Denmark Republic of Iceland: Icelandic Order of the Falcon

[Megan]

Hin Íslenzka Fálkaorda

This was instituted 3 July 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland. The statutes were revised on 11 July 1944 after Iceland became a republic. It is awarded for services to Iceland or to humanity, to both Icelandic citizens and foreigners in 4 classes (Grand Cross, Grand Knight with Star, Grand Knight & Knight). The President of Iceland serves as Grand Master and apart from the President, the Collar of the Order is only conferred on foreign Heads of State.

But here it is:

[Megan]

Here is the Grand Cross badge (post-1944):

The insignia changed very little with Iceland's independence, the most obvious is that the badge originally had a Danish Royal Crown over a stylised rosette, while the post-1944 version has a fleur-de-lys instead.

[Megan]

And the Grand Cross Star, which didn't change at all!

Edited September 10, 2022 by Megan

[Megan]

The Grand Knight with Star and Grand Knight classes both wear a neck badge, the Grand Knight with Star also has... a star. As far as I can tell the badge is the same for both classes.

(I am looking for a better image....)

[Megan]

The Grand Knight with Star star also did not change in 1944. Here it is:

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by Megan

[Megan]

Finally, the Knight. Here's the post-1944 insignia:

[Megan]

And the reverse:

This shows the other major change in the insignia - the legend on the reverse now reads Seytjándi Juní 1944 (17 June 1944), the date on which Iceland gained her independence.

Off to research the pre-1944 insignia now...

[Great Dane]

Hi Megan,

For the pre-1944 order, it was only the Grand Master who was allowed to wear the Collar of the Order - not even foreign heads of state or Grand Crosses.

I don't know if this was changed after 1944...

/Michael

[Megan]

I think it was, Michael. When King Christian X instituted the Order, he appointed himself Grand Master and had a Collar - which alternated the blue oval with a falcon with his own monogram. I have a not-very-good picture of it, and a clear image of a couple of the links, which will be posted in due course failing my finding anything better!

The revised statutes of 1944 do state Grand Master and may be awarded to foreign Heads of State. 'Ordinary' recipients of the Grand Cross have never been awarded it, as far as I can see.

[larsb001]

Megan, the original pre 1944 chain was stolen from the Amalienborg castle by a footman who later sold it to a well known Danish collector (who had 5 excellent copies made). Before his death he sold it to a well known German collector who later sold it in one of the famous Mercur auctions in Hamburg. From there it have changed hands a few times before it ended up in a Finnish collection. I believe this was the one that Jani T. had in his first (second?) auction, you may ask him for a good photo, which he should have.

Cheers, Lars

[Megan]

Thanks, Lars - I'll drop him a line and ask...

[makedon]

Very nice article! I didn't know there were actually 4 classes plus the collar.

Here is another photo of the Grand Knight.

[Jani Tiainen]

Megan, the original pre 1944 chain was stolen from the Amalienborg castle by a footman who later sold it to a well known Danish collector (who had 5 excellent copies made). Before his death he sold it to a well known German collector who later sold it in one of the famous Mercur auctions in Hamburg. From there it have changed hands a few times before it ended up in a Finnish collection. I believe this was the one that Jani T. had in his first (second?) auction, you may ask him for a good photo, which he should have.

Cheers, Lars

I should have good pictures of that, just send me email.

Jani

[922F]

Thank you, Megan, for starting this thread. Republic-type insignia is made by Kjartan Asmundsson of Reykjavik [mark "KA"--seen on star reverse] as was reportedly the case with much kingdom-type insignia. Most stars [at least] have silver content marks [925 S] as well. At least one Danish company supposedly manufactured kingdom-type insignia.

I had the pleasure of viewing the 'original' kingdom-type collar and one of the copies in Holte, Denmark about 40 years ago and was very hard pressed to see much difference between the two. It is quite possible that other Danish-made copy insignia exists. In the 1970s-80s, French-made copies of commander badges emerged, some with French silver hallmarks. While these were mainly republic-type, wouldn't surprize if some acquired crown suspensions!!

Edited November 28, 2012 by 922F

[Megan]

Dear Jani - e-mail sent...

Dear 922F - fascinating notes, thank you.

[TDPIV]

Hi all, I'm new to this site. I've been doing some research on this specific order, and I was thrilled to find this thread! In looking at an old photograph of my Great-grand uncle, I discovered an old Cuban newspaper clipping from 1936 in the back of the frame. My great-grand uncle was the Consul General to Denmark in Cuba, and was awarded by the King Of Denmark, "la cruz de la Real Orden de Falk" or, "the cross of the Royal Order of the Falcon" in 1936. Attached is a picture of his badge from 1936 (it didn't leave Cuba with my family, unfortunately.) As you can see, it differs from the post-1944 badge in that the Danish Royal Crown is still an element of the design at the top. I would appreciate anyone who could tell me a little bit more about the meaning of this award!

[Great Dane]

The (short) story behind the order:

Until 1918 the Order of Dannebrog was used as an award for Icelanders (for the periods Iceland was under Danish sovereignty). When Iceland became independent in 1918, King Christian X of Denmark (who was still the monarch of Denmark and Iceland) decided to institute a new order - the Order of the Falcon.

When one looks at the recipients, a lot of them were foreigners (mostly Danes), and the order was more and more used as a "demi-Dannebrog" - i.e. an award to people who did not deserve the more esteemed Order of Dannebrog. Many of the recipients did not have any connection with Iceland. The same approach were used in other countries, e.g. the Order of the Black Star of Benin in France etc.

In 1944 Iceland was declared a republic, and the Danish King was no longer King of Iceland. To reflect this, the order changed it appearance (suspension and reverse medallion).

/Michael