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The International and Royal
Council for Orders of Chivlary
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
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Welcome To The Official Website of The
Almanach de Chivalry, The Imperial and
Royal Society of Christian Chivalry,
Listing The Leading Chivalric
Orders of Knighthood in Europe
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(Above)
First Holy Roman Emperor Charles
The Great(Charlemagne), Reigned 800-814.
Supreme Guardian and Patron of The Almanach de Chivalry.
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(Above)
The Knights of The Order of The Garter ,
Founded in 1348 .
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A KNIGHT IS A MAN WHO INTENDS TO PLACE HIMSELF
AT THE SERVICE OF A NOBLE AND DIFFICULT CAUSE,
BEING A PURE AND ARDUOUS IDEAL; FIGHTING EVIL,
PROMOTING GOOD, DEFENDING THE WEAK AND THE
OPPRESSED AGAINST INJUSTICE, AND THE SERVING
OF GOD ALMIGHTY, THUS BECOMING A KNIGHT DOES
NOT MERELY MEAN RECEIVING HONOURS BUT IT
PRESUPPOSES CERTAIN SOLEMN COMMITMENTS HELD
BY UNIVERSAL CHRISTIAN IDEALS.
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THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL SOCIETY
OF
THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY
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PRESIDENT & CHANCELLOR
His Imperial and Royal Highness
Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany,
Duke of Swabia, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg,
Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen-Rudolstadt
de jure Emperor Charles VIII I.R.
CHAIRMAN
Her Imperial and Royal Highness
Princess Maria Alexandra of Germany,
Duchess of Swabia, Duchess of Saxe-Altenburg
Princess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen-Rudolstadt
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Her Imperial and Royal Highness
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth of Germany,
Princess von Saxe-Altenburg, Duchess of Saxony,
Duchess of Regensburg.
( Princess, Duchess and Baroness of The Holy Roman Empire )
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THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE IMPERIAL AND
ROYAL SOCIETY OF THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY
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His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI , Bishop of Rome,
Supreme Primate of The Holy Roman Empire.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Imperial and Royal Highness
Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany ,
Duke of Swabia, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg ,
Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen-Rudolstadt .
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
( Princess of The Holy Roman Empire )
Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
( Princess of The Holy Roman Empire )
Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands.
( Princess of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty Czar Simeon II of The Bulgarians,
Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Albert II of The Belgians
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Michael I of Romania.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Constantine II of Greece.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Most Serene Highness
Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Most Serene Highness
Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.
( Princess of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Imperial Highness Grand Duke George of Russia.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy,
The Prince of Naples.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Imperial and Royal Highness
Prince Dom Pedro Orleans-Bragança.
His Imperial and Royal Highness
The Archduke Otto von Habsburg of Austria
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Imperial and Royal Highness
The Archduke Sigismund of Austria, Prince of Tuscany.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Imperial and Royal Highness
Prince George Friedrich of Prussia.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Margrave Max of Baden.
( Margrave of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Duke Franz of Bavaria.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Prince Wilhelm Albert Raphael Maria of Urach,
Count of Württemberg, 5th Duke of Urach ,
de jure King of Lithuania .
( Duke of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Margrave Maria Emanuel of Meissen.
( Margrave of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Prince Michael of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Royal Highness
Duke Friedrich-Konrad of Saxe-Meiningen.
( Duke of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Highness
Duke Borwin of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
( Duke of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Highness
Duke Eduard of Anhalt.
( Duke of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Highness
Duke Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
( Duke of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Most Serene Highness
Prince Jean-Engelbert of Arenberg.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Serene Highness
Prince York of Schaumburg-Lippe.
( Prince of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Serene Highness
Prince Stefan-Johannes von Regensburg,
Furst von Regensburg, Frieherr von Aachen.
( Prince and Baron of The Holy Roman Emnpire )
His Illustrious Highness
Count Ernst Leonhard von Harrach zu Rohrau und Thannhausen.
( Princely Count of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Most Illustrious Highness
Count Charles von Giech.
( Count of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Excellency
Count Frederick Wilhelm von Buren.
( Count of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Excellency
Count Leopold zu Limpurg und Gaildorf.
( Count of The Holy Roman Empire )
His Excellency
Baron Christian Wilhelm von Groditz.
( Baron of The Holy Roman Empire )
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THE HISTORY OF THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY
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The Almanach de Chivalry, was formally founded on Christmas day 2002, by His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany, Duke of Swabia, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, de jure Emperor Charles VIII I.R. , by Imperial decree, to promote the cause of Christian Chivalry and to list by Almanach the various Imperial, Royal and Princely Orders of Knighthood in Europe and Christendom, His Imperial Highness, Welcomes you to The Official Website of The Almanach de Chivalry, and Hopes you will be able to have a better understanding of Chivalry in its Universal Glory. The formal rise of Chivalry brought with it messages of loyalty, heroism, glory and brotherly love. It was seized upon by the Sovereigns and Princes of Europe, who saw it as the ideal stratagem with which to bond men of rank and military expertise, creating elite brotherhoods of Chivalric Orders that would serve them in both war and peace.
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KNIGHTHOOD AND CHIVALRY THE TERMINOLOGY
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The Terms are often confused, and often needlessly distinguished. The term knighthood comes from the English word knight (from Old English cniht, boy, servant, cf. German Knecht) while chivalry comes from the French chevalerie, from chevalier or knight (Low Latin caballus for horse). In modern English, chivalry means the ideals, virtues, or characteristics of knights. The phrases "orders of chivalry" and "orders of knighthood" are essentially synonymous. The German translation for "knight" is Ritter (literally, rider). The Latin term in the Middle Ages was miles, since a knight was by definition a professional soldier. In modern times, the Classical Latin term eques was preferred.
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THE EMERGENCE OF KNIGHTS IN EUROPE
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Succintly, a knight was a professional soldier. The old "citizens' armies" of Antiquity had been replaced by professional armies. This trend was reinforced by the appearance in the 8th century of the stirrup, which made mounted men much more powerful and turned cavalry into the most important element of medieval armies. But being a mounted soldier was expensive, since it required enough income to buy and sustain a horse and the equipment (armor, weapons) to go with it. Thus, those who were too poor to provide this service became mere peasants, attached to the land. In feudal society as it emerged in the 10th century, everyone held land from someone else in exchange for goods or services of some kind. Men who were not free provided a portion of their crops and labor services. Men who were free provided military service, either personally or (if they were rich enough) using others' services. Thus, a man who held his estate in knight's fee owed service as a knight to his lord. A more sizeable vassal, when called by his liege, would summon his knights and form a contingent in his liege's army.
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNIGHTHOOD
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Knighthood was originally a professional association. It included those men who could afford to make and maintain the heavy capital investment required by mounted warfare (horse and armor). It emerges in the 11th century, and its members are nobles (members of the great land-owning families) as well as small land-holders, free men, craftsmen, etc (in Spain, caballeros villanos were common until the 14th c.). It must be understood that, even in the feudal era, the boundaries of knighthood were quite fluid. Anyone who, by luck or effort, managed to obtain the training and equipment to be a knight, could eventually enter that class. In Flanders, there is a famous case of a family of servile (i.e., unfree) origin who entered into knighthood and became castellans of Orders in the 12th c. In the course of the 12th century, a social and ethical dimension is added to this professional aspect. The strong influence of Cluny monks, who try to give an ethos to savage warfare, leads to the definition of the true miles Christi, a soldier who follows a certain code of behavior, which we now call chivalric. Starting in the second half of the 12th century, literature (gests and Arthurian romances) also provides a model for the knightly community, as well as a means of glorifying it.
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KNIGHTHOOD AND NOBILITY
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Thus, knights were not necessarily nobles, nor were nobles necessarily knights. The noble class and the knightly class slowly came to merge from the late 12th century onward. Nobles become knights with increasing frequency. The French prince (future king Louis VI) was knighted without the knowledge of his father who remains distrustful of a rather heterogeneous professional class, but thereafter every French king is knighted (Favier 1993). Conversely, heredity enters the knightly class in the 13th century. The son of a knight is automatically a squire, thus making him eligible for knighthood on the basis of his ancestry; at the same time, knighthood is more and more restricted to descendants of knights by various legal restrictions imposed over the course of the 13th century. In the late 13th century, a decision of the Parliament in Paris forbade the count of Artois from making unfree men into knights without the king's consent; interesting to note, the two men who had been so knighted were allowed to remain knights subject to the payment of a fine. This marked both the closure of the knightly class as well as the beginnings of a new form of access, by purchase. In England, the evolution was different: those who held land in knight's fee but did not wish to take up the profession could pay a tax. Knighthood did not become a hereditary class in England, and instead the knightly class (those eligible to be knights) became the nucleus of the gentry
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ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
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The origins of orders of knighthood are in the Crusades. In the Latin Orient, a new institution emerged, in which knights (professional soldiers) associated themselves under a strict, quasi-monastic rule of life, for the purpose of protecting pilgrims and defending Christian conquests in the Holy Land. In the 14th century, just as the original military-monastic orders were searching for a new mission after the loss of the Holy Land, kings began creating orders of their own, modelled in part on these original orders, but with a different purpose, to bind their nobility to themselves. Still later, in the late 16th century, these monarchical orders were imitated in form by the new orders of merit which became common throughout Europe. Because each institution tried to use the prestige of the previous one by imitating it, the term "order of knighthood" has been passed on and is now used for modern awards and decorations which are neither orders nor composed of knights. In modern society, only a very few orders survive from the times of the Crusades, and most "orders of knighthood" awarded by sovereigns or governments (such as the English Garter or the Spanish Golden Fleece) are, in spite of their historical connection, awards of merit.
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ORDERS ( DECORATION )
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An Order is a decoration, awarded by a government to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. Modern orders and decorations can trace its origin back to the medieval Orders of Chivalry. By the time of the Renaissance, most European monarchs either acquired an existing Order of Chivalry, or created new orders of their own, to reward loyal civilian and especially military officials. Some of modern Europe's highest honours, such as the Golden Fleece, England's Order of the Garter, Denmark's Order of the Elephant and Scotland's Order of the Thistle, were created during that era.
Such orders remained out of reach to the general public, however, until the nineteenth century. In 1802 Napoleon created the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour), which is still France's highest award; it can be awarded to any person, regardless of status, for bravery in combat or for 20 years of distinguished service.
The Legion of Honour serves as the model for numerous modern orders of merit in the Western World, such as the Order of Leopold (Belgium, 1832) and the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom, 1917). These orders typically have five classes, each wearing a badge (usually enamelled) on a ribbon, as a sash for the senior class, around the neck or on the left chest for the lower grades (ladies may wear the badge on a bow on the left chest). The two highest classes also wear a star (or 'plaque') on the chest. In special cases the senior class may wear the badge on a collar, which is an elaborate chain around the neck. Military awards may have crossed swords added onto the insignias.
In Communist countries orders of merit usually come in one to three grades, with only a badge worn with or without a ribbon on the chest. An example of a Communist order was the one-class Order of Lenin (USSR, 1930). Unlike the Western orders, however, Communist orders can be awarded more than once to an individual. After the collapse of the Soviet bloc most Eastern European countries have reverted to the Western-style orders originally established before the rise of Communism.
