Civil awards and decorations of Albania
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Orders, decorations and medals of Albania are state decorations regulated and bestowed by the Republic of Albania.


History

The first decoration to be given in modern Albania is considered to be the Order of the Black Eagle, which was granted by the Principality of Albania in 1913. In 1925,
Ahmet Zogu Zog I ( sq, Naltmadhnija e tij Zogu I, Mbreti i Shqiptarëve, ; 8 October 18959 April 1961), born Ahmed Muhtar bey Zogolli, taking the name Ahmet Zogu in 1922, was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's y ...
, while President of Albania, instituted the
Order of Skanderbeg Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
. In 1926, he established the
Order of Fidelity The Order of Besa ( sq, Urdhëri i Besës) was established by Ahmet Zogu (later King Zog I) when he was President of Albania. Founded on 22 December 1926, it was initially awarded in four classes (1. Grand Cordon with star–''Kordon i Madh me ...
, also known as the Order of Besa. Several laws were passed during Communist Albania. In 1960, the law ''On the creation of the honorary titles in the arts sector'' ( sq, Mbi krijimin e titujve të nderit në sektorin e arteve) was passed by the Presidium of the People's Assembly. In 1980, another law, entitled ''On the honorary titles and decorations in the Socialist People's Republic of Albania'' ( sq, Për titujt e nderit dhe dekoratat e Republikës Popullore Socialiste të Shqipërisë), amended the 1960 law. In 1996, the Parliament of Albania passed the law entitled ''On the decorations in the Republic of Albania'' ( sq, Për dekoratat në Republikën e Shqipërisë). An addition to the 1996 law was made in 2001. A regulation on the awarding of the decorations was issued afterwards by President
Alfred Moisiu Alfred Spiro Moisiu (; born 1 December 1929) is a former Albanian military general, diplomat and politician. He was the President of Albania from 2002 to 2007. He is the oldest son of Albanian Army general, Spiro Moisiu. Early life, education an ...
.


1914—1939

* Order of the Black Eagle (discontinued after 1914; retained as a dynastic order by the House of Wied) * Medal of the Black Eagle * Medal for the Accession of Prince William of Wied * Order of Skanderbeg (1925–45) (discontinued after 1945; retained as a dynastic order by the
House of Zogu The House of Zogu, or Zogolli during Ottoman times and until 1922, is an Albanian dynasty whose roots date back to the early 20th century. The family provided the first president and the short-lived modern Albanian Kingdom with its only monarch, ...
) * Collier of Honour of Albania * Medal of Remembrance of the Triumph of Legality *
Order of Fidelity The Order of Besa ( sq, Urdhëri i Besës) was established by Ahmet Zogu (later King Zog I) when he was President of Albania. Founded on 22 December 1926, it was initially awarded in four classes (1. Grand Cordon with star–''Kordon i Madh me ...
(discontinued after 1939; retained as a dynastic order by the
House of Zogu The House of Zogu, or Zogolli during Ottoman times and until 1922, is an Albanian dynasty whose roots date back to the early 20th century. The family provided the first president and the short-lived modern Albanian Kingdom with its only monarch, ...
) * Military Order and Medal of Bravery


Honors system (1945–1992)

