Order of Michael the Brave Ordinul Mihai Viteazul | |
---|---|
Type | Military Award |
Presented by | The King of Romania (1916 – 1947) The President of Romania (since 2000) |
Eligibility | Military personnel on active service |
Status | Awarded only in time of war |
Established | 1916, re-instituted 2000 |
First awarded | 1916 |
Last awarded | 1944 and disbanded in 1947 |
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.
During the Second World War, while Romania was allied with Germany, the Order was awarded to several military members of other Axis Powers, many in the Wehrmacht :
Michael the Brave, born as Mihai Pătrașcu, was the Prince of Wallachia, Prince of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599–1600). 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.
Oglinda, also known as Începutul adevărului, is a controversial 1993 film by Romanian director Sergiu Nicolaescu. It depicts Romania during World War II, focusing on the Royal Coup of 23 August 1944 that toppled Ion Antonescu, the Axis-allied Conducător and authoritarian Prime Minister.
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.
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil Order and second highest State decoration after the Order of Michael the Brave. It is the oldest Order of Romania. It is awarded by the President of Romania, and has six grades, from lowest to the highest: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, Grand Cross, and Grand Cross with Collar.
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 was a Romanian general during World War II who commanded the Romanian Fourth Army at the Battle of Stalingrad.
Eremia Teofil Grigorescu was a Romanian general who served as the commander of the 1st Romanian Army during the First World War. He also served as Minister of War in the Constantin Coandă cabinet.
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 in 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 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 was a Romanian general during World War I, best known for his leading role in the 1918 Romanian military intervention in Bessarabia.
The Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade is a primarily ceremonial, as well as combat unit of the Romanian Armed Forces established in 1990. The Brigade also has a military music band, a drill team detachment, and an artillery battery. The military police unit of the Brigade guards certain special objectives of Bucharest. The Brigade traces its origins to the 1st Tirailleur Battalion, later Vânători Battalion, which was established in 1860.
Constantin Iancovescu (1862–1945) was a Romanian politician and 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 was a Romanian brigadier general during World War I, who was killed in action at the start of the Battle of the Southern Carpathians.
Mihai Viteazul National College is a high school located at 62 Pache Protopopescu Boulevard, Bucharest, Romania. One of the most prestigious secondary education institutions in Romania, it was named after the Romanian ruler Michael the Brave.
The vânători were a light infantry unit of the Romanian Army established on 1 July 1860. Compared to the regular infantry units, the vânători specialized in close combat and high-precision firing on enemy positions, ambush actions, and had greater mobility on the field. In addition, the vânători units also carried out protocol missions and guarded the royal and princely residences in Bucharest, Cotroceni, and Peleș, as well as the headquarters of the Ministry of War.