Today almost all countries have some form of orders or country decorations. Both Thailand's Order of the White Elephant and Japan's Order of the Rising Sun are over 100 years old. Canada has the Order of Canada; Australia similarly has the Order of Australia; even the United States has the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.
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HERALDRY AND KNIGHTHOOD
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The relations between heraldry, nobility and knighthood are often completely misunderstood. Briefly stated, heraldry appeared in the landed aristocracy and quickly spread to the knightly class in the 12th century, at a time when knighthood and nobility remain very distinct classes. Over the course of the 13th century, knighthood and nobility came to merge, just as heraldry spread far beyond either class to be used by all classes of society. Thus, heraldry is not particularly linked to nobility, although the most easily documented uses of heraldry are among nobles, simply because nobles were the elite. The initial development of heraldry certainly owes a lot to the practices of the knightly class, in particular the growing fashion of tournaments, which became more and more popular from the 13th century, just as knighthood as a military institution was on the wane. Tournaments were the occasion to display coats of arms, and heralds, who were originally a specialized group of minstrels, became responsible for identifying and cataloguing the arms of participants. Their knowledge of coats of arms also helped them identify fighters in battle and dead on the battlefield, and for this reason heralds became associated with battles, truces, declarations of war, in an official capacity.
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THE CHIVALRIC CODE OF KNIGHTS
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The armoured Knight and his force formed the backbone of the medieval European Army. If disciplined, they could turn the tide of battle, but battles were sometimes won without the combat even starting: the sight of the armoured cavalry could be enough to cause their enemies to flee. Without battles to keep them occupied, men in fighting mood could get bored and become a liability to the ruler, his people and the Church. Something was needed to curb the semi-legalized vandalism of marauding Knights and it evolved in the form of the nebulous set of ethics now called the "Code of Chivalry", which gradually refined into a loose set of rules aimed at civilizing the high-born. It was a theme picked up by writers of the time, including Raymond Lull, Honore Bonet and Christine de Pisan. Lull (1232-1315), an Aragonian of noble blood, was well versed in Knightly deeds and wrote of love and the pursuit of it in the style of the troubadours of southern France. Amorous by nature, he often cheated on his wife, until he had a vision of Christ on the Cross, which he interpreted to mean he was to change his life. His work thereafter was to convert the heathen to Christianity, through prayer, preaching and writing books, one of the most influential being his "Libre del Ordre de Cavayleria" (Book of the Order of Chivalry), written in 1275. For centuries this was considered the standard textbook on the subject of Chivalry and was widely translated. Christine de Pisen (1364-1430), adisciple of Honore Bonet (1380), provided a fascinating insight into the workings of the medieval mind in her book of 1408-1409, "Le Livre des Faits d'Armes et de Chevalerie (The Book of Feats of Arms and Chivalry), which deals with such varied themes as banning the use of poisoned arrows by Christians, and saving the souls of warriors. She was clearly acquainted with the latest trends in military thinking in the early 15th century, and tackled questions, such as "should the Emperor make war on the Pope?" and "Can a madman be justly held prisoner?" Her answer- "No" -to the second question diplays a level of humanity uncommon in her age. Drawing on such diverse sources as Roman military strategy and the love songs and martial epics of the German Minnesinger and French troubadours, Lull, de Pisan and others attracted the attention of the rulers of Europe, most of whom sought to make their Royal Courts centres of learning and Chivalric enterprise. They also hoped that through such pursuits as courtly love, tournaments and Orders of Chivalry, they would pacify their unruly courtiers and weld them inton a coherent force that saw loyalty to the overlord as a benefit rather than a hindrance. In its simplest form the code required that its followers should honour their Lord, defend the Church - including, when posssible, taking up ams against the infidel and protect the weak, the poor and all women. In reality, true followers of such noble aims were rare, and even those warriors who were held up by medieval writers and the Church as paragons of Chivalry would today be looked upon in a very different light. It says much of those times that one of the men who most epitomized the Code of Chivalry was not a Christian Knight at all, but the Muslim ruler Saladin (1137-1193), Sultan of Egypt and Syria, who led the Muslim army against the Crusaders in Palestine.
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EUROPEAN RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
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Medieval Europe was dominated by two powers, the Knights and the Church. While the Church often railed against the excesses of troublesome Knights, who were not averse to sacking the odd Abbey, it was into the local Church that the Knights bodies were eventually carried. These violent characters were the same men whose memorials often appeared in due course in the stained glass windows of the Church bearing their acts of bravery and Knightly power. The History of the First Crusade in the Holy Land, started when Pope Urban II (reigned 1088-1099), saw a way to channel the violence of the military. Rather than beseeching men to stop fighting, he encouraged them to take their aggression out on the principal bugbear of the Christian world - The Muslims,(It must be formally stated that the The Almanach de Chivalry and its members does not recognize this old outdated view of Muslims but thinks of all Muslims as our brothers under one God). His rough and ready evangelism appealed to the fighting men of Europe: they saw the possibility of achieving not only eternal glory, but also earthly riches. Urban used the symbolism of the crucifix during his rallies of 1095, announcing that it should be the token of their cause. The message immediately took effect, as men tore up strips of coloured cloth and stiched crosses on their tunics. despite many setbacks, the First Crusade (1096-1099) achieved one of its aims: The Holy city of Jerusalem was finally captured, but the true Christian ideal had been defeated because its inhabitants -men, women and children - were shown no mercy and murdered in an evil orgy of brutality. While the prospect of riches was an obvious draw, there were some of high rank who espoused the noblest aims of Chivalry. For several years prior to Jerusalems's capture, a group of Knights had acted as protectors to pilgrims to the city. At the time of the First Crusade they lived near the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. In 1119 Hughes de Payns and Geoffrey de St Omer, incorated the group into a religious Order, the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, usually known as the Knights Templar. So poor did the early Templars claim to be that their seals often depicted two men riding a single horse. The idea of priest-Knights soon caught on and led to a flowering of other military Orders of Chivalry. Among them were the Knights of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, who maintained leper hospitals, and the Knights of the Hospital Order of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers), formed to aid sick and weary pilgrims. Some of the great dormitories they built still survive. The Hospitallers and the Templars acquired great wealth and built vast castles. There was little love lost between these two powerful Knightly Orders, and as such when not fighting the " infidel", they were apt to fight each other. Concerning the Insignia of these Religious Orders of Knighthood, they settled on a Cross of a particular form and colour, and some of these symbols are still familiar today, none more so than the white eight-pointed Cross of the Hospitallers, now called the Sovereign and Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and known as the Order of Malta. Its Members are best known for their voluntary work as the St. John's Ambulance Brigade. The Prince Grand master of the Order of Malta, quarters his family arms with those of the Order, and his shield is placed on an eight-pointed white Cross surrounded by a rosary. The whole is placed on a black princely mantle and ensigned by a princely Crown of degree. Other high-ranking prelates (notably Baliffs Grand Cross) are entitled to bear a chief of the Order - Gules a cross Argent - and have a banner of the Order carried in procession. Protestant chapters of this Order were formed in the late 16th and 17th centuries.Of the other religious military Orders, the most famous were the Teutonic Order of Germany and the Orders of Santiago and Calatrava, both of Spain. The Crosses of each Order have often found their way into the Heraldry of their members. The Teutonic Knights who maintained their fighting traditions by opposing pagan tribes along the eastern Baltic, displayed a balck crutched Cross (Cross potent)which told of their origins caring for the sick and wounded Knights and pilgrims who came from their homelands.
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THE INSTITUTION OF ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
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An Order is an institution derived from the medieval monastic or secular orders of knighthood. Although originally closed fraternities, modern orders are honorific, having generally been created by a sovereign or head of state to reward meritorious service. An order is generally the highest honor a citizen may receive for a career or service of great distinction in the services of one's country. Membership in an order is generally granted by the sovereign or head of state, who is typically the "grand master" of the order. In Europe the King or Queen is the "Sovereign / Grand Master" of each order. Membership is usually limited to a specific, small number. Orders may have several classes of membership which are denoted by a variety of insignia or badges of rank and distinction. The badges are often referred to as "orders." The insignias typically are made of precious metals with enameled or jeweled designs.
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PAPAL ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
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The Papal Orders are awarded in the name of the Supreme Pontiff and are given both as awards of His Holiness as Head of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church and also as Sovereign of the Vatican City State. Membership at one time was conferred by Papal Bull, or by Apostolic Letter, signed by the Pope himself, but since the reforms made in the structure of these Orders at the beginning of the 20th century, the diplomas have been signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State. Since the 29 June 1991 this post has been filled by His Eminence Angelo, Cardinal Sodano. The categories below may be considered to embrace all the legitimate Roman Catholic Orders of Knighthood. The Papal and Catholic Orders may be divided into several categories.
(1) Those Orders awarded directly by the Supreme Pontiff as head of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State. These are generally called the Papal Orders. The highest, and most infrequently awarded, is the Supreme Order of Christ; the second is the equally rarely given Order of the Golden Spur, the third is the Order of Pius IX (Pian Order or Ordine Piano), the fourth is the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, and the fourth is the Order of Saint Sylvester Pope and Martyr. Awards of the Orders of Christ and the Golden Spur at made at the express wish of His Holiness the Pope, in consultation with the Cardinal Secretary of State. Awards of the Ordine Piano are made either to Heads of State and senior members of their household at the time of official visits to the Holy See, to senior members of the Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Holy See and, exceptionally, to those who have particularly served the Holy Father personally or the Holy See, at the discretion of the Cardinal Secretary of State. Awards of the latter two Orders are generally made on the recommendation of Diocesan Bishops, or of Apostolic Nuncios. There are National Associations of Papal Knights in France, Great Britain and the United States, as well as Diocesan Associations such as those in Milan and Los Angeles.
(2) Those Orders of Chivalry directly under Papal protection. These are today the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. These Orders are under the protection of His Holiness as Supreme Pontiff and are not considered to be awards of the Vatican State. Indeed, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a Sovereign independent entity in International Law which enjoys mutual diplomatic relations with sixty-seven Sovereign States, in addition to being an Observer Member of the United Nations. The Order was founded in the late 11th century but became a Religious Military Order by a Bull of Pope Paschal II of 1113. The Grand Master, presently His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Andrew Bertie, is elected by the professed, religious members of the Order, and serves for life, or until his abdication (only two Grand Masters in history have ever abdicated). Elections of the Grand Master must be approved by the Supreme Pontiff as the religious superior of the Order, who also appoints a Cardinal patron and a Prelate of the Order. The Grand Master of the Order of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, however, is appointed directly by the Pope and serves during his pleasure or until such time as he may wish to lay down this office. The Patriarch of Jerusalem is, ex officio, Grand Prior of the Order, while the lay head is the Governor-General (presently Ambassador Count Ludovico Carducci Artenisio). The Knights of the Holy Sepulcher were reorganized as an Order of Knighthood in 1847; the present Cardinal Grand Master is His Eminence Carlo Cardinal Furno, appointed in January 1996.
