The Hungarian Order of Merit ( hu, Magyar Érdemrend) is the fourth highest
State Order A state order, or national order, is an order bestowed by a sovereign state as part of a national honours system.https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/the-daily-star-lebanon/20180724/281573766486143 These orders, conferred for the merit of the recip ...
of
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the
Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary
The Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary ( hu, Magyar Érdemrend) was established on 14 June 1922 by Miklós Horthy the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary. On 23 December 1935 it was transformed into an official distinction. Since then it has b ...
which existed from 1922 until 1946.
In 2011 its official name changed from Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary to Hungarian Order of Merit in accordance with the new Hungarian Constitution. It is awarded in either civilian or military divisions.
Since 2011, the
Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen
The Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen ( Hungarian: ''Magyar Szent István Rend'') is the highest state honour bestowed by the President of Hungary. The order is made up of one grade which is "Grand Cross".
History
The order's origins can be t ...
is the highest
State honour of
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
.
Classes
The civil division is divided into six classes of merit, whilst the military division is divided into five. The highest class, the Grand Cross with Chain, is exclusive to the civilian division and is only awarded to heads of state and the President of Hungary ''
ex-officio''.
Insignia
* The ''medal'' of the Order is made on the features of the ancient Royal
Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary: it consists of a white-enamelled cross edged with green, showing a central circular medallion enamelled in red showing the coat of arms of Hungary, surrounded by a wreath of green enamel.
* The ''star'' takes up the shape of the medal but is mounted on a golden radiant star.
* The ''ribbon'' is green with a red stripe and a white stripe for the civil class, while it is red with a green stripe and a white stripe for the military class.
References
Sources
{{Commons category
State Decorations Office of the President of Hungary
Medals of the World
1991 XXXI law enacting the order2011 CCII. law enacting the order
Merit
Merit may refer to:
Religion
* Merit (Christianity)
* Merit (Buddhism)
* Punya (Hinduism)
* Imputed righteousness in Reformed Christianity
Companies and brands
* Merit (cigarette), a brand of cigarettes made by Altria
* Merit Energy Company, a ...
Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Order of the
Orders, decorations, and medals
Orders of merit