Order of the Crown of Romania Ordinul Coroana României | |
---|---|
Awarded by the King of Romania | |
Type | Dynastic order |
Royal house | House of Romania |
Religious affiliation | Romanian Orthodox |
Ribbon | Light blue with silver stripes |
Motto | PRIN NOI INSINE (By ourselves) |
Awarded for | Conspicuous and special merit |
Status | Discontinued in 1947; revived in 2011 |
Grades | Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight [1] |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of Carol I |
Next (lower) | Royal Decoration of the Custodian of the Romanian Crown |
The two ribbon bars of the order. Top: 1881-1932, 2011-present. Bottom: 1932-1947. |
The Order of the Crown of Romania is a chivalric order set up on 14 March 1881 [2] by King Carol I of Romania to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania. [3] It was awarded as a state order until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. [4] It was revived on 30 December 2011 as a dynastic order. [5]
The order had five classes. For most classes, the number of recipients living at any time was limited. However, this only applied to recipients having a Romanian citizenship - awards to foreign personnel were not counted in those numbers.
At first, the number of living Romanian recipients at any time was limited to the following:
In 1932, the maximum number of living Romanian recipients at any time was increased: [6]
In February 1938, the maximum number of living Romanian recipients at any time was increased for the civilian version of the order: [7]
In 1938, a new version of the order was created specifically for military personnel. It featured a crown between the cross and the ribbon. The following maximum total numbers of living Romanian recipients at any time were ruled at the time of creation. [8] Awards in war time were not counted among the number. [6]
Grand Cross members wore the decoration on a sash from the right shoulder to left waist. Grand Officers and Commanders wore the medal around the neck, and Knights and Officers on the chest to the left side on a ribbon. For the two highest classes of the order, an eight-pointed silver star was additionally worn on the chest to the left: The Grand Cross star featured a depiction of an entire maltese cross, while the Grand Officer star only featured the centerpiece of the order, surrounded by four crowns after the 1932 redesign.
The orders were awarded in cases of issue featuring the ruling king's monogram on the top lid. In the first years, various colours of cases can be found. At least since the rule of Ferdinand I., the cases of the Order of the Crown were uniformly coloured blue. Starting in the late 1920s, the type and class of the respective order were additionally written outside on the top lid of the case of issue, directly underneath the king's monogram.
The model of 1881 features a red-enamelled, eight-pointed Maltese Cross with wider margin of gold and white. In the angles of the cross were "C"s, the initials of the founder. The medallion in the middle of the cross shows the Romanian royal crown on a dark red background. The medallion is surrounded by a white-frost edge surrounded the inscription PRIN NOI INSINE (by ourselves) and the order's foundation date of 14 March 1881. On the back of the medallion, there is the writing "10. Maiu" (May 10), the National Day. It is surrounded by the years 1866 (enthronement of Carol and the foundation of the Romanian dynasty), 1877 (proclamation of Romanian fully independence), 1881 (proclamation of the Kingdom and of Carol as King of Romania).
The ribbon and grand cross sash are light blue with two silver stripes on each side. [1]
From December 12, 1916, the order was also awarded in a version for merit in war time featuring two crossed swords. It could also be awarded on a special ribbon "for military bravery". [6] That ribbon was red with blue stripes.
Type 1 awards were mostly supplied to the Romanian Government by Bucarest-based jeweller Joseph Resch, whose logo appears in the cases of issue. Resch distributed orders made by numerous companies outside of Romania. In Austria, many Orders of the Crown were produced by jeweller Rozet & Fischmeister, and there are numerous versions likely manufactured in France. There were many distinct variations between manufacturers over the years that are differentiated by collectors.
In 1932, the order was redesigned in all classes. In the center, the crown was replaced by the initial of Carol I., while between the cross arms, there were now four crowns. The size of higher classes was slightly decreased, and the ribbons were given a redesign: They were now blue with one grey bar in the middle, instead of the previous version with two bars at the sides. Some very rare, early Type 2 medals (likely produced in 1932) were made by adding a new inner medalion and the four crowns to Type 1 medals. They are recognizable by being larger Type 1 sizes.
From February 1937, it was decided that - in case of war - the order could be awarded in a version with crossed swords for war time merits. [6] In 1938, a version for members of the military was created, featuring an additional crown between the cross and the ribbon. [6]
From December 1938, it was decided that in war time, the order would be awarded with crossed swords and a ribbon featuring two additional golden bars on both sides. From June 1941, the order could also be awarded on a "ribbon for military bravery" in all grades. [6] That ribbon was red with two blue stripes on the sides.
Most type 2 medals prior to approx. 1941 were supplied by Joseph Resch or Bijouteria Weiss in Bucarest, each labeling the respective cases of issue on the inner lid with their logo. Resch apparently distributed medals produced by C. F. Zimmermann in Pforzheim, while Weiss distributed ones made by Souval in Vienna. Most later, WW2 era cases feature the supplier "Monetaria Nationala" (National Mint) in the inner lid, and contained medals manufactured by C. F. Zimmermann in Pforzheim.
