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The Order of Civil Merit was an
* Grand Cross
* I Class – Great Cross
* II Class – Grand Officers cross
* III Class – Commanders cross
* IV Class – Officers cross
* V Class – Knights cross
* VI Class – Silver Cross
The most obvious way to distinguish between the Grand Cross and the 1st Class is the sash. The sash of the Grand Cross includes a large rosette more commonly seen in other grand crosses, while the 1st class sash is simply tied around the badge placement in a less extravagant design. Apart from the sash the breast star of the Grand Cross is made up of gold and silver rays, while the first class is only in silver, though the shape of the stars are identical.
File:Order of Civil Merit badge with diamonds for ladies (Bulgaria before 1946) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg, Order of Civil Merit in diamonds for ladies (Bulgaria before 1946) - Tallinn Museum of Orders
File:Order of Civil Merit 3th Dames class. Kingdom of Bulgaria. Mikhail Trenikhin private collection.jpg, Order of Civil Merit Dame 5th Class for ladies (1946)
File:Yordan Trenkov People's Order for Civic Merit.jpg, Bestowal document for the Order from the reign of Boris III.
File:Kruis van de Bulgaarse Orde van Civiele Verdienste.jpg, Knight 5th Class of the order.
File:Bulgaarse Orde van Civiele Verdienste aan lint met rozet.jpg, Officer 4th Class of the Order.
File:Order of Civil Merit grand cross badge sash (Bulgaria before 1946) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg, Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross badge and sash (Bulgaria before 1946) - Tallinn Museum of Orders
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit Medal Set.jpg, Grand Officer star.
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit Medal Presentation Box.jpg, Grand Officer case.
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit Cross and Ribbon of David R. Francis.jpg, Grand Officer badge.
File:Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“ I ст. 1908-18 г..gif, Set of the Grand Cross grade of the order.
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit - Commander reverse (1891-1944).png, Commander reverse (1891-1944).
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit - Commander (1891-1944).png, Commander (1891-1944).
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit - Commander reverse badge (1891-1944).png, Commander reverse badge (1891-1944).
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit - Commander obverse badge (1891-1944).png, Commander obverse badge (1891-1944).
File:Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit - Commander and case (1891-1944).png, Commander grade and case from the reign of Boris III.
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by ...
of the Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Tsardom of Bulgaria ( bg, Царство България, translit=Tsarstvo Balgariya), also referred to as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom ( bg, Трето Българско Царство, translit=Treto Balgarsko Tsarstvo, links=no), someti ...
. Established in 1891, it had six classes.
History
The Bulgarian Order of Cvil Merit was established on either 2nd or the 14th August 1891 by thenPrince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
Ferdinand
Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "protection", "peace" (PIE "to love, to make peace") or alternatively "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "co ...
, and was founded with six classes and a Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, 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 ...
grade.
Grades of the Order
* Grand Cross
* I Class – Great Cross
* II Class – Grand Officers cross
* III Class – Commanders cross
* IV Class – Officers cross
* V Class – Knights cross
* VI Class – Silver Cross
The most obvious way to distinguish between the Grand Cross and the 1st Class is the sash. The sash of the Grand Cross includes a large rosette more commonly seen in other grand crosses, while the 1st class sash is simply tied around the badge placement in a less extravagant design. Apart from the sash the breast star of the Grand Cross is made up of gold and silver rays, while the first class is only in silver, though the shape of the stars are identical.
The Republic Order
The Order was revived by the current Republic of Bulgaria. However today it is only awarded to Bulgarian citizens. In addition the Order now is only made up of the Officer and Commander grades, and the reverse and obverse of the modern order are switched around. What was the reverse on the Kingdom order is now the obverse and depicts the Bulgarian lion, however without the Saxon shield. The new reverse no longer depicts the royal monogram of Ferdinand I, and instead a rotated tricolour of the Bulgarian flag. While the exact shading has differed dramatically, the ribbon has remained mostly unchanged, interestingly as has also the crown suspension.Gallery
References
{{Reflist Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria