Grand Cross is the highest class in many
orders
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g.
Grand Collar. In rare cases, the insignia itself is referred to as the "grand cross".
In international relations, in many times the class of Grand Cross is typically reserved for
royalty
Royalty may refer to:
* Any individual monarch, such as a king, queen, emperor, empress, etc.
* Royal family, the immediate family of a king or queen regnant, and sometimes his or her extended family
* Royalty payment for use of such things as int ...
,
heads of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
and equivalent. Sometimes a holder of the highest class or grade are referred to as "
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain ...
Grand Cross",) is used in the
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
Orders
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
of the
Sword
A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed t ...
,
Polar Star and
Vasa and in the
Finnish Orders
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
of the
White Rose and
Lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
., name="Ex-01", group=A "
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the G ...
Grand Cross", or just "Grand Cross".
In the United Kingdom, the rank of "Knight Grand Cross" or "Dame Grand Cross" allows the recipient to continue to use the
honorific
An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
"
Sir" (male) or "
Dame" (female) as a
style before his or her name. The knighthood is initially conferred, as in other countries, at the lower rank of the order, typically "
Knight Commander
Commander ( it, Commendatore; french: Commandeur; german: Komtur; es, Comendador; pt, Comendador), or Knight Commander, is a title of honor prevalent in chivalric orders and fraternal orders.
The title of Commander occurred in the medieval mi ...
".
In Bavaria, the royal military order established by Maximilian Joseph consisted of three classes with the Grand Crosses ranking above the Commanders and Knights.
The Grand Cross title has also been used to confer military merit. For instance, the
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden (german: Großherzogtum Baden) was a state in the southwest German Empire on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.
It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and sub ...
awarded
Prince Rupprecht a Grand Cross after
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
.
From 1870 to 1918, the
German Empire also set the Grand Cross as the highest rank of the Order of the Iron Cross, followed by the first and second classes.
Denomination "Grand Cordons"
The orders in which the highest rank (or second after "Collar") is named "Grand Cordons" include the following orders:
* :
Grand Cordons of the
Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to:
* Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918
* Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium
* Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit.
Order of merit may also refer to:
* FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football
* PDC O ...
(highest National Order that admits Brazilian Nationals to its ranks)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Rio Branco
The Order of Rio Branco (''Ordem de Rio Branco'') is an honorific order of Brazil instituted by decree 51.697 of February 5, 1963. It is named in honor of the Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco.
The President of Brazil serve ...
(special purpose)
* : Grand Cross of the
National Order of Scientific Merit
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Defense Merit
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Military Merit
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Naval Merit
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Aeronautical Merit
**: Grand Cross of the (highest of the state)
**: Grand Cross of the (highest of the state)
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Cambodia
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Monisaraphon
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Sahametrei
The Royal Order of Sahametrei ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសលំដាប់សហមេត្រី) is a chivalric order conferred by the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Royal Order of Sahametrei was instituted in ...
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Monisaraphon
* : Grand Cordon of the
Order of Merit (Cameroon) (2nd)
* : Grand Cordon of the
Order of Valour (highest)
* : Grand Cross with Diamonds of the
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...
(2nd)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Nile (highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the Legion of Honour (highest)
** : Grand Cross of the Order of Tahiti Nui (highest of the overseas collectivity)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
* : Grand Cross of the Kola-tree National Order (2nd)
* : Grand Cross of the National Order of Fidelity and People (highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
National Order of Merit (Guinea)
The National Order of Merit is the pre-eminent state decoration of the Republic of Guinea
Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: Républi ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the National Order of the Campaign of Independence (highest)
* : Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi.
The highest-rankin ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Chrysanthemum
is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the Collar of the Order was added on 4 January 1888. Unlike its European counterparts, the order may be conferred posthumously.
Apart ...
(2nd after Collar)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Precious Crown (highest)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Star of Jordan (highest)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of Merit (Lebanon) (highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
National Order of Madagascar (highest)
* : Knight Grand Cross
Military William Order
The Military William Order, or often named Military Order of William ( Dutch: , abbreviation: MWO), is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is named after St. William of Gellone (755–814), the first Prince of O ...
