Megan

Hello Audrey - I too would be interested in any information that you'd be willing to share... I am trying to develop the South Africa section of my website. Full acknowledgement given to all sources, of course.

The Order of George I was instituted on 16 January 1915 by King Constantine I, in memory of his father George I who was murdered in 1913. It consists of the regular 5 classes in civil and military divisions, plus an associated medal called George I's Memorial Medal. This medal comes in gold, silver and bronze - and it is one of these, probably the gold, that you have.

1845-1846 version only, at the moment. Obverse: Reverse:

That's amazing - and good to be able to display them 'back home' where they belong!

This is an amazingly informative and beautiful thread... real scholarship and wonderful images! Congratulations to all involved. I really must do something with the neglected Persia/Iran section of my site, but right now I am too overawed!

Beautiful, thank you for sharing!

Dear Jani - e-mail sent... Dear 922F - fascinating notes, thank you.

Magic, thank you for that!

I wonder if it is a Göde reproduction? This company produced (and I think still does) faithful uniface reproductions of German Imperial ODM (and I have seen a few other nation's orders as well). They're based as far as I can discover in Bavaria. Others I have seen have similar backs to the one shown here.

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!