Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

Last updated

  • Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
  • Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
  • Order Zaslugi RP -The Grand Cross.jpg
  • Order Zaslugi RP Order Star.jpg
The Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
TypeFive grade order
Awarded forService in improving relations between nations
CountryFlag of Poland.svg  Poland
Presented bythe President of Poland
StatusCurrently awarded
Established10 April 1974 (Revised 16 October 1992)
POL Order Zaslugi RP kl5 BAR.svg
Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of the Cross of Independence
Next (lower) Cross of Valour

The Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (Polish : Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is a Polish order of merit created in 1974, awarded to persons who have rendered great service to Poland. It is granted to foreigners or Poles resident abroad. [1] As such, it is sometimes referred to as a traditional "diplomatic order".

Contents

History

Sir Edmund Hillary wearing the Commander's Cross in 2004 Edmund Hillary by Kubik 2004.jpg
Sir Edmund Hillary wearing the Commander's Cross in 2004

The order was established by an act of 10 April 1974, as the Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic (Order Zasługi Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej). [2] The need for the new order had arisen since the Order of the White Eagle had fallen into disuse after the foundation of the People's Republic. Reflecting this history, the two orders utilized similar colors and designs. [3] The Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic was awarded in five classes: Grand Cordon of the Order, Commandery with Star, Commandery, Gold Badge of the Order, and Silver Badge of the Order. It was awarded by the Polish Council of State.

The People's Republic of Poland version of the order (5th class) Order-zaslugi-PRL Polska.jpg
The People's Republic of Poland version of the order (5th class)

After the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, it was decided to retain the order, with necessary changes. Without a formal change of the 1974 act or the name of the order, the insignia were changed to the present ones by a presidential decree of 16 April 1991. The abbreviation "PRL" was changed to "RP," the Eagle was given a crown in accordance with Poland's original coat of arms, the date "1974" was removed from the reverse, and the color of the ribbon was changed from light cobalt blue to dark cobalt.

Under an act of 16 October 1992, the order was reestablished under the name Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej). [1]

Under the 1992 act, the order is awarded to foreigners or Poles resident abroad for distinguished contributions to international cooperation or cooperation between Poland and other countries. [1] It is awarded by the President of Poland. Unlike the other national orders of Poland, it does not have a chapter. [4] [1]

Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, the highest award of the class, have included Queen Elizabeth II, Henry Kissinger, and Edward Mosberg. [5] [ citation needed ] [6]

Degrees

From 1974 to 1991 the Order was awarded in the following classes:

Since 1992 the Order is awarded in the following classes: [1] [a]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In 1991–1992 period the names of the classes were: [7]
    • 1st class – Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
    • 2nd class – Commandery with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
    • 3rd class – Commandery of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
    • 4th class – Gold Badge of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
    • 5th class – Silver Badge of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Józef Cyrankiewicz</span> Polish politician (1911–1989)

Józef Adam Zygmunt Cyrankiewicz was a Polish Socialist (PPS) and after 1948 Communist politician. He served as premier of the Polish People's Republic between 1947 and 1952, and again for 16 years between 1954 and 1970. He also served as Chairman of the Polish Council of State from 1970 to 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piotr Jaroszewicz</span> Prime Minister of Poland from 1970 to 1980

Gen. Piotr Jaroszewicz was a post-World War II Polish political figure. He served as the Prime Minister of Poland between 1970 and 1980. After he was forced out of office, he lived quietly in a suburb of Warsaw until his murder in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Polonia Restituta</span> Polish state order for extraordinary and distinguished service

The Order of Polonia Restituta is a Polish state order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on foreigners for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, national defense, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries. It is Poland's second-highest civilian state award in the order of precedence, behind the Order of the White Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)</span> Constitutional court of Poland

The Constitutional Tribunal is the constitutional court of the Republic of Poland, a judicial body established to resolve disputes on the constitutionality of the activities of state institutions; its main task is to supervise the compliance of statutory law with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross of Merit (Poland)</span> Polish civil state decoration

