Order of Vasa

Last updated
Royal Order of Vasa
Kungliga Vasaorden
Order of the Vasa Knight 1st Class Cross 001.jpg
Knight 1st Class Cross of the Swedish Order of Vasa (1945)
Awarded by the monarch of Sweden
TypeFive grade order of merit
Established1772
Royal house Bernadotte
EligibilitySwedish and foreign citizens
Awarded forServices to agriculture, mining, art, trade, industry, crafts and education.
StatusActive (since 1 February 2023)
Sovereign King Carl XVI Gustaf
Chancellor Svante Lindqvist [1]
GradesCommander Grand Cross (KmstkVO)
Commander 1st Class (KVO1kl)
Commander (KVO)
Knight/Member 1st Class (RVO1kl)
Knight/Member (RVO)
Statistics
First induction1772
Last induction21 March 2024 [2]
Precedence
Next (higher) Royal Order of the Polar Star
Next (lower) Order of Charles XIII
Royal Order of Vasa - Knight.png
Ribbon bar of the order

The Royal Order of Vasa (Kungliga Vasaorden) is a Swedish order of chivalry founded on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It is awarded to Swedish citizens for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It is the most junior Swedish honour.

Contents

History

The order was founded on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. Its name is derived from the House of Vasa. Membership was unrestricted by birth or education, as opposed to the other orders which were reserved for nobility, military personnel or the learned professions. During the union between Sweden and Norway, the Order of Vasa was often awarded to Norwegians until the Order of Saint Olav was founded in 1847.

Following significant reforms to the Swedish honours system in 1974, the Order of Vasa and the Order of the Sword were considered dormant and membership in the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star were restricted to foreigners and, after 1995, the royal family.

In 2019, a parliamentary committee was instructed to establish guidelines on how to re-introduce the Swedish orders, including the Order of Vasa, into the Swedish honours system and how Swedish citizens again can be appointed to Swedish orders. [3] The committee presented its findings in September 2021 and the Government has declared that a bill on the subject will be presented to the Riksdag on 19 April 2022. Following the passage of the bill by a large majority on 19 June 2022, on 20 December 2022, the Swedish Government published a new regulation that repealed the 1974 regulation, and once again opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens again and reactivated the Order of the Sword and the Order of Vasa, which came in effect from 1 February 2023. [4] [5] [6]

On 21 March 2024, the order was awarded for first time since 1974 to among others, the members of ABBA. [7]

The Swedish royal barge Vasaorden takes its name from the order.

Grades

The Order had five classes:

Before 2023, clergymen and women were not called Knight, but instead made a Ledamot av andliga ståndet ("Member of the Cloth") for priests or a Ledamot ("Member") for Women. However, since 2023, the order make no difference between men and women. [8]

Additionally, the Badge of Vasa and the Vasa Medal, were both worn on a ribbon on the left chest.

Insignia and habit

Ribbon bars
Royal Order of Vasa - Commander Grand Cross.png
Commander Grand Cross
Royal Order of Vasa - Commander 1st Class.png
Commander 1st Class
Royal Order of Vasa - Commander.png
Commander
Royal Order of Vasa - Knight 1st Class.png
Knight 1st Class
Royal Order of Vasa - Knight.png
Knight

Recipients (since 2023)

YearNameCitizenshipMain occupationGrade
21 March 2024 [9] Antonia Ax:son Johnson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Director Commander Grand Cross (KmstkVO)
Benny Andersson Artist Commander First Class (KVO1kl)
Agnetha Fältskog Artist Commander First Class (KVO1kl)
Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Reuss) Artist Commander First Class (KVO1kl)
Björn Ulvaeus Artist Commander First Class (KVO1kl)
Eva Rydberg Actress Commander (KVO)
Bettan Byvald Socionom Knight First Class (RVO1kl)
Thomas Sjöström Business Area ManagerKnight (RVO)

Images

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Falcon</span> Icelandic order of chivalry

The Order of the Falcon is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowadays, appointments are made on the nomination of the President of Iceland and that of a "five-member council."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Dannebrog</span> Danish order of chivalry

The Order of the Dannebrog is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as White Knights to distinguish them from the Blue Knights who were members of the Order of the Elephant. In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order. Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Crown (Belgium)</span> National order of the Kingdom of Belgium

The Order of the Crown is a national order of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Aviz</span> Portuguese order of chivalry from the 12th-18th centuries

The Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz, previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz, previously to 1789 Knightsof Saint Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese order of chivalry, founded in Portugal in 1146. It gave its name and coat of arms to the Aviz Dynasty that ruled Portugal between 1385 and 1580.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Italy</span> Italian order of knighthood