(highest)
* : Knight Grand Cross
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands.
The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...
(3rd)
* : Knight Grand Cross
Order of the Netherlands Lion (2nd)
* : Grand Cross of the National Order (Niger) (highest)
* : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Niger) (2nd)
* : Grand Cordons of the
Order of the Lion and the Sun
The Imperial Order of the Lion and the Sun (Persian: نشان سلطنتی شیر و خورشید) was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials (later extended to Iranians) who had rendered distingu ...
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the Tower and Sword
* : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal) (2nd)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the Lion (Senegal) (highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Charles III
* Commander Grand Cross of the
Order of the Sword
The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the ...
* Commander Grand Cross of the
Order of the Polar Star
The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim.
The Order of ...
* Commander Grand Cross of the
Order of Vasa
The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It was ...
* : Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (2nd)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Mono
The Order of Mono is the highest Togolese order of chivalry, established on September 2, 1961 by President Sylvanus Olympio. The order is named after the major river passing through the country: the Mono River. The Order of Mono consists of five ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cordon of the
Order of Independence (highest)
* : Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (3rd)
* : Grand Cordon of the Order of the 7th November 1987 (4th)
* : Grand Cordon of the
Order of the Republic (2nd)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing (as a symbol of purification) as ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III.
It is named in hono ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(highest)
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Saint John (highest)
Former
* : Grand Cross of the
Order of Columbus
The Order of Columbus () was a short-lived Brazilian order of merit. It was instituted on 6 June 1890, just two months after the abolition of all Imperial Brazilian Orders.
The first constitution of the Brazilian republic abolished the order of C ...
(Abolished as a state order in 1891)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Highest, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of Saint Benedict of Avis (2nd, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of Saint James of the Sword
The Imperial Order of St. James of the Sword ( pt, Imperial Ordem de Sant'Iago da Espada) was an honorific order of the Empire of Brazil, originating from the Portuguese Order of Saint James of the Sword. "Nationalized" by Dom Pedro I of Brazil, ...
(3rd, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of the Cross (4th, cancelled as national order in 1891 and reestablished as the
National Order of the Southern Cross
Emperor Pedro I of Brazil founded the National Order of the Southern Cross ( pt, Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul) as a Brazilian order of chivalry on 1 December 1822. The order aimed to commemorate the independence of Brazil (7 September 1822) ...
in 1932)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of Dom Pedro I (5th, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order)
* : Grand Cross of the
Imperial Order of the Rose (6th, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order)
*
**
French Comoros: Grand Cross of the
Order of the Star of Anjouan (Deprecated in 1963 by the
National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit.
Order of merit may also refer to:
* FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football
* PDC O ...
)
**
French Dahomey: Grand Cross of the
Order of the Black Star (Deprecated in 1963 by the
National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit.
Order of merit may also refer to:
* FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football
* PDC O ...
)
**
French Somaliland: Grand Cross of the
Order of the Light (Deprecated in 1963 by the
National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit.
Order of merit may also refer to:
* FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football
* PDC O ...
)
* : Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Kapiʻolani (3rd, became obsolete in 1893)
Gallery
Illustration of typical insignia, as in the case of the
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
.
See also
*
Order of chivalry
*
Order (distinction)
An order is a visible honour awarded by a sovereign state, monarch, dynastic house or organisation to a person, typically in recognition of individual merit, that often comes with distinctive insignia such as collars, medals, badges, and sashe ...
*
Phaleristics
Phaleristics, from the Greek mythological hero Phalerus ( el, links=no, Φάληρος, ''Phaleros'') via the Latin ('heroics'), sometimes spelled faleristics, is an auxiliary science of history and numismatics which studies orders, fraternitie ...
Explanatory notes
References
Footnotes
{{Orders
Orders of chivalry
Medals
Sashes