(3) Those Orders which were founded by Papal Bull, whose membership is limited exclusively to Roman Catholics, which require obligations of service according to Catholic teaching and which generally have a governing body which administers the Order on behalf of the Grand Master. The first of these, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, is in the unique position of having had Cardinal Protectors appointed directly by the Holy See until the "temporary suspension" of this post in 1924 (as of yet not reinstated). Its Grand Magistery is hereditary by virtue of the Apostolic Letter Sincerae Fidei of 1699 and the Bull Militantis Ecclesiae, which invested it in the person of Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma, and his heirs. The present Grand Master, XIth in succession from Francesco Farnese, is HRH the Infante of Spain Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Borbón-Parma, Duke of Calabria, who succeeded in 1964. There is a Grand Prior, presently an Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church (presently the Most Reverend Monsignor Bruno B. Heim).
The Four Spanish Military Orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcántara and Montesa have a Prior of the Order who, as Bishop of Ciudad Real, is nominated by the Holy See (and whose appointment is listed in the Annuario Pontificio). The hereditary Perpetual Administrator on Behalf of the Holy See (and Grand Master) of the four Orders since 1975 has been HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain; the President of the Council is HRH the Infante of Spain Don Carlos, Duke of Calabria.
The Sacred Military order of Saint Stephen (of Tuscany) is a dynastic Order of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine-Tuscany whose statutes have been recently reformed, reaffirming its Catholicity and the annual ceremonies are now once again held in the ancient Priory Church in Pisa. The Order was founded in 1561 and it was accorded its status as an Order under Papal protection by the Bull His, quae pro Religionis propagatione of 1562. The hereditary Grand Magistery is invested in the person of the Head of the House of Habsburg-Tuscany, presently HIRH Archduke Sigismond of Austria, who succeeded in 1994.
The Royal Order of Saint George for the Defence of the Immaculate Conception , a dynastic Order of the Royal House of Bavaria, is likewise still maintained as an exclusively Roman Catholic military Order but is exclusively limited to male Bavarians of the ancient nobility. It was founded in 1726 and confirmed by Papal Bull of 1728. The Grand Magistery is hereditary in the Royal House of Bavaria and is presently held by HRH Duke Franz of Bavaria, who succeeded his father in 1996.
(4) Those Orders which were founded or confirmed by Papal Bulls but which are Collar Orders given in one grade (that of Knight). In order of seniority by date of foundation these are (a) the Supreme Order of the Annunciation (Savoy-Italy), of which the hereditary Grand Master is HRH Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele, Duke of Savoy, who succeeded in 1983.
(b) The Order of The Golden Fleece , of which the hereditary Sovereign is HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who succeeded in 1977.
(c) The Order of the Holy Spirit (France, dormant) (d) the Order of Saint Michael (France, dormant), of which the succession to the Sovereignty is invested in the person of the Head of the Royal House of France.
(d) The Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius , of which the hereditary Grand Master is HRH Infante of Spain Don Carlos, Duke of Calabria, who succeeded in 1964.
(5) The Teutonic Order which, was formally founded as a Religious Military Order of Chivalry, became in 1929 a purely Religious Order of Priests, Brothers and Sisters, with a category of twelve honorary knights and an unlimited number of associates, known as Marianer. Its present headquarters are in Vienna, whereas in 2001 the Teutonic Order was formally revived back into a Chivalric Order of Knighthoood, thus making a seperate Teutonic Order from the present Clerical Papal Order in Rome, by His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany, Duke of Swabia, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, on Christmas Day in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and One.
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THE PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN CHIVALRIC ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF ALBANIA
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The Order of Fidelity
(Besa), Founded: 22 January 1926 by Ahmed Ben Zogu ,
(then President of Albania, later King Zog I).
Ribbon: Greyish blue with a black-red-black
central stripe. Grand Master: H.M. King Leka I
(Leka I, Titular King of Albanians) (b. 1939)
The Order of Scander Beg
(5 Classes), Established by Prince Wilhelm I.
Renewed by King Zog I. Grand Master: H.M.
King Leka of Albania .
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_____________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE DUCHY OF ANHALT
_____________________________________________
The Order of Albert the Bear
(5 Classes)Founded : Dukes Heinrich of
Anhalt-Koethen, Leopold Friedrich of Dessau,
Alexander Carl of Bernburg 18 November 1836.
Ribbon : Green with flame red (ponceau)
side stripes. Grand Master: H.H. Prince
Eduard II, Titular Duke of Anhalt (b. 1941).
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__________________________________________________________________________________
THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL ORDERS OF THE EMPIRE OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Noble Order of the Golden Fleece
( Austrian Branch ) Founded : Philip the Good,
Duke of Burgundy 10 January 1429/Emperor Charles
VI 1700. Ribbon : Red. Chief and Sovereign:
H.I. & R.I. Archduke Karl of Austria (b. 1961)
1 Class, Limited to 50 )See page Three.
The Order of St.Stephen of Hungary
(3 Classes), Established by Empress Maria-Theresa
on May 5, 1764 to award civil merit by Hungarian
nobels with at least four quatrerings of nobility.
The Military Order of Maria Theresa
Established by Empress Maria-Theresa in
1757. Modified in 1810.
The Order of the Starry Cross
( 1 Class, Limited to Ladies )
Founded : Empress Eleonore, widow of Emperor
Ferdinand III, 2 February 1668. Ribbon : Black.
Sovereign : H.I. & R.I. Archduke Otto of Austria
(Otto I, Titular Emperor of Austria) (b. 1912).
Supreme Lady Protectress: H.I. & R.I. Archduchess
Regina of Austria.
The Order of Elizabeth
(2 Classes, Limited to Ladies)Established
by Empress Elizabeth-Theresa, widow of Emperor
Charles IV, in 1750. Renewed 1771.
The Order of Ecclesiastical Merit
Established by Emperor Francis I in 1801.
The Order of Leopold
Established by Emperor Francis I in 1808.
The Order of the Iron Crown
( Orden der Eisernen-Krone ). Established
by Napoleon I as King of Italy in 1805.
Re-established by Emperor Franz I in 1816
in three classes. On 12 January, 1860 the
use of War Decorations (KD) was authorized.
At this time the style of the decoration
was changed as well. The Knights Class of
the Order was returnable upon death to the
Order's chancery up to 18 July, 1884, after
which date the decoration could be retained
by the holder's heirs. Almost any example in
commerce is therefore made after that date.
The Order of Francis Joseph
( Franz-Josephs Orden ). Established
by Emperor Francis Joseph I in 1849.
Modified in 1856.
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___________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN
___________________________________________________
The Order of Fidelity
(1 Clases) Founded : Karl Wilhelm,
Margrave of Baden-Durlach 17 June 1715.
Ribbon : Yellow edged with silver.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Maximilian (Max),
Margrave of Baden (Maximilian, Titular
Grand Duke of Baden) (b. 1933
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__________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF BAVARIA
__________________________________________________________
The Order of St.George for the Defence of the Immaculate Conception
(2 Classes) Founded: Elector Carl Albert
28 March 1729. Ribbon : Light blue with
dark blue inner and white outer stripes.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Franz, Duke of Bavaria
( Franz, Titular King of Bavaria ) (b. 1933).
The Order of Theresa
(1 Class, Noble Ladies)Founded : Queen Theresa
12 December 1827.Ribbon : White with one smaller
and one broader light blue stripe on each side.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Franz, Duke of Bavaria
(Franz, Titular King of Bavaria) (b. 1933).
The Order of Saint Hubert
(Sankt Hubertus Orden).
Established by Gerard V
Duke of Juliers and Berg 1444.
The Order of Saint George
( Sankt Georgs-Orden ).
Established by the Elector
Charles Albert 28.3.1729.
The Military Order of Maximilian Joseph
( Maximilian Josephs Militär-Orden ).
Established by King Maximilian I
Joseph 1.1.1806.
The Order of the Crown of Bavaria
( Orden der Bayerischen Krone ).
Established by King Maximilian I
Joseph 19.5.1808.
The Equestrian and Military Order of Saint Michael
( Sankt Michaels-Orden ).
Established by Joseph Clement Elector
of Cologne and Duke of Bavaria 29.9.1693.
King Louis I granted new statutes 16.2.1837.
The Order of Maximilian
( for arts and sciences ) (Maximilians Orden).
Established by King Maximilian II 28.11.1853.
The Royal Order of Louis
( Königliche Ludwigs Orden ).
Established by King Louis I 25.8.1857.
The Royal Order of Military Merit
( Königliche Militär-Verdienst-Orden ).
Established by King Louis II 19.7.1866.
The Order of Theresa
( Theresien-Orden ).
Established by Queen Theresa
12.12.1827. Reserved for women.
The Order of Saint Anne of the Convent for Ladies at Munich
Established by the Electress Anne
Marie Sophie 6.12.1784 and the Elector
Maximilian Joseph 18.2.1802.
The Order of Saint Anne of the Convent for Ladies at Wurzburg
Established by the Elector
Maximilian Joseph 12.7.1803.
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__________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE DUCHY OF BRUNSWICK
__________________________________________________
The Order of Henry the Lion
Founded : Duke Wilhelm 25 April 1834.
Ribbon : Crimson red with yellow edges.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Ernst August,
Prince of Hanover (Ernst August, Titular
Duke of Brunswick) (b. 1954).
_________________
_____________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM
_____________________________________________________
The Order of Leopold
( Ordre de Léopold ).
Established by King Leopold I 11.7.1832.
5 classes: Grand Cordon, Grand Officer,
Commander, Officer, and Knight.
Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Order for Civil Merit
( Ordre pour le Mérite civil ).
Established by King Leopold II 22.7.1867.
2 classes: for long service and distinguished
service. Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Order for Military Merit
( Ordre pour le Mérite militaire ).
Established by King Leopold II 11.2.1885.
2 classes: for long service and distinguished
service. Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Order of the African Star
( Ordre de l'Etoile africaine ).
Established by King Leopold II 30.12.1888
for services rendered in the Congo. 5 classes
and medals (gold, silver, and bronze).
No longer confered since 1962.
Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Royal Order of the Lion
( Ordre royal du Lion ).
Established by King Leopold II 9.4.1891
for services rendered in the Congo.
5 classes and medals ( gold, silver, and bronze ).
No longer confered since 1962.
Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Order of the Crown of Belgium
( Ordre de la Couronne ).
Established by King Leopold II 15.10.1897
and completed 25.6.1898. 5 classes:
Grand Cordon, Grand Officer, Commander,
Officer, and Knight, as well as palms
(gold and silver), and medals (gold, silver,
and bronze). Grand Master:
H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Order of Leopold II
( Ordre de Léopold II ).
Established by King Leopold II
12.4.VIII.1900. 5 classes: Grand Cordon,
Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and
Knight, as well as and medals
( gold, silver, and bronze ).
Grand Master: H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The Military Decoration
( Décoration militaire ).
Established by King Leopold II
15.9.1902. 2 classes: long service
and special merit. Grand Master:
H.M. King Albert II of Belgium .
The War Cross 1914-1918
( Croix de guerre 1914-1918 ).
Established by King Leopold II
25.10.1915. No longer conferred since 1952.
__________________
_________________________________________________________________
THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL ORDERS OF THE EMPIRE OF BRAZIL
_________________________________________________________________
The Order of Pedro I
(4 Classes)Founded : Emperor Pedro I
16 April 1826.Ribbon : Grass green
with broad white edges.
Grand Master: in dispute.
