "with swords" was awarded for war services.
Order of St.Anne , (4 Classes)
Founded : Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp 14 December 1735.
Ribbon : Red edged yellow.
Grand Master: H.I.H.
Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna of Russia
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF SAINT VLADIMIR
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The Order of St.Vladimir , (4 Classes)( Orden sv. ravnoapostol'nogo kniazia Vladimira ). Instituted by the Empress Catherine the Great 4.10.1783.
The Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus. Motto - "Benefit, Honor and Glory". The order had four degrees and was awarded for continuous civil and military service. The color of the order ribbon is red with a black border.
First class of the order - A red cross with black and golden borders. It was born on the ribbon thrown over the right shoulder with an octagonal star made from gold and silver. It was fastened on the left side of the chest.
Second class - The red cross on the neck and the star on the left side of the chest.
Third class - The red cross of a smaller size on the neck.
Forth class - The same on the chest.
Badge: A red enamelled cross pattée with black enamelled borders, and a black enamelled central disc bearing a crowned red and ermine mantle with the monogram of St. Vladimir. Worn on a sash by the first degree, on a necklet by the second and third degrees, and on a chest ribbon by the fourth degree. Star: A four-pointed star superimposed upon a four-pointed gold star, with a golden cross pattée and the letters "CPKB" between the arms of the cross on a black enamel background at the centre surrounded by the motto of the order "Beneficence, Honour and Glory" (Pol'za Chest' i Slava). Worn on the left chest by the first and second degrees. This motto was transferred to present-day star of the Order of Merit of the Russian Federation, which was established in 1992 by President Boris Yeltsin and is today the second highest ranking decoration of that country.
Ribbon: red with wide black edges.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF SAINT GEORGE
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The Order of Saint George , ( Orden sv. velikomuchenika i pobedonostsa Georgiia ). Instituted by the Empress Catherine the Great 26.11.1769. It was awarded only for conspicuous bravery in action against the enemy. 4 classes: First ClassBadge: a badge of gold in the form of a cross patee (53 mm wide), the arms of which are enamelled white. The medaillion in the centre bears a coloured representation of Saint George slaying the dragon. The reverse shows the initials of the Saint. Riband: a sash of orange sild moire with three wide, black stripes, from which the medallion is suspended on the left hip. Star: a diamond-shaped plaque of gold bearing the initials in the centre, surrounded by a riband having the inscription "For Service and For Bravery" in gold letters. Second Class - a smaller badge, worn around the neck, and a star exactly the same as that of the Frist Class. Third Class - a gold badge (32 mm wide) worn around the neck. Fourth Class - a silver badge (34 mm wide) worn on the
left breast.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF THE WHITE EAGLE
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The Russia Imperial Order of the White Eagle , ( Orden Belogo orla ). Instituted by King Lasislas I of Poland in 1325. Reorganized by King Augustus II of Poland, Duke of Saxony. It became a Russian Imperial Order following the absorbtionof Poland into Russia in 1831. Badge: of similar design to that of Saint Andrew, having the black, double-headed eagle with outstreached wings, upon which was an eagle in white enamel superimposed upon a cross with V-shaped ends, enamelled red, edged white, resting upon a star with golden rays. The badge hung from an Imperial Crown. Riband: a sash of dark blue moire worn over the right shoulder. Star: was worn on the left breast.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS
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The Russian Imperial Order of Saint Stanislas , ( Orden sv. Stanislava ). Instituted by King Stanislas II Poniatowski in 1765. A branch of the Order was created in Russia after the Congress of Vienna. 3 classes: Knights Grand Cross, Commanders, and Companions. There were various medals of the Order awarded ot NCO's. Badge: a gold, crimson-enamelled Maltese cross, with double points, each point being tipped with a small gold ball. Between each arm of the cross is the white eagle of Poland in gold. In the centre, on a circular white enamel ground, are two branches of laurel, enamelled green, encircling two interwined S's in gold. The Order of St. Stanislas, when awarded "with swords" for service in war, had crossed swords between the limbs of the cross. A bow was worn on the riband.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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THE ORDER OF SAINT NICHOLAS THE MIRACULOUS
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The Order of Saint Nicholas the Miraculous ,
Founded: H.M: Emperor Kyril I 19 July (1 August) 1929.
Ribbon: Black, yellow, white.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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THE ORDER OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
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The Order of Saint Michael the Archangel , Founded: H.I.H. Grand Duke Vladimir Kyrilovich of Russia (Vladimir I, Titular Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias) 1988.
Ribbon: White, yellow, black, yellow, white.
Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
(Maria I, Titular Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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"CHRISTUS VINCIT, CHRISTUS REGNAT, CHRISTUS IMPERIT"
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For Further Information
The Correspondence Address is:
The Imperial and Royal Society
of The Almanach de Chivalry,
Royal Mail Post Office Box 276,
Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0UL,
United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
Fax: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
E-mail: almanachdechivalry@msn.com
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