Megan

Is the actual medal different for civilian and military awards, or is it just that you get a ribbon bar or a lapel pin depending on which you are?

The last of the 'Grand Orders' is the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir (Velered kralja Dmitra Zvonimira). This was instituted on 1 April 1995 and is awarded to highly ranked state and religious officials, whether foreign or Croatian, for Exceptional contributions to the independence and integrity of the Republic of Croatia, relations between Croatian state and religious groups, and for exceptional acknowledgments in cultural and humanitarian work. The badge is silver in the shape of a cross, the arms of which are decorated with typically Croatian triple-braid ornamentation. In the centre there is a gold medallion depicting the Baska Tablet (which mentions the name of King Dmitar). Above is a small gold medallion showing the King's head in profile, this also forms the centrepiece of the star. Badge: Star:

Next is the Grand Order of King Peter Krešimir IV (Velered kralja Petra Krešimira IV). This was instituted: 20 June 1992 and reconstituted 1 April 1995, and is awarded to highly ranked state officials, foreign officials, and senior military officials. The badge is a stylised square, placed on one corner (so diamond-shape) and backed by crossed swords, hilt down. In the centre there is a white circular medallion showing King Peter Krešimir IV in gold, with a trifold gold twisted edge. Around this the square/diamond background has five-fold gold twists on a blue background. The star bears the same badge but without the swords. Badge: Star:

Thank you! Next in order of precedence is the Grand Order of Queen Jelena. Institued in 1995, it is awarded to soldiers for exceptional contribution to the development of war strategies and military doctrine, merit in the development of the Croatian Armed Forces and for particular success in leading and commanding formations. The badge is a crowned cross of an ornate and typically Croatian design, blue-enamelled and sprinkled with tiny gold crosses. This also appears in the centre of the star. Here is the badge: And the star:

Interesting - do you happen to know its ISBN? I feel a trip to the library coming on...

And this is the star: This has the same central medallion as the badge on it.

I've been looking at Croatia, who have developed an interesting 'take' on awards, with a whole bunch of single-class orders which all look quite similar but are awarded for different things. There are several main categories of order. First are the 'grand orders' which all consist of sash, sash badge and star. The sash in every case is a glorious thing: white with one blue edge and one red one, the edges bearing an ornate looping gold pattern (or a double gold/yellow stripe on the ribbon bar). The premier one of these is the Grand Order of King Tomislav. This was instituted on 20 June 1992, with a revision on 1 April 1995. It is awarded, according to the statutes, to those who have contributed to the improvement of the standing of Croatia internationally, development of international relations, etc... in effect, it is given to foreign Heads of State. Here is the badge: The badge is based around the letter H with a central circular gold medallion depicting a historical Croatian monarch sitting on a throne with the state arms above (I am still figuring all the symbology out, the only descriptions I've found are in Croatian so it's a slow process!)

Thank you so much, Paul and Owain. Without the kindness of the likes of you, my website would be a far duller place!

Oooh! Interesting information, thank you folks! Owain, Savoy - you know what I'm going to ask... please, may I have permission to use your images on my website? With due acknowledgement, of course.

My pleasure! To my delight, today I received permission from the Lithuanian Mint to use their pictures of the State Awards which they manufacture. So without further ado, the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great: - Badge: Star: This shows the white ribbon with orange edge stripes of the Order, and the Star as being similar to the one already shown but with a blue-enamelled centre and being silver rather than gold.

That's nice, it's a fine site and a good reference for Portugeuse ODM - thanks for sharing. If anyone has any images I can use on my site, I'd be very grateful, she says hopefully...

Be glad to, Frank, it's here: http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter2/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=241854 - this is their official English translation!

Having just been reading the Law on State Awards of 18 June 2002 (which the Lithuanian government has obligingly posted online for the delight of the likes of me!), I've settled down to having a look at the ODM of the modern Republic of Lithuania post 1991. The highest award is the Order of Vytautas the Great. Harking back to the original, instituted on 1 September 1930 as the premier award of the first republic (1918-1940), it was re-instituted on 12 September 1991. At first it had but a single class - which wore the badge on a sash, with a star and a collar - but it has subsequently expanded to a five-class order, with a special class - the Order of Vytautas the Great with Golden Chain - and an associated Medal. Being so recent, pictures are hard to come by... but here's the Order of Vytautas the Great with Golden Chain! The Chain itself consists of links decorated with motifs of the double cross and of the letter V, with the cross of the Order suspended from it. This cross is white-enamelled gold, 50mm long, with a stylised horseman on a red shield (obverse) with a crown above. The reverse has a red shield with the letter V and has the dates of Vytautas the Great's rule (1392-1430) on the arms of the cross. It's suspended from a royal crown with three crystal stones. Here it is: The star for this class is gold with nine rays, 85mm in diameter. In the centre, which is red, there is a white cross of the order with a crown above.

