Awards and decorations of Latvia are governed by the
Republic of Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
Law on State Honours of 2004, last amended in 2010.
State decorations
State orders, medals and other decorations are bestowed by the
President of Latvia or a person assigned by him on May 4 -
Restoration of Independence Day, November 11 -
Lāčplēsis Day
Lāčplēsis Day ( lv, Lāčplēša diena) is a memorial day for soldiers who fought for the independence of Latvia. It is celebrated on November 11th, marking the decisive victory by the Latvian Army over the West Russian Volunteer Army – a ...
and November 18 –
Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia, as well as on other days on special occasions.
The President of Latvia is awarded with the highest order, the Order of the Three Stars, upon starting to hold his office after taking the oath.
Orders
*The
Order of the Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvija ...
*The
Order of Viesturs
*The
Cross of Recognition
The Cross of Recognition ( lv, Atzinības krusts) is a state decoration of Latvia.
History
The decoration was established in 1710 in the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia by Duke Frederick William as a symbol of the then-established Order of Re ...
Insignia of the Orders
*the Order with the Golden Chain (only the Order of Three Stars);
*the Cross of the Commander of the Grand Cross (First Class Order);
*the Cross of the Grand Officer (Second Class Order);
*the Cross of the Commander (Third Class Order);
*the Cross of the Officer (Fourth Class Order);
*the Cross of the Knight (Fifth Class Order);
*the Medals of Honour (First Level, Second Level, Third Level).
Medals and other decorations
*The
Order of Lāčplēsis
The Order of Lāčplēsis (also Lāčplēsis Military Order, lv, Lāčplēša Kara ordenis), the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of Jānis Balodis, the Commander of the Latvian Army during ...
(awarded 1920–1928)
*
Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991 (awarded since 1996, state award since 2010 under the Law on State Honours)
* (awarded in 1928)
Other decorations
* The Award of the
Cabinet of Ministers
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countrie ...
(''Ministru kabineta balva'')
*
Commemorative Medal for Advancing Latvia's Membership to NATO (2004, awarded by the
Minister of Defence
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
)
* The Fatherland Award (''Tēvzemes balva'', awarded 1937–1940, predecessor of the Award of the Cabinet of Ministers)
*
Aizsargi
Aizsargi (literally: "Defenders", "Guards") was a volunteer paramilitary organization or militia ( lv, Aizsargu organizācija, "Guards Organization", AO) in Latvia during the interbellum period (1918–1939). The Aizsargi was created on March 3 ...
Cross of Merit (''Aizsargu Nopelnu krusts'', awarded 1927–1940)
* Aizsargi Medal "For Effort" ("For Diligence'", ''Aizsargu medaļa "Par uzcītību"'', awarded 1927–1940)
Order of precedence of decorations
#The Order of Three Stars
#The Order of Viesturs
#The Cross of Recognition
#The Medal of Honour of the Order of Three Stars
#The Medal of Honour of the Order of Viesturs
#The Medal of Honour of the Cross of Recognition
#The Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991
#Other awards and foreign awards
References
Information on state orders on the official website of the President of LatviaTranslation of the Latvian law on state awards concerning the bearing of ordersLaw on State Honours of 2004 (in Latvian)
{{Decorations by country