The Order of the Rose
(6 Classes) Established by
Emperor Peter I 17.10.1829.
The Imperial Order of the Southern Cross
Established by
Emperor Peter I 1.12.1822.
The Order of Christ
Established by
Emperor Peter II 9.9.1843.
The Order of Saint Benoit of Aviz
Established by
Emperor Peter II 9.9.1843.
The Order of Saint Theodoric ,
Established by
Emperor Peter II 9.9.1843
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___________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF BULGARIA
__________________________________________________________
The Order of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius
(1 Class)Founded : King Ferdinand I 1909.
Ribbon : Salmon pink.Grand Master:
H.M. King Simeon II, King of the Bulgarians (b. 1937).
The Order of St.Alexander
(6 Classes) Established by Prince Alexander I
in 1881. Given new statutes by King Ferdinand I.
The Order of Civil Merit ,
Established by Prince
(later King) Ferdinand I in 1891.
_________________
________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK
________________________________________________________
The Order of the Elephant
(1 Class)The highest Danish order.
The Order is almost only bestowed
upon members of the Danish royal
family, members of foreign royal
houses, and heads of state. The Order
of the Elephant's annual days of
observance are January 1st, June 28th
and on Her Majesty the Queen's birthday.
The badge of the Order of the Elephant
is a white, enamelled, gold elephant
decorated with a cross on one side and
the monogram of the reigning monarch on
the other. The elephant carries a tower
on its back and a black moor holding a
spear on its neck. The badge is worn either
on a chain of gold elephants and towers,
or on a blue ribbon across the left shoulder
together with the Star of the Order.
Grand Master: HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark .
The Order of the Dannebrog
(5 Classes)Danish order of chivalry,
instituted in 1671 by the Danish King
Christian V with only one class; revised
in 1808 as an order of merit; from 1951
could also be bestowed upon women. The order
is bestowed every year upon 500-600 Danes
and foreigners. The Order of Dannebrog's
annual days of observance are January 28th,
April 15th, June 28th and on Her Majesty
the Queen's birthday. The badge of the Order
of Dannebrog is a white enamelled gold or
silver cross, edged in red, with a crown and
the monogram of the reigning monarch. The face
of the badge carries an inscription “God and King”
with the monogram of Christian V in the centre.
The Badge of the Grand Commander (abbreviated S Kmd)
is conferred on members of the Royal Family who are already
Knights of the Elephant. It is worn on a cravat - women wear it
on a ladies’ bow - with a breast star.
Grand Master: HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark .
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___________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE
___________________________________________________________
The Royal Order of the Holy Spirit
(1 Class, Limited to 100)
(Ordre du Saint-Esprit). Established
by Herny III 31.12.1578. Its membership
was limited to 100 French gentlemen of
noble birth whose paternal ancestors,
for at least three generations past, had
been. received as knights of the Order
of St. Michael Its holders were known as
"chevaliers des Ordres du Roi." Abolished 1830.
The Royal and Military Order of St Louis
Founded : King Louis XIV April 1693.
Ribbon : Red. Grand Master: in dispute.
The Royal Order of Saint Michael
(1 Class) Founded : King Louis XI 1 August 1469.
Ribbon : Black. Grand Master: in dispute.
The Holy Ghost
Founded : King Henri III
31 December 1578.Ribbon : Blue.
Grand Master: in dispute.
The Order of Saint Lazarus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel
( Ordre de Saint-Lazare et Notre-Dame du Mont-Carmel ).
Established by Henry IV in 1608 as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The French posessions of the Order of St. Lazarus (see International Orders)
were united in the same year with those of the new order.
It ceased to be given during the Restoration.
The Order of Saint Louis
( Ordre de Saint-Louis ).
Established by Louis XIV in
1693. Abolished 1830.
The Order of Military Merit
( Ordre du mérite militaire ).
Established by Louis XV 10.3.1759
as the protestant version of the
Order of St. Louis. Abolished 1830.
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____________________________________________________________
THE IMPERIAL ORDERS OF THE EMPIRE OF FRANCE
____________________________________________________________
The Légion d'honneur
(officially Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur)is a French order established by Napoléon
Bonaparte, First Consul of the First Republic, on May 19, 1802. It is the premier order of France
, and its award is therefore considered a great distinction. The order’s motto is Honneur et patrie
("Honour and Motherland" Napoleon, the First Consul, felt the need for a reward to commend
both civilians and soldiers and instituted a Légion d'Honneur, a body of men (women were first
allowed in the legion in 1852 by President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, the later Napoleon III) that
was not an order of chivalry. The Légion did and does however show all the characteristics of an
Order of Chivalry. Napoleon,in 1802 still a revolutionary, loathed orders of knighthood. The President
of France is the Grand Master of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order— by
convention, on the advice of the Government. Its principal officers are the Chancellor and Secretary-General.
The Order of the Iron Crown
( Ordre de la Couronne de fer ).
Established by Napoleon in 1805
for his Italian subjects. Now an Italian order.
The Imperial Order of Reunion
( Ordre impérial de la Réunion ).
Established in 1811 for the territories
annexed to the French Empire. Abolished 1815.
The Order of the 3 Golden Fleece
( Ordre des 3 Toisons d'or ).
This order was never realized, but
was intended by Napoleon to unite
the Austrian and Spanish orders with
a new French one that would be reserved
for the most exceptional heros of his armies.
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____________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF FRANKFURT
____________________________________________________________
The Order of Harmony
Established by the Grand Duke
Charles Theodore 1813. 3 classes.
___________________
____________________________________________________
THE IMPERIAL AND ROYAL ORDERS OF THE
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE OF THE GERMAN NATION
____________________________________________________
The Imperial and Royal Orders of Knighthood
held under The Supreme Protection of The
Imperial and Royal Electoral House of Germany
The Imperial Order of the Teutonic Knights of
St.Mary's Hospital in Jerusalem
(2 Classes, Limited 1190 Knights)
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See www.imperialteutonicorder.org /.com)
The Imperial and Royal Augustinian Order of
The White Eagle of The Holy Roman Empire
(1 Class) Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H.
Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Imperial Carinthian Order of Karl Der Grosse
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(1 Class) (See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Imperial and Royal Order of St.Hubert of Lorraine
(1 Class) Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H.
Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The German Order of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem
Grand Priory of Germany.
( Imperial Johanniter Order )(4 Classes)
Protecting Authority: H.I.&.R.H. Prince
Karl Freidrich of Germany.
Ribbon : Black. Head Styled Grand Prior:
H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Freidrich of Germany, 2005.
The Imperial and Royal Order of St.George of Carinthia
(1 Class) Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H.
Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Imperial and Royal Military Order of St.Henry
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(2 Classes) (See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Order of The Slaves of Virtue
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(1 Class) (See Page Five of The Almanach)
The Imperial Order of the Ancient Nobility
of the Four Emperors (1 Class)
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Imperial Order of the Defeated Dragon
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(2 Classes) (See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Imperial Order of St.Rupert of Salzburg,
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(1 Class) (See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Royal Order of the Eagle of Este (1 Class)
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Princess Maria of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Royal Order of St.Elizabeth (1 Class)
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Princess Maria of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Order of St. Michael (1 Class)
Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland ,
de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
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______________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF BRAGATION ( Georgia )
______________________________________________________________
The Order of the Tunic of Our Lord
Founded: H. R. H. Prince Irakly de
Bragation-Mukhransky (1939). Ribbon: Maroon
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince George de
Bragation-Mukhransky (b. 1944).
____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Order of the Garter
(1 Class, Limited to 24)
Motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense
(Shame on him who thinks this evil)
Date created: 1348 Level: Knight/Lady of
the Garter Post nominal letters: KG/LG Remarks:
Limited to 25 Knights The Order of the Garter
is the oldest and most prestigious of the
meritorious orders. The Order was founded by
Edward III in the 14th century. The origins
of its name and motto are obscure. The chapel
of the order is St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The Order of the Thistle
(1 Class, Limited to 16)
Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit
(No one provokes me with impunity)
Date created: 1687 Level: Knight/Lady
of the Thistle Post nominal letters:
KT/LTThe Order of the Thistle has ancient
roots, but was only established on a statutory
basis by James II in 1687. It is limited to 16
Knights(women were admitted in 1987), all of
whom must be Scottish.
The Order of Merit
Date created: 1902
Level: Member of the Order of Merit
Post nominal letters: OM This order was
created by Edward VII to recognise nationally
distinguished contributions in science, art,
music, literature and public life. There is
also a military division which is used to award
exceptional military leaders in time of war.
The order is limited to 24 members.
The Order of the Bath
(3 Classes)Motto: Tria Juncta in uno
(Three joined in one)Date Created: 1725
Levels: Knight/Dame Grand Cross (
Post Nominal Letters: GCB) Knight/Dame
Commander (Post Nominal Letters: KCB/DCB)
Companion (Post Nominal Letters: CB)The Order
of the Bath is another order with ancient roots.
It takes it name from the ceremonial bathing
that preceded investiture in medieval times. The
order was formally established in 1725 and is
awarded to state servants (including members of
the Armed Forces). It has a military division and
a civil division. The chapel of the Order is in
Westminster Abbey.
The Order of St.Michael & St.George
(3 Classes)Motto: Auspicium Melioris Aevi
(Token of a better age)Date Created: 1818
Levels: Knight/Dame Grand Cross (Post Nominal
Letters: GCMG)Knight/Dame Commander (Post
Nominal Letters: KCMG/DCMG) Companion
(Post Nominal Letters: CMG)This order was created in the
early part of the 19th century to reward service
in Malta and the Ionian islands. It has since
evolved to encompass any members of the Diplomatic
Service and those who render service to UK interests overseas.
The chapel of the order is in St Paul’s cathedral.
The Royal Victorian Order
(5 Classes)Date created: 1896 Levels:
Knight/Dame Grand Cross (Post Nominal Letters:
GCVO)Knight/Dame Commander (Post Nominal Letters:
KCVO/DCVO)Commander (Post Nominal Letters: CVO)
Lieutenant (Post Nominal Letters: LVO)
Member (Post Nominal Letters: MVO)
Given for services to The Queen and
other members of the Royal Family.
There is also a medal, the Royal
Victorian Medal, with three grades,
gold, silver and bronze. The chapel
of the order is The Queen’s Chapel
of the Savoy.Other awards are made by
The Sovereign on the advice of the
Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary,
and the Secretary of State for Defence
The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
was a British Royal Family Order instituted
in 1862 by Queen Victoria, and enlarged on
10 October 1864, 15 November 1865, and 15
March 1880. No awards were made after the
death of Queen Victoria. The order had four
classes and was only granted to women. For
the first three classes, the badge consisted
of a medallion of Queen Victoria and the Albert,
the Prince Consort, differing in the width and
jewelling of the border as the classes descend,
whilst the fourth substitutes a jewelled cipher
. All four were surmounted by a crown, which was
attached to a bow of white moire ribbon. The honour
conferred no rank or title upon the recipient,
but recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal
letters"VA". The last holder of the Order,
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, died in
1981. Like other British Orders which have
fallen into disuse, it has never been formally
abolished. Every British Soverign since Victoria
has become Sovereign of the Order upon their
accession to the throne. The Current Sovereign
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has been
Sovereign of the Order since 1952
The Order of the British Empire
(5 Classes)Motto: For God and the Empire
Date Created: 1917 Levels: Knight/Dame
Grand Cross (Post Nominal Letters:GBE)
Knight/Dame Commander (Post Nominal
Letters:KBE/DBE)Commander (Post Nominal
Letters:CBE)Officer (Post Nominal Letters:OBE)
Member (Post Nominal Letters:MBE)
This order was instituted by George V to
recognise all levels of service to the country
during the first ‘total’ war. It has evolved
to embrace service and achievement in all fields.