Albanian orders and medals from the socialist period are poorly understood and seldom collected, even after three decades since the regime's collapse in 1992. While the awards of many other communist states flooded the market in the mid 1990s (most notably those of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, and East Germany), Albanian medals continue to remain elusive for many. The manufacturing of Albanian awards has undergone several phases and seems to fall in line with Albania's shifting alliances during Enver Hoxha's regime. The first decorations established by the new communist government were created on July 9, 1945:
Hero of the People The Hero of the People ( sq, Hero i Popullit; Heroinë e Popullit) was the highest Hero (Title), title bestowed upon the citizens of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. Creation Founded on July 9, 1945, the title was awarded by the Presi ...
, Order of the Flag, Medal of Remembrance, Order of the Partisan Star, Order and Medal of Bravery. These awards were established for services in the anti-Fascist and partisan campaigns of World War II against both the Italians and Germans and carried a great deal of prestige. Soon after, on October 13, 1945, three more orders and two additional medals were added: Order of Freedom,
Order of Skanderbeg Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
, Order and Medal of Labour, Medal of Liberation. Between the end of 1945 and 1964, several other decorations were established, most notably the titles
Hero of Socialist Labour The Hero of Socialist Labour (russian: links=no, Герой Социалистического Труда, Geroy Sotsialisticheskogo Truda) was an honorific title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries from 1938 to 1991. It repre ...
and Mother Heroine, as well as a series of honorary titles for the arts and sciences. On January 18, 1965, the entire honors system was completely revised. In addition to establishing many new orders and medals, some pre-existing decorations were modified as well. The
Order of the Red Star The Order of the Red Star (russian: Орден Красной Звезды, Orden Krasnoy Zvezdy) was a military decoration of the Soviet Union. It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 6 April 193 ...
was expanded from one to three classes and a new medal was added. The Order for "Military Service" was converted from a breast star to a ribboned badge and expanded from one to three classes. The Order "For Patriotic Achievements" was added in three classes to the pre-existing medal. The Order "For the Defence of State Frontiers of the PRA/PSRA" was added to the pre-existing medal. The Order "For Maintenance of Public Security" was added to the pre-existing medal. The Order "For Civil Bravery" was added to the pre-existing medal, which was renamed from the Medal "For Bravery in Labor". The 1965 awards structure remained largely intact with several minor additions and modifications up through to the collapse of the communist government. Law No. 6133. passed on February 2, 1980 codified many of the regulations and changes that were enacted since the 1965 restructuring. The 1980 law continued in effect until it was finally revoked by president Sali Berisha when he signed Law No. 8113 on March 28, 1996, which completely swept away the communist era honors system.


Titles and Decorations of the President (1996-present)


Decorations

*
"Honor of the Nation" Decoration The "Honour of the Nation" Decoration ( sq, Dekorata "Nderi i Kombit") is the highest decoration to be given in Albania, among the Civil awards and decorations of Albania, and was instituted by special law No. 8113, of 28 March 1996, entitled ''P ...
(Dekorata "Nderi i Kombit" ) *
National Flag Decoration The National Flag Decoration sq, Dekorata e Flamurit Kombëtar, is one of the highest decorations to be given in Albania, among the Civil awards and decorations of Albania, and was instituted by special law Nr.8113, of 28 March 1996. This awar ...
(Dekorata e Flamurit Kombëtar) * "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu" Decoration (Dekorata "Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu") * * "Mother Teresa" Decoration (Dekorata "Nënë Tereza") * Golden Decoration of the Eagle ("Dekorata e Artë e Shqiponjës") * "Torch of Democracy" Decoration (Dekorata "Pishtar i Demokracisë")


Titles

* "Knight of Skanderbeg Order" Title (Titulli "Kalorës i Udhërit të Skënderbeut") * "Knight of the Order of the Flag" Title (Titulli "Kalorës i urdhrit të flamurit") * "Grand Master" Title (Titulli "Mjeshtër i Madh") * "Naim Frashëri" Title (Titulli "Naim Frashëri") * Military Services Medal (Medalja "Për Shërbime Ushtarake") * Special Civil Merits Medal (Medalja "Për Merita të Veçanta Civile") * Martyr of Democracy Medal (Medalja "Martir i Demokracisë") * Medal of Gratitude ("Medalja e Mirënjohjes")


Medals of the Prime Minister (2019–present)

The "Public Acknowledgment" Medal The medal consists of three classes and is awarded to prominent Albanian and foreign individuals with special contributions in the field of their activities: # Big Cordon with a Star for Public Acknowledgment # Great Star of Public Gratitude # Star of Public Gratitude The "Professional Assessment" Medal The medal consists of three classes (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and is awarded to prominent individuals with contributions in their professional activities.


See also

* Sports titles system in Albania


References


Further reading


President of Albania web page related to decorations


{{Navboxes , list = {{Albania topics {{Decorations by country Honours systems