Order of the White Double Cross

The Order of the White Double Cross ( sk, Rad Bieleho dvojkríža) is the highest state decoration of the Slovak Republic.

The Order was instituted on 1 March 1994 after Slovakia became independent on 1 January 1993. It continues the Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion, which was created in 1922 as an award for foreigners.

The Order of the White Double Cross is conferred only upon foreign citizens, with the sole exception of the current President of Slovakia, who is awarded the Order by the National Council for the duration of his term of office upon inauguration.

According to the Order's statute, it is awarded:

*"for the comprehensive development of relations between the state, whose citizens they are and the Slovak Republic";
*"for the empowerment of the Slovak Republic’s position in international relations";
*"for meeting the foreign policy priorities of Slovakia";
*"for otherwise outstanding achievement in the benefit of the Slovak Republic"; or
*"for the outstanding spread of good reputation of Slovakia abroad."

Classes

The Order of the White Double Cross has two divisions, civil and military, and three classes:
*''First Class'' or ''Grand Cross'' – badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star is worn on the left chest;
*''Second Class'' or ''Grand Officer'' – badge may be worn on a necklet and the star is worn on the left chest;
*''Third Class'' or ''Commander'' – badge may be worn on a necklet.

Biely dvojkríž 1. triedy vojenského druhu.jpg, First Class (badge with sash and breast star)
Rad bieleho dvojkríža 2. triedy vojenského druhu.jpg, Second Class (badge with necklet and breast star)
Rad bieleho dvojkríža 3. triedy vojenského druhu.jpg, Third Class (badge with necklet)

Insignia

The ''star'' is an eight-pointed gold breast star, with golden straight rays between the points of the star. The central disc on the star has a white double cross on a red enamel background, which is surrounded by a gold wreath of laurel and oak leaves.

The ''badge'' of the Order is of the same design as the star, although smaller. Furthermore, the upper point is missing and the badge is suspended on a stylized leaf of a common lime tree, with or without the crossed swords of the Military Division.

The ''ribbon'' of the order is blue with a red central stripe.

Recipients

*Grand Crosses
** Askar Akayev
** Beatrix of the Netherlands
** Andrew Bertie
** Fernando Henrique Cardoso
** Carl XVI Gustaf
** Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
** Emil Constantinescu
** Janez Drnovšek
** Elizabeth II
** Ivan Gašparovič
** Joachim Gauck
** Árpád Göncz
** Tarja Halonen
** Harald V of Norway
** Václav Havel
** Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
** Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
** Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
** François Hollande
** Milada Horáková
** Ion Iliescu
** Don Johnston
** Juan Carlos I of Spain
** Lech Kaczynski
** Thomas Klestil
** Bronisław Komorowski
** Franz König
** Michal Kováč
** Milan Kucan
** Aleksander Kwasniewski
** Émile Lahoud
** Ricardo Lagos
** Margrethe II of Denmark
** Stjepan Mesic
** Giorgio Napolitano
** Nursultan Nazarbayev
** Tassos Papadopoulos
** Heliodor Píka
** Johannes Rau
** Fernando de la Rúa
** Arnold Rüütel
** Juan Antonio Samaranch
** Jorge Sampaio
** Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
** Angelo Sodano
** Queen Sofía of Spain
** Frank-Walter Steinmeier
** Koloman Sokol
** Konstantinos Stephanopoulos
** Petar Stoyanov
** Jozef Tomko
** Alexander Van der Bellen
** Max van der Stoel
** Günter Verheugen
** Rudolf Vrba
** Miloš Zeman
* Grand Officers
** Catherine Ashton
** Wladyslaw Bartoszewski
** Albrecht von Boeselager
** Gene Cernan
** Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
** Ludwig Hoffmann-Rumerstein
** Marta Kubišová
** Štefan Osuský
** Petr Pithart
** Herman Van Rompuy
* Commanders
** Jacek Baluch
** Gabriela Beňačková
** Sir Derek Bowett
** Viktor Fainberg
** David O'Keeffe
** Ryszard Siwiec
{{Div col end

References

Order of the White Double Cross
– official website President of the Slovak Republic
State Honours, Orders & Decorations
– website the Slovak Republic

Orders, decorations, and medals of Slovakia
Awards established in 1994
White Double Cross, Order of the
1994 establishments in Slovakia