The Order has a military division and a civil
division. The chapel of the order is in St Pauls
Cathedral. The British Empire Medal has not been
used in the United Kingdom since 1993.
The Order of Saint John
(6 Classes, Limited 25 GC)Founded : 1831/1888.
Protecting Authority: The Crown of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Ribbon : Black. Sovereign Head: H.M. Queen
Elizabeth II. Grand Prior:
H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester.
The Order of the Companions of Honour
Motto: In action faithful, in honour clear
Date Created: 1917 Levels: Companion
Post Nominal Letters: CH This order is
similar to the Order of Merit in that it
is awarded to people who perform important
service to the nation in select fields.
Its membership is limited to 65 companions
__________________
____________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GREECE
____________________________________________________
The Order of the Redeemer or Saviour
( Basilikon tagma toi soteros ).
Established by King Otto I 1.6.1833.
Since 1863 the reverse carried the
inscription "Instituted in 1829 at
Argos by the 4th Greek National
Assembly, 5 classes.
The Royal Order of George I
( Basilikon tagma toy Georgioy A ).
Established in 1915. 5 classes.
No longer accorded.
The Royal Order of Saint George and Saint Constantine
( Basilikon oikogenaiakon tagma ton
agion Georgioy kai Konstantinoi ).
Established for the male members of
the Royal Family. 5 classes.
No longer accorded.
The Royal Order of Saint Olga and Saint Sophia
( Basilikon oikogeneiakon tagma ton
agion Sophias kai Olgas ). Established
for the female members of the Royal
Family. 4 classes. No longer accorded.
The Royal Order of the Phoenix
( Basilikon tagma toy Phoinikos ).
Established 1926 and replaced by
the Order of the Phoenix. 5 classes.
The Royal Order for Good Deeds
( Basilikon tagma tes Eypoiia ).
Established 1948. Reserved for
ladies. 5 classes.
_____________________
____________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF HANOVER
____________________________________________________________
The Order of Saint George
(1 Class)Founded : King Ernst
August 23 April 1839.Ribbon :
Crimson.Grand Master: H.R.H.
Prince Ernst August, Prince
of Hanover (Ernst August V,
Titular King of Hanover) (b. 1954).
The Guelphic Order
(3 Classes)Founded : George Prince Regent
of England 12 August 1815 and King Ernst
August I 20 May 1841.Ribbon : Light blue.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Ernst August,
Prince of Hanover (Ernst August V,
Titular King of Hanover) (b. 1954).
The Order of Henry The Lion
The Order of Ernst August
( Ernst Augustus Orden ). Established
by King George V 15.12.1865 as a civil
and military recompense. Grand Master:
H.R.H. Prince Ernst August, Prince of
Hanover (Ernst August V, Titular King
of Hanover) (b. 1954).
__________________
___________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF HESSE
___________________________________________________
The Order of Ludwig
( Ludwigs Orden ). Established by the
Grand Duke Louis I 25.8.1807. Grand Master
: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von
Deutschland, de jure Grand Duke of Hesse.
The Order of Phillip the Magnanimous
( Philipps Orden ). Established by the
Grand Duke Louis II 1.5.1840.Grand Master
: H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland,
de jure Grand Duke of Hesse.
The Order of the Golden Lion
( Orden vom Goldenen-Löwen ).
___________________
____________________________________________________________
THE PRINCELY ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF HESSE
____________________________________________________________
The Order of the Golden Lion of the House of Hesse
Founded : Friedrich II, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
14 August 1770. Ribbon : Red.Grand Master: H.R.H.
Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse ( Moritz, Titular Prince
of Hesse) (b. 1926).
The Order of the Elector William
( Kürfürst Wilhelms Orden ).
Established by the Elector William II 20.8.1851.
The Order of Military Merit
( Militär-Verdienst-Orden ).
Established by the Landgrave
Frederick II 25.2.1769.
The Order of the Iron Helm ,
Established by the Elector
William I 18.3.1814.
_________________
_________________________________________________________________
THE PRINCELY ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF HOHENLOHE
_________________________________________________________________
The Order of the Phoenix
Founded : as Golden Flame 29 December
1757, later converted into the Phoenix.
Ribbon : Crimson edged gold. Grand Master:
H.S.H. Prince Ferdinand 9th Prince zu
Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (b. 1942).
The Order of the Golden Flame
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THE ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP
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The Order of Saint Anne ( Sankt Annen-Orden ).
Established by Duke Charles Frederick 1735
and named for his wife the Grand Duchess
Anne Petrovna of Russia, daughter of Peter
the Great. Became a Russian order when
Charles Peter Ulrich (Peter III) of
Holstein-Gottorp ascended the Russian throne.
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THE PAPAL ORDERS OF THE HOLY SEE OF ST.PETER
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The Order of Christ
This rarely given distinction cannot strictly be characterized today as an Orde
r of Knighthood, but more as an award of honor of the highest possible standing.
The recent reforms of the Papal Orders by Pope Paul VI, the Order of Christ was
reserved to Catholic Heads of State to whom it might be given only to commemorate
very special occasions at which the Pope himself was present. This Order was last
awarded in 1987 to the late Frŕ Angelo de Mojana, 77th Prince and Grand Master of
the Sovereign Military Order of Malta on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary
of his election to the Grand Magistery; he died the following year. With the recent death
of King Baudouin of the Belgians the are no living Knights of the Papal Supreme Order
of Christ and there is a considered opinion that the present Pope may have decided to
let it fall into abeyance, at least for the present.
The Order of The Golden Spur
( Ordo Militia Aurata or Ordine dello Speron d'Oro o Milizia Aurata ). Cannot be dated
for certain but is referred to as being conferred under Pope Paul III in 1539. 1 class: Knight.
The Order of Pius
( Ordo Pianus or Ordine Piano ). Established by Pope Pius IX 17.6.1847. 4 classes, the
3rd class being divided into 2 degrees: Grand Collar, Grand Cross, Commander with Star/Commander, Knight.
The Order of St. Gregory The Great
The Papal Order of Saint Gregory was originally founded by Pope Gregory XVI on 1 September
1831, in four classes - Knights Grand Cross (1st class), Knights Grand Cross (2nd class), Knights
Commander, and Knights.The regulations concerning the grades and uniform were then expanded
in a further Bull dated 30 May 1834. As part of the reform of the Papal Orders instituted by Saint
Pius X on 7 February 1905, the grades of the Order were modified by the addition of a Star for a higher
category of Knights Commander and the suppression of the 2nd class of Knight Grand Cross, paralleling
the grades of the Ordine Piano and the newly founded Order of Saint Sylvester. Pius X also assigned
to the Papal Knights a particular place in Papal processions and in ceremonies of the Church. Awards
of the Order are usually made on the recommendation of Diocesan Bishops or Nuncios for specific services.
Unlike membership of the Military Orders (Malta, the Holy Sepulcher), membership of the Order of Saint
Gregory does not impose any special obligations. It is thus the preferred award to acknowledge an individual's
particular meritorious service to the Church. A Bishop wishing to recommend an individual for this honor will
a draw up a suitable letter proposing the candidates name, with a c.v., and forward it with his recommendation
to the Apostolic Nuncio. The Nuncio may consult with the Bishop regarding the grade - if, perhaps, the grade
suggested may be inappropriate - but will then usually forward the recommendation to the Secretariat of State.
There the candidate's name is considered carefully and, if approved, a Diploma is drawn up in Latin (and the
candidates forenames are translated into Latin) and this receives the signature and seal of the Cardinal Secretary
of State. It is then delivered to the recipient. Usually, Papal awards give rise to a nominal "tax" charge to cover the
expenses concerned - this charge may be paid by the Diocese but is usually reimbursed by the recipient. The highest
rank, that of Grand Cross, is an exceptional award - less than eight US citizens have received this honor in the past
twenty-two years - and those who receive it have usually already been a member of Saint Gregory in one of the lower
ranks before being promoted. Knights Grand Cross wear a more elaborate uniform with more extensive silver braid,
a white plumed hat instead of the black plumes common to the lower ranks, while the badge is worn from the broad
Riband of the Order on the left hip and the breast star. Knights Commander wear a less elaborate uniform, with the
badge worn suspended from the ribbon of the Order around the neck, while the higher rank (Knight Commander with Star)
also wears the breast star. There have only been twenty-two awards of the senior rank of Commander with Star since
1974 to US citizens. Knights wear a simpler uniform without the braid on the collar and sleeves, with the badge worn from
a ribbon suspended on the left breast. Since 1994 Dames have been admitted in the same grades as men. They do not
wear the uniform or sword, their Grand Cross Riband is narrower and the Commander's badge is worn from a bow on the left breast.
The Order of St. Silvester
( Ordo Sanctus Silvestri Papae or Ordine di San Silvestro Papa ).
Established by Pope Gregory XVI 31.10.1841.
The Order has 3 classes, the 2nd class being divided into two degrees:
Grand Cross, Commander with Star/Commander, Knight.
The Order of The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Founded : 24 January 1868 (revival).
Protecting Authority: The Holy See.
Ribbon : Black (Order of the Cross of Merit: White and red;
The Palms of Jerusalem: Black).
Grand Master: His Eminence Carlo Cardinal Furno.
The Papal Lateran Cross
(Crux Lateranum or Croce Lateranese). Established by Pope Leo XIII 18.2.1903.
The order has 3 degrees: gold, silver, bronze.
The Cross of Honour
"Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" (Cruz or Croce "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice").
Established by Pope Leo XIII 17.7.1888.
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THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ISENBERG
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The Order of The House of Isenburg
(House Order “pour mes amis”)
Founded : 1809. Ribbon : Gold, light blue, white, black, white, light blue, gold.
Grand Master: H.S.H. Prince Franz Alexander 8th Prince von Isenburg (b. 1943).
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF ITALY
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The Supreme Order of the Annunciata
(1 Class)Founded : Order of the Collar or the Love Knot by Count Amadeo VI of Savoy
1362. Renewed by Duke Carlo III of Savoy under its present designation 1518.Ribbon :
Purple. Grand Master: H.R.H. Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont
and Prince of Naples (Vittorio Emanuele IV, Titular King of Italy) (b. 1937).
The Order of Saint Maurice and Lazarus
(5 Classes)(Ordine dei SS. Maurizio e Lazzaro). The Order of Saint Maurice was established
by Duke Amadeo VIII of Savoy in 1434. Renewed and joined to the Savoyard branch of the
Order of Saint Lazarus (see the Order of Saint Lazarus and Mount Carmel under the French Orders).
5 classes. No longer conferred after 14.6.1946. The annual Chapiter is held in September at
the Abbey of Saint Maurice at Valois.
