Order of the Seal of Solomon

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Order of the Seal of Solomon
Kraschan for hogsta graden av Salomoorden, Etiopien (Abessinien) - Livrustkammaren - 18583.tif
Breast star of the Grand Cordon grade.
Type House Order
Country Ethiopian Empire
Royal house House of Solomon
Religious affiliation Ethiopian Orthodox
Sovereign Emperor of Ethiopia
Grand Master President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia
GradesGrand Cordon
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Chevalier (Knight)
Former gradesCollar
Precedence
Next (higher) Imperial Order of Solomon
Next (lower) Imperial Order of the Queen of Sheba
ETH Order of Solomon BAR.png
Ribbon of the order

The Order of the Seal of Solomon is an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire, founded by Emperor Yohannes IV in 1874 as the highest imperial honour, containing five grades. In 1930, an even higher Order was established, i.e. the Order of Solomon, which was a split off from the Order of the Seal of Solomon. The Order was conferred on members of imperial house and upon persons who had rendered meritorious services.

Contents

After the deposition of Haile Selassie and dissolution of the Ethiopian Empire, the order continued as a house order to be awarded by the House of Solomon. Today, its current Grand Master is the President of the Crown Council, Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie, the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

The Solomonic dynasty, the ancient Imperial House of Ethiopia, claims descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, said to have given birth to King Menelik I after her visit to Solomon in Jerusalem. [1]

Grades

The Order has five grades. The superior class "Collar" was introduced in the Order by Empress Zauditu in 1922, but with the amendment in 1930, this grade was separated as independent order by Emperor Haile Selassie (i.e., as the Order of Solomon, with a single class of "Collar").

Description

The badge of the order is a gold Star of David with a cross bottony in the center enameled green with a central gold Latin cross. The badge was suspended by the Ethiopian crown in gold. The plaque bears the badge of the order on a gold star with rays. The ribbon is solid green. Lower grades of the order had the central cross botton enameled.

References

Sash with badge of the Order. Ordenstecken, hogsta graden av Salomos insegelsorden, Etiopien (Abessinien) - Livrustkammaren - 78516.tif
Sash with badge of the Order.