Fascinating... the most recent revision is actually by a law of 2 March 2011, which the Portuguese have kindly placed online - http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=163 (very nice for the likes of me!) - here the Ordem do Mérito Empresarial is to be awarded for services to agriculture, commerce & tourism or industry in 5 classes, distinguished by green (agriculture), blue (commerce & tourism) or red (industry) and by the wording on the circlet around the central badge, Eeep, I can see an update to my site coming along, this is quite interesting and I haven't done much on Portugal yet!

Wonderful picture, Chris... so many courageous folk! Sadly the 2 VC recipients I've met are no longer with us - both WW2 awards, Tasker Watkins & Peter Wright. The odd thing is, I bumped into both when they were wearing their medals... Tasker Watkins at a formal service for the Welsh legal community, in judge's robes; and Peter Wright had been attending a service in the Guards Chapel & I'd been in the Guards Museum across the square. Both charming gents. Who else has met a VC or GC recipient?

Hmm... now found the Medal for Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia, which appears to be an award of South Ossetia. Of course, Abkhanians might have received it, but I don't think it belongs here!

I have found a few other medals online which appear to be Abkhazian, but as of yet do not have pictures that I can use - found them on a Russian sales site Still, I shall share what I have about them. Medal for Military Cooperation - ribbon half orange with black edges, half green/white/red - obverse shows a handshake over crossed swords with a star above, reverse shows the arms of Abkhazia Cross for Aid (or Help?) to Abkhazia - ribbon green with narrow black & white edge stripes - a white-enamelled cross with crossed swords between the arms, the obverse showing an eagle (bit like the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence badge) with the Abkhazian and Russian Federation flags enamelled in colour behind it, reverse plain metal Medal for the Ministry of Defence of Abkhazia - ribbon orange with a narrow white central stripe and narrow black edges (the same as the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence Medal for Distinction in Combat) - obverse shows crossed swords below a star, reverse is the arms of Abkhazia Medal of the Peacekeeping Mission in Abkhazia - ribbon black with 2 green stripes and narrow white edges - obverse shows a soldier in a helmet with his rifle slung over his shoulder looking at a palm tree beside water with a mountain range in the distance, reverse is the arms of Abkhazia In the same section on this site there were 2 medals relating to South Ossetia. These might have been awarded by Abkhazia or to Abkhazians who helped fight in the South Ossetian cause. Medal for Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia - ribbon blue with a central white (or grey?) stripe - obverse is either mountains or a stylised map framed by 2 sprigs of laurel with the date 2008 below, reverse shows text reading 'For Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia' Cross for Aid to South Ossetia - ribbon 3 equal stripes of white, red and yellow - white enamelled cross with crossed swords between the arms, obverse shows an eagle like the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence one with coloured flags of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation behind it, the reverse is blank Naturally, I am still ferreting around, but would appreciate any help that I can get! Image credits for this thread so far are mostly Frank Dutil and Yuri Yashnev.

The last Abkhazian medal that I at least have a picture of is the Ministry of Internal Affairs Medal "For Valour in Service." I have not yet found out anything about it, though, but here's the picture:

Likewise I have found a medal 'For the Liberation of Kodor' - trouble is, Kodor doesn't appear on any map! There is a Kodor River in Abkhazia, so it may refer to that area or a settlement therein. No other details are as yet known, but here it is: -

So they've stuck to the same atrocious design! Gack, hoped they would take the opportunity to retool to something more appropriate.

Seems reasonable to me, the reward for winning an Olympic final is, er, a gold Olympic medal, isn't it? Those who use the fame and their talents to the good of their sport or society in general are the ones who should be considered for inclusion in the Honours List.

The need for peacekeepers lasted a fair while, as in 2004 a Medal for 10 Years of the Peacekeeping Mission in Abkhazia was issued. Again I have no further details (yet), but here it is: -

I would love to have information and images of them for my website... :)

Next the Medal "For Maintaining Peace in Abkhazia" Little is known of this medal: it is believed to have been awarded to Russian Federation troops serving on peacekeeping duties in the region. There are indications that it may also have been awarded to Abkhazians involved in military action in support of claims for independence. The obverse bears the words FOR MAINTAINING PEACE IN ABKHAZIA above a mountain range and the reverse shows the National Arms over a wreath. The ribbon is dark blue with double narrow yellow central stripes, and red and yellow edges. Again I'm searching for more details: date of institution, terms of award, Abkhazian name, etc.

And the Third Class (10 Years): I do not yet know when this award was instituted, nor its name in Abkhazian... or the precise details of the design above what I can see.