The Civil Order of Savoy
(1 Class) Founded : King Carlo Alberto 29 October 1831.
Ribbon : White with a broad blue stripe in the centre.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Crown Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont
and Prince of Naples (Vittorio Emanuele IV, Titular King of Italy) (b. 1937).
The Order of Merit of Savoy
(5 Classes)
The Order of the Crown of Italy
( Ordine della Corona d'Italia ). Established by King Victor Emmanuel II 20.2.1868. 5 classes.
No longer conferred following the death of King Umberto II (18.3.1983). Replaced by the new
Order of Civil Merit of Savoy (Ordine del Merito civile di Savoia).
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THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN
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The Order of Merit
( Füstliche liechtensteinische Verdienstorden ). Established by Prince Francis I 22.7.1837.
5 classes: Grand Star, Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander, Knight.
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THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIPPE
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The Order of Leopold
(2 Class)Founded : Prince Leopold of Lippe and Prince Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe 25 October
1869 . Ribbon : Red edged gold.Grand Master: H.S.H. Prince Armin, Prince of Lippe , Armin,
Titular Prince of Lippe.
The Cross of Honour of Lippe
Founded by Prince Leopold of Lippe
and Prince Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe 25.10.1869.
The Order of the Rose of Lippe
created 1898.
The Order of Bertha
( Berthen Orden ).1910.
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THE ORDERS OF THE DUCHY OF LUCCA AND MODENA
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The Military Order of Saint George
( Ordine militare di San Giorgio ).
Established by the Duke of Lucca in 1833.
The Order of the Eagle of Este
( Ordine d'Este ). Established by the
Duke of Modena in 1855. The order is
now the the Royal Order of the Eagle of Este
(1 Class)Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H. Princess Maria of Germany.
(See Page Five of the Almanach)
The Genoese Order of Saint George
( Ordine genovese di S. Giorgio ).
Established at the beginning of the 19th century.
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THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG
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The Order of the Oak Crown
( Ordre de la Couronne de Chęne ). Established by King William II of the Netherlands,
Grand Duke of Luxemburg 29.12.1841. 5 classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer,
Commander, Officer, Knight; and a medal of merit.
The Order of the Golden Lion of the House of Nassau
( Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau ). Established by ..... 29.1.1858 as a common
Family Order for the two lines of the House of Nassau, the Ottonian in the Netherlands and
the Walramian in Luxemburg. Renewed 20.5.1906, and reserved for Sovereign Princes and
Princes of Sovereign Houses and for persons with the title of "Excellency" and the rank of
at least Ambassador, Lieutenant-General, Prime Minister, Archbishop, or the highest ranks
at Court. 1 class: Knight.
The Civil and Military Order of Merit of Adolph of Nassau
( Ordre du Mérite Civil et Militaire d'Adolphe de Nassau ). Established by Duke Adolph of Nassau
8.5.1858. The Orde has a Civil and a Military Division, each with 5 classes, the 3 lowest classes
each being divided into two grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander with Crown/Commander,
Officer with Crown/Officer, Knight with Crown/Knight. Several crosses and medals of merit.
The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg
( Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ). Established by Grand Duchess Charlotte 23.1.1961.
5 classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight; and 1 medal.
The Order of the Resistance 1940-1945
( Ordre de la Résistance 1940-1945 ).
Established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in 1946.
2 classes and a medal of merit.
The National Order of the Medal of Merit for Sport
( Ordre national de la Médaille du Mérite sportif ). Established in 1976.
3 grades, insignia, and medals
The Service Cross for the members of the Army
the Gendarmerie and the Police ( Croix de service
pour les membres de l'Armée, de la Gendarmerie et
de la Police ). Established by ... 1850.
The War Cross 1940-1945
( Croix de Guerre 1940-1945 ).
Established by Grand Duchess Charlotte 17.4.1945.
The War Cross
( Croix de Guerre ). Established by
Grand Duchess Charlotte 9.5.1951.
The Cross of Honour and Military Merit
( Croix d'honneur de de Mérite militarie ).
Established by Grand Duchess Charlotte in 1951.
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THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF MECKLENBURG
( Grand Ducal House Extinct )
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The Order of the Vandals Crown of the House of Mecklenburg
(3 Classes)
The Order of The Wendisch Crown
Founded : Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Grand
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 12 May 1864. Ribbon : Light blue
with inner yellow and outer red side stripes.Grand Masters: Mecklenburg-Schwerin:
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Friedrich Franz V,
Titular Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.) (1910-2001) Grand Master: H.I.&.R.H.
Prince Karl Friedrich von Deutschland , de jure Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Georg Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg (Georg Borwin, Titular
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) (b. 1956).
The Order of the Griffon
(4 Classes)
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THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO
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The Order of Saint Charles
(5 Classes)(Ordre de Saint-Charles).
Established by Prince Charles III
15.3.1858. 5 classes
The Order of The Crown
Established by Prince Rainier III in 1960. 5 classes.
The Order of The Grimaldis
Established by Prince Rainier III in 1954. 5 classes.
The Order of Cultural Merit
Established by Prince Rainier III in 1952. 3 classes.
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF MONTENEGRO
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The Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje
(1 Class)
The Order of the Golden Oblica
The Order of Danilo
(5 Class)Founded : Prince Danilo I 23 April
(5 May) 1852.Ribbon : White with red stripes.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Nikola Petrovic-Njegos of Montenegro
( Nikola II, Titular King of Montenegro ) (b. 1944).
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS
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The House Order of Orange-Nassau
(5 classes) Order of Orange-Nassau (Orde van Oranje-Nassau). Established by
the Queen Dowager Emma on behalf of her daughter Wilhelmina, as a substitute
for Luxemburg's Order of the Oak Crown which was no longer available to the Dutch
Monarch following the abolition in 1890 of the personal union between the Netherlands
and Luxemburg. 5 classes: Knight 1st Class or Grand Cross, Knight 2nd Class or
Grand Officer, Knight 3rd Class or Commander, Knight 4th Class or Officer, Knight
5th Class or Knight. Grand Master: H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
The Military Order of Wilhelm
(4 Classes)Military Order of William (Militaire Willems-Orde). Established by King William I
30.4.1815. Its present statutes date from 30.6.1940. 4 classes: Knight 1st Class or Grand
Gross, Knight 2nd Class or Commander, Knight 3rd Class, Knight 4th Class. Grand Master:
H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
The Order of the Netherlands Lion
(3 Classes)Civil Order of Merit of the Netherland Lion (Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw).
Established by King William I 29.9.1815. 3 classes: night 1st Class or Grand Gross,
Knight 2nd Class or Commander, Knight 3rd Class. Grand Master: H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
The Order of The House of Orange
Family Order of Orange (Huisorde van Oranje). Established by Queen Wilhelmine 19.3.1905. 5
classes, the 5th class being divided into two grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander,
Officer, Knight 1st Class/Knight 2nd Class. Grand Master: H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
The Order of The Crown of The House of Orange
The Order of Saint Mary of the Teutons in the Netherlands Bailiwick of Utrecht,(1 Class)
(Teutonic Order)* held under the Supreme Authority of H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany,
Duke of Swabia, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, de jure Charles VIII I.R. as the 60th Hochmeister.
(*see www.imperialteutonicorder.org/com)
The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem
(Johanniter Order)(2 Classes) Founded : 1909/1946.
Protecting Authority: The Crown of the Netherlands.
Ribbon : Black. Commander of Honour:
H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
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THE ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY
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The Order of St. Olav
(5 Classes) The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav was established by King Oscar I in
1847 and is bestowed as a «reward for excellent services to Country and mankind».
The Order of St. Olav is named after the martyred viking king of Norway, Olav the Holy.
The Order is divided in five classes: Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander,
Knight Class 1 and Knight. A Collar belongs to the insignia of the Order, which can be
award to recipients of the Grand Cross by the HM the King. The Council of the Order,
appointed by HM the King as recommended by the Prime Minister, consists of a Chancellor,
a Vice Chancellor, a Treasurer and three other Members representing the Southern,
Central and Northern Regions of Norway who submit their recommendations on all matters
to the Grand Master. The average annual award rate is about 30 in total for all classes of
the Order with the majority in the lower classes with Knight and Commander. The higher
classes with the Grand Cross and the Commander with Star are normally only awarded
a few times each year at the most. Grand Master: H.M. King Harold V of Norway .
The War Cross
Instituted by King Haakon VII 21.5.1941 in exile in London.
The cross is personal property and is not returnable on the death of the holder.
The King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty
Instituted by King Haakon VII 18.3.1945.
The Medal of Saint Olaf
Instituted 17.3.1939. 1 class: silver.
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THE ORDERS OF THE DUCHY OF OLDENBURG
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The Order of Merit of Duke Peter-Frederic-Ludwig
(3 Classes) Established by the Grand Duke
Paul Frederick Augustus 27.11.1858.
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THE ORDERS OF THE DUCHY OF PARMA
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The Royal Constantinian Order of Saint George (3 Classes)
( Ordine Constantiano di San Giorgio ). Established in 1191. Renewed in 1699.
The Order of Merit of San Luigi
( Ordine di San Luigi ).
Established by Duke Charles III of Parma in 1849.
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF POLAND
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The Order of the Whit Eagle
Instituted by King Lasislas I 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. 1 class.
The Order of Saint Stanislas
Instituted on 8th May 1765, by the Polish King Stanislas II Augustus Poniatowski,
the last native King of the Commonwealth of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania. The Order was formally established by the Polish King to honour
the Patron Saint of Poland and to reward those who deserved it. The Order had one
class and was held as the highest decoration after the Order of the White Eagle which
had been established in the year 1325. The Companions of the Order of Saint Stanislas,
who were limited in number to 100 persons had to prove descent from the Polish nobility
for at least five generations. Their duty in the first instance was faithfulness and obedience
to the Polish Monarch and State. Whereas, On the 9th June 1979, the Order of Saint
Stanislas was formally re-established in five classes by the legitimate Polish Government
( In Exile ) which was based in London, England. The Order of Saint Stanislas is now a
worldwide organisation with Priories established in most countries. The Present Grand Master
: H.S.H. Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki , VIIIth Sovereign Grand Master of The Order of
St.Stanislas. The Chancellor for Europe and Grand Prior for Poland:
H.S.H. Prince Orland Machnikowski , GCCStS . Polnische Komturei Sankt Staislausorden in Deutschland ,
H.E. Chev Thaddaus Freiherr von Lison , GCStS .
