The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ( et, Maarjamaa Risti teenetemärk, sometimes translated as the Order of the Cross of St. Mary's Land) was instituted by the
President of Estonia,
Lennart Meri, on 16 May 1995 to honour the independence of the Estonian state. (The Latin name ''
Terra Mariana
Terra Mariana (Medieval Latin for "Land of Mary") was the official name for Medieval Livonia or Old Livonia ( nds, Oolt-Livland, liv, Jemā-Līvõmō, et, Vana-Liivimaa, lv, Livonija). It was formed in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade ...
'', meaning "Land of Mary", is a poetic synonym for Estonia, and designated the area which includes what is now Estonia in medieval times.)
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is bestowed upon the President of the Republic. Presidents of the Republic who have ceased to hold office keep the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana. The Collar of the Order was used ''de facto'' as the
badge
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and ...
of office of the President of the Republic, since Soviet authorities took the original presidential collar, that of the
Order of the National Coat of Arms
The Order of the National Coat of Arms ( et, Riigivapi teenetemärk, french: Ordre du Blason National) was instituted by Konstantin Päts on 7 October 1936 to commemorate 24 February 1918, the day on which Estonian independence was declared. The ...
, out of Estonia after the
Soviet occupation of Estonia
The Estonian SSR,, russian: Эстонская ССР officially the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,, russian: Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика was an ethnically based adminis ...
in 1940; it remains in the
Kremlin in Moscow. A new collar of that order was made in 2008.
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is also given as a decoration of the highest class to foreigners who have rendered special services to the Republic of Estonia. As such it is the highest and most distinguished order granted by Estonia to non-Estonian citizens.
Classes
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana comprises six classes:
* One special class – The Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana;
* Five basic classes – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class.
The crosses and shields of all the classes of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana have the same design and are of the same size.
The blue colour tone of the moiré ribands belonging to the decorations of all the classes of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is determined according to the international
PANTONE
Pantone LLC (stylized as PANTONE) is a limited liability company headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System (PMS), a proprietary color space used in a variety of industries, notably graphi ...
colour-table as 300 C.
Notable recipients
Recipients of the Collar
The recipients are :
Estonian presidents
* President
Lennart Meri (1992–2001), 10.09.1995 (Serie 5 – n° ?)
* President
Arnold Rüütel
Arnold Rüütel OIH () (born 10 May 1928) is an Estonian politician and agricultural scientist. He has served as the last chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR from 8 April 1983 to 29 March 1990, Chairman of the Su ...
(2001–2006), 08.10.2001 (Serie 270 – n° 1138)
* President
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Toomas Hendrik Ilves (; born 26 December 1953) is an Estonian politician who served as the fourth president of Estonia from 2006 until 2016.
Ilves worked as a diplomat and journalist, and he was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the ...
(2006–2016), 09.10.2006 (Serie 692 – n° 1071)
* President
Kersti Kaljulaid
Kersti Kaljulaid (; born 30 December 1969) is an Estonian politician who served as the fifth president of Estonia between 2016 and 2021. She was also the first and only female head of state of Estonia since the country declared independence in ...
(2016-2021), 10.10.2016
Foreign heads of state
Recipients of the First Class
The recipients are :
Former foreign heads of state and government
These decorations are awarded for targeted reasons :
Consorts of foreign heads of state and royalties
Presidents of Parliament, prime ministers, foreign ministers, ambassadors and other high officials
High Personalities
Recipients of the Fourth Class
*
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is a British musician, songwriter, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session ...
, 2008
Listing for Robert Fripp (2008)
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Recipients of the Fifth Class
* Lydia Vasikova, 2001
See also
* :Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
References
External links
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
president.ee
List of recipients
{{Estonian state decorations
Orders, decorations, and medals of Estonia
Cross of Terra Mariana, Order of the
Awards established in 1995
1995 establishments in Estonia
*