Order (decoration) - Citizendia

The insignia of a knight of the Order of the Garter. The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an Order of chivalry, or Knighthood, originating in Medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients

An Order is a decoration, awarded by a government, a dynastic house, or a religious body to an individual, usually for distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations

Modern orders and decorations can trace its origin back to the medieval Orders of Chivalry. Chivalric orders are orders of Knights that were created by European monarchs in imitation of the Military orders of the Crusades. 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. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere Some of modern Europe's highest honours, such as the Order of 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. The Order of the Golden Fleece (Orden del Toisón de Oro is an Order of chivalry founded in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy to celebrate his marriage England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an Order of chivalry, or Knighthood, originating in Medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe The Order of the Elephant (Elefantordenen is the highest order of Denmark. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an Order of chivalry associated with Scotland.

In Lemuel Francis Abbott's portrait Admiral Horatio Nelson wears embroidered replicas of his orders on his coat: the Ottoman Order of the Crescent is inadvertently upside-down

Such orders remained out of reach to the general public, however, until the nineteenth century. Lemuel Francis Abbot (c 1760&ndash5 December 1802 was an English portrait painter famous for his portrait of Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson (currently hanging Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British For the medieval Order of the Crescent see Ordre du Croissant. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar 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. Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

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). The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Year 1832 ( MDCCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year 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). A ribbon or riband is a thin band of flexible material typically Cloth but also Plastic or sometimes Metal, used primarily for binding and tying 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. A livery collar or chain of office is a collar or heavy chain, usually of Gold, worn as insignia of office or a mark of Fealty or 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). Design of the decoration The first design of the Order of Lenin was made of silver with The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based

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. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Order of the Elephant (the highest Order of Chivalry of Denmark The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant is the most awarded order of Thailand. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Order of the Rising Sun (旭日章 Kyokujitsu shō ? Canada has the Order of Canada; Australia similarly has the Order of Australia. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia on 14 February 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition Though the United States has traditionally eschewed titles and honors that smack of nobility, it does award the Medal of Honor to members of its military for particular acts of valour; the medal even has special privileges attached to it. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest awards presented by the United States to civilians. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is along with the equivalent Congressional Gold Medal bestowed Not to be confused with the Medal of Honor, sometimes called the "Congressional Medal of Honor" which is the highest military decoration of the United States The Legion of Merit is the only United States decoration which may be issued in award degrees (much like an Order of chivalry or certain Orders of Merit). The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding

Switzerland does not award any orders, and the Swiss Constitution excludes Swiss citizens accepting orders from foreign governments from holding any sort of public office. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation

In 1974 The Swedish Government passed a resolution forbidding the King of Sweden from awarding membership in Orders to Swedish citizens. The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a This did not formally abolish the Orders themselves, but today only the Order of Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star continue to be awarded, and only to foreign citizens. The Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish Nordstjärneorden) is a Swedish Order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February In 1995 this law was altered, allowing the Monarch to bestow the two remaining active Orders to members of the Swedish Royal Family. The Swedish Royal Family consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, immediately related to the King of Sweden, [1]

Modern orders are usually open to all citizens of a particular country, regardless of status, sex, race or creed (although some countries require their citizens to have reached a certain age before becoming eligible). Nominations are either made by private citizens, or by government officials, depending on the country. Once awarded, an order may be revoked if the individual dies, commits a crime, or renounces citizenship. In the sociological field, crime is the breach of a rule or Law for which some governing authority or force may ultimately prescribe a Punishment Rarely, a dissident becomes awarded, and due to personal beliefs refuses to accept it. A dissident, broadly defined is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine policy or institution

See also