The Cross of Merit is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923, to recognize services to the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacek Majchrowski</span> Polish politician

Jacek Maria Majchrowski is a Polish politician, lawyer, historian, and professor at the Jagiellonian University, who served as the Mayor of Kraków between 2002 and 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerzy Ziętek</span> Polish politician and general (1901–1985)

Jerzy Jan Antoni Ziętek was a Polish politician and general. A Silesian Insurrectionist in his youth, during the Second World War he joined the Polish armed forces in the USSR and later became an important politician representing Silesia in the People's Republic of Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wacław Lipiński</span> Polish lieutenant colonel, resistance member, and historian (1896–1949)

Wacław Lipiński (1896–1949) was a Polish historian, military officer and resistance fighter, lieutenant colonel in the Polish Army of the Second Polish Republic, recipient of Polish highest military decoration, the Order of Virtuti Militari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Włodzimierz Sokorski</span> Polish politician and writer

Włodzimierz Sokorski was a Polish communist official, writer, military journalist and a brigadier general in the People's Republic of Poland. He was the Minister of Culture and Art responsible for the implementation of the socialist realist doctrine in Poland. During World War II he escaped to the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture</span> Polish decoration for achievement in the arts

The Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture or Gloria Artis Medal, is a departmental decoration of Poland in arts awarded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland to persons and organizations for distinguished contributions to, or protection of the Polish culture and national heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mieczysław Gocuł</span> Polish general and former Chief of General Staff of the Polish army

Mieczysław Gocuł is a Polish General who served as Chief of General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces from May, 7 2013 until January, 31, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrzej Duda</span> President of Poland since 2015

Andrzej Sebastian Duda is a Polish lawyer and politician who has been the sixth and current president of Poland since 2015. Before becoming president, he served as Member of the Sejm (MP) from 2011 to 2014 and as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2014 to 2015.

Departmental decorations of Poland are decorations issued by Polish ministers and heads of some other state establishments. They do not have the status of Polish state decorations, which are usually issued by the head of the state.

Events during the year 1992 in Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krzysztof Krajewski</span> Polish diplomat

Krzysztof Adam Krajewski is a Polish diplomat; ambassador to Azerbaijan (2005–2010), Bulgaria (2014–2018), and Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian Turski</span> Polish historian and journalist (born 1926)

Marian Turski is a Polish historian, journalist and Holocaust survivor who served as the editor-in-chief of Sztandar Młodych, a nationwide daily newspaper of the Union of Polish Youth in 1956–1957 and from 1958 onwards, a columnist for the moderately critical weekly Polityka as the head of the weekly's historical department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mirosław Jasiński</span> Polish diplomat

Mirosław Stanisław Jasiński is a Polish film director, screenwriter, official, and diplomat, who between 2021 and 2022 served as the Polish ambassador to the Czech Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajmund Andrzejczak</span> Polish general

Rajmund Tomasz Andrzejczak is a Polish general, serving as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces from 2018–2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mieczysław Cieniuch</span> Polish general

Mieczysław Cieniuch is a Polish general, who served as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces from 7 May 2010 till 6 May 2013. Former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Turkey.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Order Zasługi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej". Prezydent.pl (in Polish). 20 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Repetski, Ilja. "Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic". World Awards. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Sainty, Guy Stair; Heydel-Mankoo, Rafal, eds. (2006). World Orders of Knighthood and Merit. Vol. 2. Wilmington: Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 1481. ISBN   978-0-9711966-7-4.
  4. ↑ "Kapituły orderów". Prezydent.pl (in Polish). 20 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of September 14, 2022 on the commemoration of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"
  6. ↑ "Kissinger receives Poland's top decoration". AP NEWS.
  7. ↑ Polish Law of 16 April 1991 (Dz.U. 1991 nr 43 poz. 190) (in Polish).

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.