Carol I

The first one is the Romanian Faithful Service Medal with swords.

The two batons used by Antonescu appear to have differed from previous models. October 1941 (probably a temporary model) March 1943

This gilt cross is an officer's cross on a knight's ribbon (without rosette).

Above: Order of the Star of Romania, type I, peacetime insignia with swords above the cross Below: Order of the Star of Romania, type II, wartime insignia with swords through the centre on wrong type I ribbon

Same decoration worn by the Emir of Bukhara as photographed by Prokudin-Gorsky in 1911 ... ... and in the Museum of the Legion of Honour.

More interesting details are surfacing: Michael's baton is in fact Ferdinand's, his grandfather. Ferdinand's baton was donated to the National Military Museum after his death in 1927. The administration of the Royal House requested the baton on the 8th of May 1941 for the promotion of Michael to marshal rank on the 10th of May 1941. Then, on the 19th of June 1941 confirmed that the baton will remain the property of the king and the baton was erased from the inventory of the National Military Museum.

It is of the same design as that used by Kings Ferdinand and Carol II, as well as Marshals Averescu and Prezan. Averescu's baton is in a museum, but unfortunately in a rather poor state. Antonescu on the other hand seems to have used one or even two different designs. In the colour photo above, he seems to have a baton with somewhat bigger metal ends than Michael's, but of comparable thickness. However, in the photo below, he has a thicker baton, with a different design.

King Michael's marshal baton displayed at his funeral ... ... and in wear in a colour photo from the 1940s.

Hi David. As far as I know, there is no official list of recipients for the Order of the Star of Romania. However, if the recipient was British, there is a chance you might find his name if you look into the London Gazette issues of the time. Some years ago they were searchable and one could look for decrees acknowledging foreign awards, but I imagine that cross-checking the information with other awards would be extremely tedious.

I think I may have found the answer: Eduard Hjalmar Palin, Finnish envoy to Romania between 1941 and 1945

You described the very connection (in only 4 steps): Rome > Roman Empire > Roman conquest of Dacia > Romanian people > Romania

It is not Italian, but Roman and it is a symbol of the Roman origins of the Romanians.

Can anyone identify this (presumably Finnish) man? Thanks.

Thank you for this confirmation. The updated list of the confirmed foreign awards is: Belgium: Grand Cross (military) of the Order of Leopold Bulgaria: Small Collar and Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius Great Britain: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Greece: Collar of the Royal House Order of Saints George and Constantine Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer Manchukuo: Collar of the Order of Orchid Blossom (February 1941) Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle (22 May 1937) USA: Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit (20 March 1946) USSR: Order of Victory (06 July 1945)

Can anyone identify the collar worn by PM Petru Groza in this photo?

Those truly interested always learn new things on this forum. This is the Collar of the Royal Victorian Order, not the Royal Victorian Chain.

Michael-type insignia of the Officer's class of the Order for Cultural Merit for science (category B)

This is the wartime Order of the Star of Romania with swords, not the Order of the Crown of Romania.

By chance I have found this reference to the Bulgarian Order of Cyril & Methodius. I hope new world can offer more details.

I wonder whether the details of the Romanian awards to the Maharajas of Patiala could be found in the Sheesh Mahal Museum collections.

Indeed, the currency went into a spiral of inflation in the course of only a few months in 1947. The highest denomination at the time has been 5 million lei, only for the currency to undergo an over-night revaluation a short time afterwards. Five million has been the maximum allowed sum for conversion per person after the revaluation.

Knight's cross and Grand Cross of the Order for Merit (in the collections of the Museum of the Legion of Honour) Honour Cross for Merit 2nd class and 1st class (in the collections of the Museum of the Legion of Honour)

Here is a photo from the Museum of the Legion of Honour showing in the upper row the insignia of the order for Knight first class for scouting and sport (category G) and arts, music and theatre (category C) and in the lower row the insignia of the order for Knight second class for school (category F) and social works (category H).

An image with better contrast taken with the same occasion as the first image above shows Mihai with the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Does Mihai wear the Royal Victorian Order in both these photos? If not, what is the order he is wearing?