Order of Michael the Brave

Last updated
Order of Michael the Brave
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul
Keerzijde van een modern kruis van de Orde van Michael de Dapppere.jpg
TypeMilitary Award
Presented byThe King of Romania
(1916 1947)
The President of Romania
(since 2000)
EligibilityMilitary personnel on active service
StatusAwarded only in time of war
Established1916, re-instituted 2000
First awarded1916
Last awarded1944 and disbanded in 1947
Order of Michael the Brave ribbon.svg
Ribbon of the Order of Michael the Brave
Precedence
Next (higher)None (Highest)
Next (lower) Order of the Star of Romania

The Order of Michael the Brave (Romanian : Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second World War. The Order, which may be bestowed either on an individual or on a whole unit, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), the late 16th-century Prince of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia.

Contents

Data

Requirements: Awarded to officers only for exceptional deeds on the battlefield. It is the highest ranking Romanian military order.
Classes: 3rd, 2nd and 1st
Date Instituted: September 26, 1916
Number awarded: 2184
During WW1:
1st class: 16
2nd class: 12
3rd class: 336 (of which 43 awarded to military units)
During WW2:
1st class: 15
2nd class: 76 (of which 13 awarded to military units)
3rd class: 1628 (of which 118 awarded to military units)
A 1941 war flag of the Knights of the Military Order "Mihai Viteazu" (Romania) War flag of the Knights of the Military Order Mihai Viteazu (Romania) 1.jpg
A 1941 war flag of the Knights of the Military Order "Mihai Viteazu" (Romania)

Recipients

Obverse of the modern (2000) third class order Modern kruis Orde van Michael de Dappere Roemenie.jpg
Obverse of the modern (2000) third class order

During the Second World War, at a time when Romania was allied with Germany, the Order was awarded to several members of the military forces of other Axis Powers, many in the Wehrmacht :

See also

Related Research Articles

Nicolae Rădescu

Nicolae Rădescu was a Romanian army officer and political figure. He was the last pre-communist rule Prime Minister of Romania, serving from 7 December 1944 to 1 March 1945.

Sergiu Nicolaescu Romanian film director, actor and politician (1930–2013)

Sergiu Florin Nicolaescu was a Romanian film director, actor and politician.

Michael the Brave 16th-century ruler of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania

Michael the Brave was the Prince of Wallachia, Prince of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania. He is considered one of Romania's greatest national heroes. Since the 19th century, Michael the Brave has been regarded by Romanian nationalists as a symbol of Romanian unity, as his reign marked the first time all principalities inhabited by Romanians were under the same ruler.

<i>Michael the Brave</i> (film) 1971 film

Michael the Brave is a Romanian historic epic film, directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu and starring Amza Pellea in the leading role. The film is a representation of the life of Wallachia's ruler Michael The Brave, and his will to unite the three Romanian principalities into one country. The film was released in 1970 in Romania, and worldwide by Columbia Pictures as The Last Crusade.

House Order of Hohenzollern

The House Order of Hohenzollern was a dynastic order of knighthood of the House of Hohenzollern awarded to military commissioned officers and civilians of comparable status. Associated with the various versions of the order were crosses and medals which could be awarded to lower-ranking soldiers and civilians.

Orders, decorations, and medals of Romania

The National Decorations System of Romania is divided into six categories, listed below. It was re-established in 1998 after a 50-year period in which Romania used a Soviet-style system of decorations. It is very similar to the system used in Romania during the interwar period.

Constantin Constantinescu-Claps Romanian general

Constantin Constantinescu-Claps was a Romanian general during World War II, in command of the Romanian Fourth Army at the Battle of Stalingrad.

Eremia Grigorescu Romanian general and politician

Eremia Teofil Grigorescu was a Romanian artillery general during World War I, and Minister of War in the Constantin Coandă cabinet.

Corneliu Dragalina Romanian general

Corneliu Dragalina was a Romanian lieutenant general during World War II.

Radu Korne was a Romanian Brigadier General during World War II.

Radu Băldescu was a Romanian major general during World War II.

Corneliu Calotescu was a Romanian major-general during World War II.

The Axis order of battle at Stalingrad is a list of the significant land units that fought in the Battle of Stalingrad on the side of the Axis Powers between September 1942 and February 1943.

Traian Moșoiu

Traian Moșoiu was a Romanian general during World War I and the Hungarian–Romanian War. He held the posts of Minister of War in the Alexandru Vaida-Voevod cabinet, Minister of Communications and of Industry and Commerce in the Ion I. C. Brătianu cabinet.

Ernest Broșteanu Romanian general

Ernest Broșteanu was a Romanian general during World War I, best known for his leading role in the 1918 Romanian military intervention in Bessarabia.

Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade Romanian infantry unit

The Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade is a primarily ceremonial, as well as combat unit of the Romanian Land Forces.

Cleante Davidoglu Romanian general

Cleante Davidoglu (1871–1947) was a Romanian major general during World War I and its immediate aftermath, who served as commander of the Gendarmerie from 1927 to 1928.

David Praporgescu

David Praporgescu was a Romanian brigadier general during World War I, who was killed in action at the start of the Battle of the Southern Carpathians.

Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul Romanian politician

Gheorghe Cantacuzino-Grănicerul was a Romanian landowner, general and right-leaning politician who was a member of the Iron Guard, and a member of the Legionary Senate.

Paraschiv Vasilescu

Paraschiv Vasilescu was one of the generals of the Romanian Land Forces in the First World War. Between March 3, 1904 and April 1, 1905, Major Vasilescu was the commander of the Border Guard Corps. He served as a division commander in the 1916, 1917, and 1918 campaigns.

References

  1. "WorldWar2.ro - Second battle of Oituz (August 1917)".