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 The president of the Republic of Estonia ( et, Eesti Vabariigi President) is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia. The current president is Alar Karis, elected by Parliament on 31 August 2021, replacing Kersti Kaljulaid. Estonia is ...

Lennart Meri Lennart Georg Meri (; 29 March 1929 – 14 March 2006) was an Estonian politician, writer, and film director. He served as the second president of Estonia from 1992 to 2001. Meri was among the leaders of the movement to restore Estonian independ ...

, 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, a ...

'', 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 fi ...

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 The Kremlin ( rus, Московский Кремль, r=Moskovskiy Kreml', p=ˈmɐˈskofskʲɪj krʲemlʲ, t=Moscow Kremlin) is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow founded by the Rurik dynasty, Rurik dynasty. It is the best known of th ...

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 graphic ...

colour-table as 300 C.

Notable recipients

Recipients of the Collar

The recipients are :

Estonian presidents

* President

(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 ...

, 2008Listing for Robert Fripp (2008)
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Recipients of the Fifth Class

* Lydia Vasikova, 2001

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 *