The National Order of the Legion of Honour, formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour, is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been retained by all later French governments and regimes.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I is an order of knighthood established by Kamehameha V in 1865, to promote and defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. Established by the 1864 Constitution, the Order of Kamehameha I is the second order of its kind in Hawaii.
The Order of Leopold is one of the three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. It is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civil division. The maritime division is only awarded to personnel of the merchant navy, and the military division to military personnel. The decoration was established on 11 July 1832 and is awarded by Royal decree.
The Order of the Crown is a national order of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors.
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands.
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.
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.
Authorized foreign decorations of the United States military are those military decorations which have been approved for wear by members of the United States armed forces but whose awarding authority is the government of a country other than the United States.
The Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau is an order of merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for meritorious service to the Grand Duke, the Grand-Ducal House and Luxembourg. It was founded in 1858 as a chivalric order of the Duchy of Nassau by Adolphe of Nassau in honor of his namesake and ancestor, Adolf, Count of Nassau, the only member of the House of Nassau to have been Roman King of Germany. After the Duchy of Nassau was annexed by Prussia in 1866 and Adolphe became Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1890, he revived the order as an order of merit.
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.
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".
The Royal Order of Kapiʻolani was instituted on August 30, 1880 by King Kalākaua to recognize services in the cause of humanity, for merit in Science and the Arts, or for special services rendered to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He named the Order in honor of his ancestor High Chiefess Kapiʻolani the Great, an early exponent of Christianity in the Hawaiian Islands. It also honored his wife Queen Kapiʻolani, the namesake of the first Kapiʻolani. This Order was awarded 177 times in all grades during Kalākaua's reign, and three more times by his successor, Queen Liliʻuokalani. The last award of the Order took place on 2 June 1892; in 1893 the Order became abeyant.
The Royal Order of Kalākaua I was instituted on 28 September 1874 by King Kalākaua I to commemorate his accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi on 12 February 1874.
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 Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890. The Military Merit Medal is often referred to as the "Signum Laudis" after the inscription on the reverse of the medal.
The Military Merit Order (Militärverdienstorden) was a military order of the Kingdom of Württemberg, which joined the German Empire in 1871. The order was one of the older military orders of the states of the German Empire. It was founded on 11 February 1759 by Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg as the Militär-Carls-Orden, and was renamed the Militärverdienstorden on 11 November 1806 by King Friedrich I. The order underwent several more revisions over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It became obsolete with the fall of the Württemberg monarchy in the wake of Germany's defeat in World War I.
The Royal Order of Cambodia was a colonial order of chivalry of French Cambodia, and is still in use as an order of chivalry in the present-day Kingdom of Cambodia.
The House Order of Henry the Lion In German: Hausorden Heinrichs des Löwen, was the House Order of the Duchy of Brunswick. It was instituted by William VIII, Duke of Brunswick on 25 April 1834. The ribbon of the Order was red with yellow edges. It had five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Commander with Sash, Commander, Knight 1st Class, Knight 2nd Class, plus Medal of Merit for Science and Arts, the Cross of Merit and the Medal of Honour. The Order was named in honour of Henry the Lion, who remains a popular figure to this day.
The Order of Aeronautical Virtue is a Romanian military decoration created by King Carol II on 31 July 1930. Originally, the Order had three ranks: Knight, Officer and Commander, as well as a "Golden Cross" rank as the lowest one. The first two ranks could be awarded three times consecutively, with a metal bar attached to the ribbon for each new decoration. Today, the order maintains the "classic" ranks of Knight, Officer and Commander, and Grand Officer, and can no longer be awarded consecutively.
Orden der Krone von Rumänien, von König Karl 10. (22.) Mai 1881 gestiftet, hat fünf Klassen (Großkreuze, Großoffiziere, Commandeure, Offiziere und Ritter). Das Ordenszeichen besteht in einem rot emaillierten, weiß geränderten Kreuze, auf dessen rotem Mittelschilde die rumän. silberne Krone und die Inschrift "Prin noi insine"(«Durch uns selbst"), unten das Datum der Proklamation des Königtums (14 Martie 1881), der Revers zeigt das Datum 10. Maiu und auf dem Reif 1866, 1877, 1881. Das Ordensband ist blau mit silbernen Rändern. Die Großkreuze tragen dazu einen silbernen Stern von acht Strahlen, die Großoffiziere einen solchen von kleinerer Form.
The proclamation of the Kingdom of Romania in 1881 was marked by the establishment of the second national order, the Crown of Romania.
in recognition of the sculptor's artistic achievements King Charles I of Roumania conferred upon him the order of the Crown with the title of chevalier which is the highest distinction for the artist
Ordinul Corona Romaneii Commander, Rank: Oberst, Unit: Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 230, Awarded on: June 22nd, 1942
Awarded on: 1942
Media related to Order of the Crown (Romania) at Wikimedia Commons