Order of Civil Merit

Order of Civil Merit Orden del Mérito Civil
Grand Cross set of insignia of the Order
Awarded by the Spanish Monarch
Type	Civil Order
Established	1926; 98 years ago (1926)
Royal house	House of Bourbon-Spain
Awarded for	Service to the State, the Provinces and Municipalities
Status	Currently Constituted
Grand Master	King Felipe VI
Grand Chancellor	José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Chancellor	Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
Grades	Collar Grand-Cross Commander of Number Commander Officer Cross Cross Silver Cross
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Isabella the Catholic
Next (lower)	Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise
- The Ribbons of the Order

The Order of Civil Merit (Spanish: Orden del Mérito Civil) was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain."^[1]

History

According to Basic Norms on Protocol & Decorations^[2]

The Order of Civil Merit was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain, by Royal Decree on 25 June 1926, after the proposition of the President of the Council of Ministers, General D. Miguel Primo de Rivera (1870–1930). Its first regulations was published next 25 May 1927.

This Order was created to reward civic virtues of the functionaries in service for the State, the Provinces and Municipalities, as well as extraordinary services performed by Spanish citizens for the good of Nation, and could possibly be awarded, moreover, to foreign citizens by courtesy or reciprocity.

At the origin, it consisted of five categories:

Grand Cross (Gran Cruz)
Commander by Number (Comendador de Número)
Commander (Comendador)
Knight (Caballero)
Silver Cross (Cruz de Plata)

Entry into the Order was conferred by the King, upon proposition of the Minister of State, requiring the agreement of the Council of Ministers when it concerned the concession of the Grand Cross, instructing them in all cases a demonstrative record of the justification of the award and issuing appointments and diplomas by the Section of Foreign Ministry and Orders of the Ministry of State.

The Provisional Government of the Republic, by decree of 24 July 1931, abolished this order and other orders of the State, except that of Isabel the Catholic, and wanted to replace them with the creation of the Order of the Republic.

Saved this interregnum, by Decree of 7 November 1942 restores the Order of Civil Merit, with his previous features, privileges and seniority, with the following categories: Grand Cross, Cordon (designation of the Grand Cross when given to women), Commander of Number, Commander, Officer, Knight, Knot (name of degree Knight when given to women) and Silver Cross, approving its rules by decree of 3 February 1945.

Subsequently, by decree of 26 July 1957, the Knight of the Collar category is established in the Order of Civil Merit, as the highest distinction of the Order. This high level is reserved to decorate Sovereigns and Heads of State and, exceptionally, to those, enjoying relevant significance, who are already in possession of the Grand Cross of the Order.

The great changes since that date, both in the social and political reality of Spain, and in the legal and administrative system, have been advised to update the rules governing the Order respecting the spirit that inspired its creation and preserving its seniority and their order of priority among the other Spanish Orders.

Thus, by Royal Decree 2396/1998 of 6 November 1998, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado 279 of 21 November 1998 (and subsequent correction published in the BOE 40 of 16 February 1999), the approval of the new regulations proceeded, bringing together in one legal text all regulations which were scattered.

Among the most notable elements of the new regulation, one may mention suppression of the names of the degrees of Lady's Cordon, Knight's Cross and Dame's Knot, joining the first in that of Grand Cross, and creating the degree of Cross, including the two others, to avoid interpretations that would consider the maintenance of these designations may involve some form of discrimination based on gender.

Furthermore, it empowers the decorated women, for aesthetic and functional reasons (given the characteristics of their gala dress), to use miniature versions of the insignia, and to hang them differently from the men, as specified for each grade in the new regulation.

Two new forms of badges in the degree of Commander were regulated to grant awards to juridical persons: the Tie, for institutions that have recognized the use of flags or similar ensigns, and the Badge of Honour for institutions that do not possess these emblems.

Finally, in order to lend prestige to the distinctions of this Order and ensure that each is properly justified, the current regulation makes a detailed discussion of the merits to be considered for grant, of formal requirements to be met by proposals for entry and promotion within the Order, stating the legitimate authorities to do them, and reporting procedures that can be instructed in order to determine the suitability of granting.

Grades

The ribbon of the order is blue with a narrow white centre stripe, except for the ribbon of "Collar", which is blue with 2 white stripes on the edges.^[3]

The Order of Civil Merit comes in seven classes as follows:^[4]

Collar (Collar) - Order's Collar.
Grand Cross (Gran Cruz) - Sash and Plaque (Golden Order's Star).
Commander by Number (Encomienda de Número) - Plaque (Silver Order's Star).
Commander (Encomienda) - Golden order's star on a necklet.
Officer's Cross (Cruz de Oficial) - Golden order's cross hanging from a ribbon.
Knight's Cross (Cruz) - Silver order's cross hanging from a ribbon.
Silver Cross (Cruz de Plata) - Simpler silver cross hanging from a ribbon.