PRESENT GRAND PRIORS OF THE ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS
ARGENTINIA Chev Ricardo Rosenthal , CStS (acting)
ARMENIA Chev Never Mkhitaryan , GCStS
AUSTRIA Dame Sylvia Fritz-Anhalt , GCStS
AUSTRALIA Chev Russell Maxwell Male , Lord of Waterston, GCStS
BELGIUM Chev Jerzy Leszczyński , GCStS
BULGARIA Chev Nikolay Petrov Zafirov , CStS (acting)
CANADA Chev Dennis Hoban , GCStS
CHINA Chev Prof Dr Lee Cheng Liang , BS, MBS, PhD, DSc,GCStS
CROATIA Chev Mladen Krupa , CStS (acting)
FINLAND H.E. Mika Vake Vainen , CStS - (acting)
FRANCE Col Chev Daniel Chiroussot-Chambeaux de Barthon , CSStS
GERMANY Chev. Thaddaus Freiherr von Lison , GCStS
GREAT BRITAIN Chev Mervin Reding , GCStS
GREECE Chev Baron Tonis Breidel Hadjidemetriou ,GCStS
JAPAN Chev Eikichi Nishikawa , GCCStS
MACEDONIA Chev Risto Gusterov , CSStS
MALAYSIA Chev Baron Anthony M. Raman Naikan , GCStS
MEXICO Chev Tomas L. Lorant , CSStS
MONACO Chev Harry D. Schultz , GCStS, KHC, KM, KCPR, KCSA
THE NETHERLANDS Chev Leo van Olsen , CStS
NEW ZEALAND Chev Lt Col Martin Hugh Devlin , BA, MC, GCStS
PACIFIC ISLANDS Chev Dick Scott Clack , GCCStS
POLAND H.S.H. Prince Orland Machnikowski , GCCStS
ROMANIA Chev Prof Dr Serban Andronescu , PhD, MA, BA, GCStS
RUSSIAN FEDERATION Chev Vladimir Resin , GCStS
SWEDEN Chev Waldemar Wilk , GCCStS
SLOVAKIA Chev Egon Maria Alexander Arnold , GCStS
SCANDINAVIA Chev Waldemar Wilk , GCCStS
SPAIN Chev José Antonio al Marza Martin-Vegue , GCStS
UKRAINE Chev Baron Stanislaw Ellis , GCCStS
USA Chev Dr Don Hunsaker II , GCStS
Please see page Two and Four for the Orders website link.
The Order of Virtuti Militari
( Order Virtuti Militari ). Instituted by King Stanislas II Poniatowski in 1792.
Renewed in 1919 and again in 1944 by the National Polish Liberation Committee.
5 classes: Grand Cross, Commander, Knight, Gold Cross, Silver Cross.
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL
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The Order of Vila Vicosa (3 Class)
Founded : King Joao VI 6 February 1818.
Ribbon : Light blue edged with white.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Dom Duarte, Duke of Bragança
(Duarte III, Titular King of Portugal and the Algarves) (b. 1945).
The Order of Saint Michael sive de Ala
( Saint Michael of the Wing ),
Founded in 1171, after the taking of Santarém from the Moors on May
8th, 1147. Although the Royal Order of Saint Michael of the Wing of
Portugal is one of the oldest chivalric orders (it was founded in XII century A.D.)
it is also one of the lesser known. The Grand Masters have always been the
Kings of Portugal, and since 1910, the presumptive heir to the Crown and head
of the Royal Dynastic House of Bragança. Present Grand Master: H.R:H.
Dom Duarte, Duke of Bragança (Duarte III, Titular King of Portugal and the
Algarves) (b. 1945).
The Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
( Ordem de Sőa Bento de Aviz ).
Instituted by Don Alfonso I [Henriquez] 13.8.1162.
The Order of Saint James and the Sword
( Ordem Militar de Sant' Iago da Espada ). A Portuguese
branch separated in 1290 from the Spanish Order of Saint
James of the Sword. Affirmed by Pope John XXII in 1320 as
an independant order. Its present statutes date from 24.11.
1963. Grand Collar and 5 classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer,
Commander, Officer, Knight.
The Order of the Tower and the Sword
( Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada ). Instituted by King Alfonso
V in 1459. Renewed in 1808, 1832, and 1917. Its present statutes
date from 24.11.1963. Grand Collar and 5 classes: Grand Cross,
Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight.
The Order of Christ
( Ordem Militar de Christo ).
A branch of the Order of the Knights Templar.
Established by King Dionysius of Portugal in 1317.
Confirmed in 1319 by Pope John XXII. The Portuguese
branch was secularized in 1789 into a military and
civil Orde of Merit of 3 classes, which were extended
in 1918 to another two. Its present statutes date from
24.11.1963. 5 classes: Grand Cross, Grand Officer,
Commander, Officer, Knight.
The Order of Saint Isabel
Instituted by Queen Carlota Joaquina
4.11.1801. Reserved for ladies.
The Order of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Villa Viccedilla
Instituted by King John VI, 6.2.1818.
The Order of Agricultural and Industrial Merit
( Ordem do Mérito Agricola e Industrial ).
Instituted 4.6.1893. Renewed 13.11.1926.
The Order has two divisions, one for agricultural
services and one for industrial services. 5 classes:
Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Medal.
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THE ROYAL ORDERS KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA
__________________________________________________
The Order of the Black Eagle
(1 Class)Founded : King Friedrich I ,17 January 1701.
Ribbon : Orange. Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Georg
Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (Georg Friedrich, Titular
German Emperor, King of Prussia) (b. 1976).
The Order of The Red Eagle
( Orden des Roten Adler ). Established by George William,
Hereditary Prince of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Beyreuth 1705.
The Order of the House of Hohenzollern
(Jointly held with the Prince of Hohenzollern) (4 Classes)
Founded : King Friedrich Wilhelm IV 16 January/22 August
1851.Ribbon : White with three black stripes.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia
(Georg Friedrich, Titular German Emperor, King of Prussia) (b. 1976).
The Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern
Founded by Frederick William IV 23.8.1851.
The Order of the Crown of Prussia
( Orden der Preussischen Krone ).
Established by William I 18.10.1861.
The Order of the Iron Cross
(Orden des Eisernen Kreuzes). Established by Frederick William III
10.3.1813. Two classes and one Grand Cross. Reorganized and modified
by William I 19.7.1870. The German successor government to the Weimar
Republic added the Knight's Cross with the possibility of attaining higher
degrees thereof [Das Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub (Knight's Cross with Oakleaves),
Schwerter (Swords), und Diamanten (Diamonds)].
The Order of Louise
(2 Class, Limited to Ladies)Founded : King Friedrich Wilhelm III 3 August 1814
and named from the Queen. Reserved for ladies. Renewed by King Friedrich
Wilhelm IV 1848 and 1849, and once again by King Wilhelm I 1865.Ribbon :
White with black side stripe. Grand Master: H.R.H. Prince Georg Friedrich,
Prince of Prussia (Georg Friedrich, Titular German Emperor, King of Prussia) (b. 1976).
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THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF ROUMANIA
____________________________________________________________
The Order of Michael The Brave
Founded : King Ferdinand I 1916.
Ribbon : Cherry red with broad gold edges.
Grand Master: H.M. Mihai, King of Rumania.
the Order of the Star of Romania
( Ordinul Steana României ).
Instituted by Prince (later King) Charles I in 1877.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
The Order of Elizabeth
Instituted by Queen Elizabeth in 1878. Reserved for ladies.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
The Order of the Crown of Romania
( Ordinul Coroana României ). Instituted by King Charles
I in 1881. It was the premier order.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
The Order of Charles I
Instituted by King Charles I in 1906.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
The Military Order of Michael the Brave
Instituted by King Ferdinand I in 1916.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
The Order of Ferdinand I
Instituted by King Ferdinand I in 1928.
Grand Master: H.M. Michael, King of Rumania.
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THE IMPERIAL ORDERS OF THE EMPIRE OF RUSSIA
__________________________________________________________
The Order of St.Andrew
(1 Class)Founded : 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).
The 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).
The Order of St.Alexander Nevsky
(1 Class)(Orden sv. Alexandra Nevskogo). Originally comtemplated
by Peter the Great as an award for military distinction, but was
actually instituted by Empress Catherine I in 1725. Badge: a cross
in white red enamel, edged in gold, with golden double-headed eagles
between the four limbs. In the centre was a circular plaque in enamel
showing the Saint on horseback. 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).
The 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.
The Order of St.Vladimir
(4 Classes)( Orden sv. ravnoapostol'nogo kniazia Vladimira ). Instituted by
the Empress Catherine the Great 4.10.1783.Grand Master: H.I.H. Grand
Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia (Maria I, Titular Empress and
Autocrat of All the Russias (b. 1953).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
___________________
_____________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF REUSS
_____________________________________________________
The Cross of Honour
Established by Prince Henry LXVII 20.10.1857 for employees of the state, etc.
The Cross of Honour
Established by Prince Henry XIV 24.5.1869.
__________________
____________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE SERENE REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO
____________________________________________________________
The Order of Saint Marino
( Ordine di San Marino ).
Established by the republic in 1859.
________________
______________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF PRINCIPALITY OF SALZBURG
______________________________________________________
The Order of Saint Rupert
( Sankt Rupprechts-Orden ).
Established by John Ernest,
Reigning Archbishop of Salzburg.
_________________
________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF SAXONY
________________________________________________________
The Order of the Rue Crown ( Orden der Rautenkrone ).
Established by King Frederick Augustus I 29.7.1807.
The Order of Merit
( Verdienst-Orden ).
Established by King Frederick Augustus I
7.7.1815. Military decoration founded 1866.
Statutes supplemented 9.12.1870.
The Order of Albert the Valorous
( Albrechts Orden ). Established by
King Frederick Augustus II 31.12.1850.
Military decoration founded 1866.
Statutes supplemented 9.12.1870.
The Order of Sidonia
( Sidonien-Orden ).
Established by King John 14.3.1871.
The Order of Maria Anna
( Maria Annen-Orden ).
Established by King Frederick Augustus III
in 1906 in memory of his mother. 3 classes.
[For women]
___________________
____________________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF SAXE-WEIMAR-EISENACH
____________________________________________________________________
The Order of Vigilance
(3 Classes)Founded : Duke Ernst August 2 August 1732 and renewed by
Grand Duke Charles Augustus 18 October 1815.
Ribbon : Flame red (ponceau).Grand Master: H.R.H. Michael-Benedict,
Prince of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Titular Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach) (b. 1946).
___________________
______________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE SAXON-DUCHIES
_____________________________________________
The Saxe-Ernestine House Order
Founded : Friedrich I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg under the name of the
Order of German Probity 1690. Renewed by Dukes Friedrich of Altenburg,
Ernst I of Coburg-Gotha, Bernhard of Meiningen 28 December 1833.
Ribbon : Dark red with green side stripes. Grand Master: (1) H.H. Prince
Friedrich-Konrad, Titular Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (b. 1952); (2) H.H. Prince Andreas,
Titular Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (b. 1943); (3) H.I.&.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich
von Deutschland , Duke of Saxe-Altenburg , de jure Emperor Charles VIII of Germany.
______________
_________________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE
_________________________________________________________________
The Order of Schaumburg-Lippe
Founded : Prince Adolph of
Schaumburg-Lippe 18 September 1890.
Ribbon : Red edged gold.Grand Master:
H.S.H. Prince Philipp-Ernst, Titular
Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe (b. 1928).
________________
__________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF
SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT AND SONDERSHAUSEN
__________________________________________________________
The Order of Cross of Honour of Schwarzburg
Founded : Prince Friedrich Günther 20 May 1853 for the principality of
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and changed to a Cross of Honour for both
principalities by a convention made with Prince Günther Friedrich Karl
of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 28 June 1857.Ribbon : Yellow with three
light blue stripes.Grand Master: H.I.R.H. Prince Karl Friedrich of Germany ,
Sovereign Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Sondershausen ,(1974).