The Military Order of Italy is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815. The order is awarded in five degrees for distinguished wartime conduct of units of the armed forces or individual personnel that has "proven expertise, a sense of responsibility and valour."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Christ</span> Former order of the Kingdom of Portugal

The Military Order of Christ is the former order of Knights Templar as it was reconstituted in Portugal. Before 1910, it was known as the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1319, with the protection of King Denis of Portugal, after the Templars were abolished on 22 March 1312 by the papal bull, Vox in excelso, issued by Pope Clement V. King Denis refused to pursue and persecute the former knights as had occurred in most of the other sovereign states under the political influence of the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Phoenix (Greece)</span> Order of chivalry in Greece

The Order of the Phoenix is an order of Greece, established on 13 May 1926, by the republican government of the Second Hellenic Republic to replace the defunct Royal Order of George I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Sword</span> Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration

The Royal Order of the Sword is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star. The motto of the order is in Latin: Pro Patria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of St. Olav</span> Norwegian chivalric order

The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Seraphim</span> Swedish Order of Chivalry

The Royal Order of the Seraphim is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Polar Star. The order has only one class with the dignity of Knight, and is the foremost order of Sweden.

Order of Beneficience is the name given to two different orders in Greece. One of them is conferred by the Greek royal family, and the other is conferred by the Greek government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of the Tower and Sword</span> State order of Portugal

The Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit, before 1910 Royal Military Order of the Tower and Sword, is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459. The order may be bestowed on people or on Portuguese municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of George I</span> Greek order of merit

The Royal Order of George I is a Greek order instituted by King Constantine I in 1915. Since the monarchy's abolition in 1973, it has been considered a dynastic order of the former Greek royal family.

The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system. The order is awarded for meritorious service to the sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwill. It can be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners, and is seen as diplomatic gift of merit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of the Polar Star</span> Swedish order of chivalry

The Royal Order of the Polar Star, sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of the Polar Star is intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign "civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Merit (Chile)</span> Chilean national civil order

The Order of Merit is a Chilean order and was created in 1929. Succeeding the Medal of the Merit, which was created during the term of the President Germán Riesco through the Minister of War decree No. 1350 on 4 September 1906. This new national distinction was created to recognize the meritorious service provided by foreign military personnel to Chilean officials. The order is only awarded to foreigners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonia Ax:son Johnson</span> Swedish businesswoman, billionaire (born 1943)

Antonia Margaret Ax:son Johnson is the fourth-generation head of the family company Axel Johnson AB, founded by her great-grandfather in 1873. In 1982 she succeeded her father as chairman of the board for Axel Johnson AB, Sweden, and Axel Johnson Inc., Stamford, U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orders, decorations, and medals of Sweden</span>

The Orders, decorations, and medals of Sweden have a historical basis, reaching back to the 1561 founding of the extinct Order of the Savior. The Royal Order of Knights of Sweden were only truly codified in the 18th century, with their formal foundation in 1748 by Frederick I of Sweden. Significant reforms in 1974 changed the conditions and criteria under which many orders and decorations could be awarded.

References

  1. https://www.kungahuset.se/monarkinhovstaterna/ordnarochmedaljer/aktuellt/aktuelltkmo/personalforandringarvidkunglmajtsorden.5.70c48ec167c5b6b0c114a6a.html | publisher=Kungahuset (Official page of the Royal Court of Sweden | access-date = 2022-01-29
  2. "Ordnar till tretton exceptionella svenskar". Kungl. Maj:ts Orden (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  3. "Dir. 2019:76 Kommittédirektiv Det offentliga belöningssystemet, de allmänna flaggdagarna och utformningen av anslaget till hovet" (PDF) (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. "Ett offentligt belöningssystem för Sveriges främsta utmärkelser" (Media Release) (in Swedish). Justitiedepartementet, Regeringskansliet. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  5. "Förordning om Sveriges främsta utmärkelser" (PDF). Svensk författningssamling (SFS 2022:1800) (in Swedish). Regeringskansliet. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. Sunnqvist, Martin (30 January 2023). "Det är nytt med vårt nya ordenssystem" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  7. "Ordnar till tretton exceptionella svenskar". Kungl. Maj:ts Orden (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  8. "STATUTES FOR THE ROYAL SWEDISH ORDERS (adopted on 15 February 2023)" (PDF) (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  9. "Ordnar till tretton exceptionella svenskar" . Retrieved 2024-03-21. (in Swedish) Kungl. Maj:ts Orden

Further reading