Insignia


Collar	Collar Grade Star	Grand Cross Star	Commander by Number Star


Commander	Officer's Cross	Knight's Cross	Silver Cross

Notable recipients of Collar or Grand Cross

The Collar and Grand Cross of the Order have been awarded to royalty, heads of state and their spouses, and diplomats, including:

Heads of state

2023: João Lourenço and Ana Dias Lourenço, president and first lady of the Angola
2021: Moon Jae-in and Kim Jung-sook, president and first lady of the Republic of Korea
2015: Mohamed Ould Ahmed Salem Ould Mohamed Rare interior minister of Mauritania^[5]
2012: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, president of Mexico^[6]
2009: Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Rheima Hall, governor-general and first lady of Jamaica^[7]
2010: Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine (then minister of foreign affairs)^[8]
2008: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates^[9]
2007: Roh Moo-hyun and Kwon Yang-suk, president and first lady of the Republic of Korea^[10]
2003: Georgi Parvanov and Zorka Parvanova, president and first lady of Bulgaria^[11]
2003: Ion Iliescu, president of Romania^[11]
2003: Islom Karimov, president of Uzbekistan^[12]
2002: Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of Algeria^[13]
1999: Petar Stoyanov and Antonina Stoyanova, president and first lady of Bulgaria^[14]
1996: Leonid Kuchma and Lyudmila Kuchma, president and first lady of Ukraine^[15]
1995: Mohamed Mahathir, prime minister of Malaysia^[16]
1994: Fidel V. Ramos and Amelita Ramos, president and first lady of the Philippines^[17]
1993: Zhelyu Zhelev and Maria Zheleva, president and first lady of Bulgaria^[18]
1994: Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya and Aïcha Mint Ahmed Tolba, president and first lady of Mauritania^[19]
1988: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, president of Indonesia^[20]
1979: Félix Houphouët-Boigny, president of Côte d'Ivoire^[21]
1978: Saddam Hussein, then vice president of Iraq^[22]
1968: Habib Bourguiba and Wassila Ben Ammar, president and first lady of Tunisia^[23]
1968: Habib Bourguiba Jr., minister of foreign affairs of Tunisia^[23]
1965: Chiang Kai-shek, president of the Republic of China
1957: Camille Chamoun, president of Lebanon^[23]

Foreign royalty

2023 Prince Joachim of Denmark
2023 Princess Marie of Denmark
2021: Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland of Sweden^[24]
2021: Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland of Sweden
2021: Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland of Sweden
2008: H.H.E. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah of Kuwait
2008: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi^[9]
2006: Princess Märtha Louise of Norway^[25]
2000: King Mohammed VI of Morocco^[26]
2000: Princess Astrid of Belgium^[27]
2000: Prince Lorenz of Belgium^[27]
2000: Prince Laurent of Belgium^[27]
1999: Princess Alia and husband Mohammad Al-Saleh of Jordan^[28]
1995: King Ja'afar Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia^[16]
1995: Queen Najihah Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia^[16]
1966: King King Faisal of Saudi Arabia^[29]
1962: King Saud of Saudi Arabia^[30]
1960: King Rama IX of Thailand^[31]
1955: Princess Dina of Jordan (then queen)^[32]

Others

2018: Monirul Islam^[33]
2017: State Minister Nasrul Hamid of Bangladesh^[34]
2017: Ignacio Echeverría^[35]
2015: Sushma Swaraj minister of External Affairs of India^[36]
2013: Fadi Al-Atrash Joumblatt^[37]
2009: Amancio Ortega^[38]
2007: Miriam Defensor Santiago^[39]
2005: Abderrahim Harouchi^[40]
1982: Germán Arciniegas^[41]
1973: Ricardo Armando Novoa Arciniegas^[42]
1948: J. Hunter Guthrie^[43]

Gallery

Grand Cross set with bestowal document.
Breast Star of the Grand Cross grade.
Grand Cross badge of the Order.
Grand Cross set of insignia.
Commander grade of the Order.
Set of the 3rd Class Commander grade.

References

^ BOE. "Real Decreto 2396/1998, de 6 de noviembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Orden del Mérito Civil" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 October 2016.
^ Publication by Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pages 117-119
^ "Condecoraciones: Las órdenes dependientes del Ministerio", Order rules and brief history from the Foreign Ministry of Spain, p . 58-59
^ Publication Archived 2011-11-07 at the Wayback Machine by Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pages 58-68
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 28 January 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 5 October 2002. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 7 October 1999. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 7 October 1996. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 4 January 1995. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 10 September 1994. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 21 May 1994. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Otras disposiciones" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 22 January 1988. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 16 June 1979. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 12 July 1978. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 10 June 1968. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ Boletín Oficial del Estado
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 3 June 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 18 September 2000. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 13 May 2000. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 19 October 1999. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 4 July 1966. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 4 July 1966. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 14 November 1960. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 5 June 1955. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
^ "Monirul Islam to receive Royal Spanish Order of Merit tomorrow". The Daily Star. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
^ "Nasrul Hamid receives Spain's highest civil honour". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
^ "Real Decreto 593/2017, de 9 de junio, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil, a título póstumo, a don Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial." [Royal Decree 593/2017, of 9 June, which granted the Grand Cross of the order of Civil merit, posthumously, to Mr Ignacio Echeverría Millares de Imperial] (in Spanish). Spanish Official Journal. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
^ "Swaraj accepts Spain's top civic award during visit". Business Standard.
^ "Les insignes de la croix d'officier de l'ordre du Mérite civil espagnol à Fadi Joumblatt". 5 March 2013.
^ "Real Decreto 1976/2009, de 18 de diciembre, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil a don Amancio Ortega Gaona." [Royal Decree 1976/2009, of 18 December, which granted the Grand Cross of the order of Civil merit, to Mr Amancio Ortega Gaona] (in Spanish). Spanish Official Journal. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1591/2007, de 30 de noviembre, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil a los señores que se citan" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE). Retrieved 27 November 2015.
^ "Real Decreto 37/2005, de 14 de enero, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil al señor Abderrahim Harouchi, Ministro del Desarrollo Social, de la Familia y la Solidaridad del Reino de Marruecos." [Royal Decree 37/2005, of January 14, granting the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit to Mr. Abderrahim Harouchi, Minister of Development] (in Spanish). Boletín Oficial del Estado. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 5 January 1982. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 2 October 1972. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
^ Burch, Francis F. (1999). "Guthrie, Joseph Hunter". American National Biography. New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0802342. (subscription required)