______________________
_____________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF THURN AND TAXIS
_____________________________________________________________
The Order of Thurn und Taxis
Founded : 1704/1733.Ribbon : Light blue.
Grand Master: H.S.H. Prince Albert
12th Prince von Thurn und Taxis.
____________________
__________________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA / SERBIA
__________________________________________________________________
The Order of the Star of KaraGeorge
(4 Classes)Instituted by King Alexander I
of Serbia in 1898.Grand Master:
H.R.H. Crown Prince Alexander ,
de jure King of Yugoslavia / Serbia.
The Royal Order of Takovo
Instituted by Prince Milan Obrenovic IV 15.2.1878.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Crown Prince Alexander ,
de jure King of Yugoslavia / Serbia.
The Order of the White Eagle
(5 Classes)Grand Master: H.R.H. Crown Prince Alexander ,
de jure King of Yugoslavia / Serbia.
The Order of St.Sava
(5 Classes)Founded : King Milan I of
Serbia 23 January (4 February) 1883.
Ribbon : White with pale blue stripes near the edges.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia
(Alexander II, Titular King of Yugoslavia) (b. 1945).
The Order of the Yugoslav Crown
(5 Classes)Instituted by King Alexander I of Yugoslavia
in 1929.H.R.H. Crown Prince Alexander ,
de jure King of Yogoslavia / Serbia.
____________________
__________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN
__________________________________________________________
The Noble Order of the Golden Fleece
(1 Class)(Spainish Branch)
The Order of Charles III
(3 Classes)
The Military Order of St.Hermengildo
(3 Classes)
The Order of Isabello the Catholic
(3 Classes)
The Military Order of Saint Ferdinand
(5 Classes)
The Order of Merit
(4 Classes)
The Order of Naval Merit
(4 Classes)
The Order of Military Merit
(4 Classes)
The Order of Maria Luisa
(3 Classes)
The Military Order of Santiago
Founded : Pedro Fernández de Fuenteencalada and 12 knights about 1161.
Under protection of King Fernando II of León 1170. Approved by Pope Alexander III 1175.
Protecting Authority: The Crown of Spain .Ribbon : Red. Grand Master, Perpetual
Administrator by Apostolic Authority: H.M. Juan Carlos, King of Spain.
President of the Council of the Four Spanish Military Orders of Santiago,
Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa: H.R.H. Infante Don Carlos de Borbón
Dos Sicilias y Borbón, Duke of Calabria
The Military Order of Calatrava
Founded : Abbot Ramon de Sierra and a group Monks, who became knights
1157. Under protection of King Sancho III of Castille 1158. Approved by Pope
Alexander III 1164. Protecting Authority: The Crown of Spain. Ribbon : Red.
Grand Master, Perpetual Administrator by Apostolic Authority: H.M. Juan Carlos,
King of Spain. President of the Council of the Four Spanish Military Orders of Santiago,
Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa: H.R.H. Infante Don Carlos de Borbón Dos Sicilias y Borbón,
Duke of Calabria.
The Military Order of Alcantara
Founded : the two brothers Don Suero and Don Gómez Fernández Barrientos.
Under protection of King Ferdinand II of Leon with name of San Julian del Pereiro
1175. Approved by Pope Alexander III 1177. Protecting Authority: The Crown of Spain .
Ribbon : Green. Grand Master, Perpetual Administrator by Apostolic Authority: H.M.
Juan Carlos, King of Spain. President of the Council of the Four Spanish Military
Orders of Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa: H.R.H.
Infante Don Carlos de Borbón Dos Sicilias y Borbón, Duke of Calabria.
The Military Order of Montesa
Founded : King Jaime II of Aragon 1312. Approved by Pope John XXII 1317.
Protecting Authority: The Crown of Spain .Ribbon : Red. Grand Master, Perpetual
Administrator by Apostolic Authority: H.M. Juan Carlos, King of Spain.
President of the Council of the Four Spanish Military Orders of Santiago, Calatrava,
Alcantara and Montesa: H.R.H. Infante Don Carlos de Borbón Dos Sicilias y Borbón, Duke of Calabria
____________________
_______________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN
_______________________________________________________
The Order of the Seraphim
(1 Class) The highest Order of Sweden. Instituted: February 23rd, 1748 by King Frederik I.
Awarded for: Services to the Sovereign and the country, or to foreign heads of state. Since
1975, the Order is no longer awarded to Swedish citizens. The Order has been awarded to
844 persons since 1748. Grades: 1 (Knight or Member), plus the Seraphim Medal. Ribbon:
Pale blue. Grand Master: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden.
The Order of Sword
(7 Classes)Instituted: February 23rd, 1748 by King Frederik I.Awarded to: Swedish Officers
and foreigners for long or meritorious service in or for the Armed Forces. Since 1975, the Order
is no longer awarded. Grades: 5 (Commander Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class, Commander
, Knight 1st Class, Knight), plus the Badge of the Sword, the Medal of the Sword, Knight of the
Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword and the War Cross of the Order of the Sword. Ribbon:
Yellow with blue edge stripes. Grand Master: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden.
The Order of The Star of The North
King Fredrik I instituted the Swedish Royal Order of the Polar Star in 1748. Until 1975, the order
was awarded Swedish citizens for civic virtue, long meritorious service to the nation, and distinguished
service within the field of science, and in social or cultural life. Women became eligible in 1952.
Since 1975, the Royal Order of the Polar Star is reserved for foreign nationals in recognition of personal
services to Sweden or for the promotion of Swedish interests. His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf is the
Grand Master of this Order and decisions on the conferment of distinctions are made by him on the
recommendation of the Swedish Government. The badge consists of a white Maltese Cross set in
gold (or in the case of the badge for Officer, silver) with open gold crowns in the angles between the
arms of the cross. In the center is a blue medallion on which is portrayed a white Polar Star with the
legend NESCIT OCCASUM ("It never sets"). The badge is surmounted by a gold royal crown and is
attached to a blue silk ribbon with gold edges. In addition to the badge of the Order, the recipient obtains
a diploma of the Order signed by the Grand Master and carrying the seal of the Royal Order. Instituted:
June 23rd, 1748 by King Frederik I. Awarded to: Swedes and foreigners for civilian services, including
scientific, literary and beneficial works. Since 1975, the order is only awarded to foreign nationals in
recognition of personal services to Sweden or for the promotion of Swedish interests. The Order is no
longer awarded to Swedish citizens. Grades: 4 (Commander Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class, Commander,
Knight). Ribbon: Black (older versions) or in national colors with blue and yellow edge stripes (newer versions)
. Grand Master: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden.
The Order of Vassa
Instituted: May 29th, 1772 by King Gustav III. Awarded to: Swedes and foreigners for meritorious
services in agriculture, mining, trade, crafts, industry, education and public service. Since 1975,
the Order is no longer awarded. Grades: 5 (Commander Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class,
Commander, Knight 1st Class and Knight), plus the Royal Badge of Vasa and the Royal Medal
of Vasa. Ribbon: Green. Grand Master: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden.
The Royal Order of Carl XIII
Instituted: May 27th, 1811 by King Carl XIII. Awarded to: Freemasons of the highest Class (XI).
Members of the Royal Court and limited to 7 foreign chapters (most recently awarded to the
Duke of Kent, the Grand Master) limited to 27 and 3 spiritual awards. The Order is still awarded
since it was exempted from the revision of Swedish Royal Orders in 1975 based on that it is not
a national Order. Grades: 1 Knight (RCXIII:sO) Ribbon: Red. Grand Master: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav,
King of Sweden.
The Order of the Hospital of St.John of Jerusalem
(Johanniter Order) (2 Classes)
Founded : 1920.
Protecting Authority: The Crown of Sweden.
Ribbon : Black edged white.
High Patron: H.M. Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden.
__________________
____________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF TUSCANY
____________________________________________________________
The Order of St.Stephen of Tuscany
(3 Classes)Founded : Grand Duke Cosimo I de’
Medici 15 March 1561.Ribbon : Red.
Grand Master: H.I. & R.I. Prince
Sigismondo, Archduke of Austria,
Titular Grand Duke of Tuscany (b. 1966).
The Order of Saint Joseph
(3 Classes)
The Order of the White Star
( Ordine della Stella blanca ).
The Order of Military Merit
( Ordine del Merito militare ).
The Order of Civil Merit
( Ordine del Merito civile ).
_________________
_______________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF THE TWO SICILIES
_______________________________________________________________
The Order of St.Januarius
(1 Class)Founded : Carlo VII,
King of Naples and Sicily
(Carlo IV) 6 July 1738. Ribbon : Red.
Grand Master: in dispute.
The Order of St.Ferdinand and of Merit
(3 Classes)
The Constantinian Order of St.George
Founded : confirmation of transfer to
Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma, Piacenza
and Castro 24 October 1699 by Bull Sincerae
Fidei of Pope Innocent XII. Ribbon : Light blue.
Grand Master: in dispute.
The Order of Francis I
( Ordine di Francesco I ).
The Order of the Two Sicilies
( Ordine di Due Sicilie ).
Established by Jerome Bonaparte in 1808.
___________________
________________________________________________________
THE ORDERS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALDECK
________________________________________________________
The Order of Civil Merit
(3 Classes)Founded : Prince Georg Victor 3 July 1857.
Ribbon : Yellow with red and blue side stripes.
Grand Master: H.S.H. Prince Wittekind,
Titular Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 1936).
The Order of Military Merit
( Militär-Verdienst-Orden ).
Established by Prince George Victor 14.1.1854.
___________________
__________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF WESTPHALIA
__________________________________________________________
The Order of the Crown of Westphalia
(German: Orden der Westfälischen Krone) was instituted in Paris on the 25th of December,
1809 by King Hieronymus I of Westphalen, The motto of the Order was "CHARACTER UND
AUFRICHTIGKEIT" (English: Character and honesty). At the back stood the words "ERRICHTET
DEN XXV DEZEMBER MDCCCIX". The Present Grand Master of the Order and Titular King of
Westphalia in the Holy Roman Empire is HRH Prince Keith Patrick von und zu Westfal, Prince Elector
and Duke of Westphalia, Prince of Fulda, Margrave of Auvergne, Margrave of Kassel, Count of Diez,
Katzenelnbogen, Nidda, and Steinhorst, Baron of Cherso, Dromcummer and Steinhorst.
_____________________
______________________________________________________________
THE ROYAL ORDERS OF THE KINGDOM OF WURTTEMBERG
______________________________________________________________
The Order of the Crown
(5 classes)Founded : King Wilhelm I 23 September
1818 and modified by King Carl I 22 December 1864.
Ribbon : Crimson with broad black side stripes.
Grand Master: H.R.H. Carl, Duke of Württemberg
(Carl II, Titular King of Württemberg) (b. 1936).
The Order of Frederick
(5 Classes)Founded : King Carl I
27 June 1871. Ribbon : Black with broad dark
red side stripes. Grand Master: H.R.H. Carl,
Duke of Württemberg (Carl II, Titular King of Württemberg) (b. 1936).
The Order of Military Merit
( Militär-Verdienst-Orden ).
Established by Duke Charles Eugene 11.2.1759.
The Order of Olga
( Olgen Orden ) .
Established by King Charles I
27.6.1871. [For women]
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_________________________________
THE KINGDOM OF HUNGARY
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