Order of merit

Honorific order that is conferred by a sovereign entity

An order of merit is an honorific order that is conferred by a state, government, royal family, or other sovereign entity to an individual in recognition of military or civil merit. The historical background of the modern honours system of orders of merit may be traced to the emergence of chivalric orders during the Middle Ages.

Orders of merit may be bestowed as official awards by states, or as dynastic orders by royal families. In the case of modern republics, an order of merit may constitute the highest award conferred by the state authority.

National orders of merit

Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown, established in 1808 by the Kingdom of Bavaria
National Order of Merit (Paraguay), established in 1865^[1]
Order of Agricultural Merit (France), established in 1883
Order of Merit, a Commonwealth order established in 1902 by King Edward VII
Order of the Cross of Liberty (Finland), established in 1918
Order of the White Rose of Finland, established in 1919
Order pro Merito Melitensi, established in 1920 as a state decoration by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Order of Merit (Lebanon), established in 1922 as the highest honour of the Republic of Lebanon
Order of Civil Merit, Spain, established in 1926
National Order of Honour and Merit (Haiti), established in 1926
Order of Merit (Portugal), established in 1927, known by its current name since 1976
Order of Merit (Chile), established in 1929
Ordre du Mérite Maritime, established in 1930
Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein, established in 1937
Military Order of Merit (Iran), established in 1937
Order of the Lion of Finland, established in 1942
Order of Civil Merit (Bulgaria), established in 1891, reestablished in 2003
Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria), established in 1900, reestablished in 2003
Legion of Merit, established by the United States Government in 1942
National Order of Merit (Brazil), established in 1946
Order of Civic Merit of Laos, established in 1950
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, established in 1951 as the highest honour of the Italian Republic
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, established in 1951 as the highest honour of the Federal Republic of Germany
Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic, established in 1952 as the highest honour of the Austrian Republic
Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic, established in 1953
Order of Merit (Egypt), established in 1953
Ordre des Palmes Académiques, established in 1955 by the French Republic for excellence in education
Order of Central African Merit, established in 1959 as the highest civil decoration of the Central African Republic
Order of Merit (Sudan), established in 1961^[2]
Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, established in 1961
National Order of Merit (Mauritania), established in 1961
Ordre national du Mérite (France), established in 1963
Order of Merit (Jamaica), established in 1968
Order of Ivory Merit, established in 1970
National Order of Merit (Gabon), established in 1971
Order of Merit (Cameroon), established in 1972
Order of Merit (Malaysia), established in 1975 as the highest honour of Malaysia
Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, established in 1974
National Order of Merit (Algeria), established in 1984
Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, established in 1985
National Order of Merit (Malta), established in 1990 as the highest honour of the Republic of Malta
Order of Merit and Management, established in 1990
Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey, established in 1990
Hungarian Order of Merit, established in 1991
Order of Work Glory, established in 1992
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", established in 1994 for the Russian Federation
Order of Merit (Ukraine), established in 1996
Order of Merit of the Bahamas, established in 1996
New Zealand Order of Merit, established in 1996
Order of Merit (Antigua and Barbuda), established in 1998
Order For Merit (Romania), a Romanian order, established in 2000
Order of Merit of the Police Forces (Canada), established in 2000
Order for Merits to Lithuania, established in 2002
National Order of Merit (Bhutan), established in 2008
Tuvalu Order of Merit was founded 2016 as the highest honour of Tuvalu
Order of Honour (Greece)
National Order of Merit (Guinea)
National Order of Merit (Ecuador)
Order of Civil Merit (France)
Order of Civil Merit (South Korea)
Pour le Mérite (1740–1918), the highest order of merit of the Kingdom of Prussia founded in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia
Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria) (1693–1918), founded in 1693 by Archbishop-Elector Joseph Clemens of Bavaria of Cologne as a military order, from 1837 an order of merit of the Kingdom of Bavaria
Indian Order of Merit (1837–1947), a military and civilian decoration of British India
Order of Merit of Samoa (established 1992)

Dynastic orders of merit

Order of Merit of Savoy, established in 1988 by the House of Savoy
Order of Merit of the Portuguese Royal House, established in 1993 by the House of Braganza

References

^ Gillingham, Harrold E. (1970). South American Decorations and War Medals. Lenard L. Babin (Reprint ed.). New York: The American Numismatic Society. pp. 136–137 – via Internet Archive.
^ "بشأن قانون الاوسمة والانواط لسنة 1961 ". site.eastlaws.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

Phaleristics

Auxiliary science of history and numismatics about orders, decorations, and medals

Distinctions
(Lists)

By conferee

Founts of honour*	States and their national/public/official authorities Dynasties heads of currently or formerly sovereign royal families
Private	Ecclesiastical Organisations Commercial (Self-styled order)

By type

Orders

Order of chivalry
- Military order
- Colonial order
Order of merit
Royal family order

Titles
(Styles,
Post-nominal)

By function	Grand master Chancellor Treasurer Assessor Bailiff Prior Chaplain Master of ceremonies

Grand Cross/Grand Cordon
Commander
Officer
Hospitaller
Knight/Dame
Postulant
- Squire
- Page

Chapter

Obedience

Others,
by field

Society	Peace Intellectual freedom Human rights Law Humanitarianism Politics Volunteer
Culture	Architecture Art Film History Literature Music Philosophy Poetry Theatre

By insignia
(Named after
people)

For wearing
(decorations)

Formal	Collar Grand Cross/Grand Cordon with sash Medal Necklet Medal bar Medal ribbon
Other	Rosette Award pin Lapel pin Collar pin Tie pin Badge Heraldic Pilgrim Ring Button Campaign Service

Prizes

Ceremonies
and events

Related
organisations

Related
concepts

* = Direct or indirect reference to fount of honour is the accepted criterion for official distinctions
Category:Orders, decorations, and medals
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