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The Order of Civil Merit ( es, Orden del Mérito Civil) was established by King
Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alf ...
in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain."


History

According to ''Basic Norms on Protocol & Decorations'' '' The Order of Civil Merit was established by King
Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII (17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also known as El Africano or the African, was King of Spain from 17 May 1886 to 14 April 1931, when the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Alf ...
, by Royal Decree on 25 June 1926, after the proposition of the President of the Council of Ministers, General D. Miguel Primo de Rivera (1870–1930). Its first regulations was published next 25 May 1927. This Order was created to reward civic virtues of the functionaries in service for the State, the Provinces and Municipalities, as well as extraordinary services performed by Spanish citizens for the good of Nation, and could possibly be awarded, moreover, to foreign citizens by courtesy or reciprocity. At the origin, it consisted of five categories: * Grand Cross (''Gran Cruz'') * Commander by Number (''Comendador de Número'') * Commander (''Comendador'') * Knight (''Caballero'') * Silver Cross (''Cruz de Plata'') Entry into the Order was conferred by the King, upon proposition of the Minister of State, requiring the agreement of the Council of Ministers when it concerned the concession of the Grand Cross, instructing them in all cases a demonstrative record of the justification of the award and issuing appointments and diplomas by the Section of Foreign Ministry and Orders of the Ministry of State. The Provisional Government of the Republic, by decree of 24 July 1931, abolished this order and other orders of the State, except that of Isabel the Catholic, and wanted to replace them with the creation of the Order of the Republic. Saved this interregnum, by Decree of 7 November 1942 restores the Order of Civil Merit, with his previous features, privileges and seniority, with the following categories: Grand Cross, Cordon (designation of the Grand Cross when given to women), Commander of Number, Commander, Officer, Knight, Knot (name of degree Knight when given to women) and Silver Cross, approving its rules by decree of 3 February 1945. Subsequently, by decree of 26 July 1957, the Knight of the Collar category is established in the Order of Civil Merit, as the highest distinction of the Order. This high level is reserved to decorate Sovereigns and Heads of State and, exceptionally, to those, enjoying relevant significance, who are already in possession of the Grand Cross of the Order. The great changes since that date, both in the social and political reality of Spain, and in the legal and administrative system, have been advised to update the rules governing the Order respecting the spirit that inspired its creation and preserving its seniority and their order of priority among the other Spanish Orders. Thus, by Royal Decree 2396/1998 of 6 November 1998, published in the ''Boletín Oficial del Estado'' 279 of 21 November 1998 (and subsequent correction published in the ''BOE'' 40 of 16 February 1999), the approval of the new regulations proceeded, bringing together in one legal text all regulations which were scattered. Among the most notable elements of the new regulation, one may mention suppression of the names of the degrees of Lady's Cordon, Knight's Cross and Dame's Knot, joining the first in that of Grand Cross, and creating the degree of Cross, including the two others, to avoid interpretations that would consider the maintenance of these designations may involve some form of discrimination based on gender. Furthermore, it empowers the decorated women, for aesthetic and functional reasons (given the characteristics of their gala dress), to use miniature versions of the insignia, and to hang them differently from the men, as specified for each grade in the new regulation. Two new forms of badges in the degree of Commander were regulated to grant awards to juridical persons: the Tie, for institutions that have recognized the use of flags or similar ensigns, and the Badge of Honour for institutions that do not possess these emblems. Finally, in order to lend prestige to the distinctions of this Order and ensure that each is properly justified, the current regulation makes a detailed discussion of the merits to be considered for grant, of formal requirements to be met by proposals for entry and promotion within the Order, stating the legitimate authorities to do them, and reporting procedures that can be instructed in order to determine the suitability of granting.


Grades

The ribbon of the order is blue with a narrow white centre stripe, except for the ribbon of "Collar", which is blue with 2 white stripes on the edges. The Order of Civil Merit comes in seven classes as follows: * Collar (''Collar'') - Order's Collar. * Grand Cross (''Gran Cruz'') - Sash and Plaque (Golden Order's Star). * Commander by Number (''Encomienda de Número'') - Plaque (Silver Order's Star). * Commander (''Encomienda'') - Golden order's star on a necklet. * Officer's Cross (''Cruz de Oficial'') - Golden order's cross hanging from a ribbon. * Knight's Cross (''Cruz'') - Silver order's cross hanging from a ribbon. * Silver Cross (''Cruz de Plata'') - Simpler silver cross hanging from a ribbon.


Notable recipients of Collar or Grand Cross

The Collar and Grand Cross of the Order have been awarded to royalty, heads of state and their spouses, and diplomats, including:


Heads of state

* 2021: Moon Jae-in and
Kim Jung-sook Kim Jung-sook ( ko, 김정숙; born 15 November 1954) is a South Korean Classical music, classical singer who served as first lady of South Korea from 2017 to 2022, as the wife of the 12th president of South Korea Moon Jae-in. Overview Kim' ...
, president and first lady of the Republic of Korea * 2015: Mohamed Ould Ahmed Salem Ould Mohamed Rare interior minister of
Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
* 2015: Sushma Swaraj minister of External Affairs of India * 2012: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, president of Mexico * 2009: Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Rheima Hall, governor-general and first lady of Jamaica * 2010: Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine (then minister of foreign affairs) * 2008 Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates * 2007: Roh Moo-hyun and
Kwon Yang-suk Kwon Yang-sook (; ; born February 2, 1948 (Lunar December 23, 1947) was the First Lady of South Korea from 2003 to 2008. She is the widow of the ninth president of South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, who committed suicide on May 23, 2009. Career She is a ...
, president and first lady of the Republic of Korea * 2003: Georgi Parvanov and Zorka Parvanova, president and first lady of Bulgaria * 2003: Ion Iliescu, president of Romania * 2003: Islom Karimov, president of Uzbekistan * 2002 Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of Algeria * 1999: Petar Stoyanov and Antonina Stoyanova, president and first lady of Bulgaria * 1996: Leonid Kuchma and Lyudmila Kuchma, president and first lady of Ukraine * 1995: Mohamed Mahathir, prime minister of Malaysia * 1994:
Fidel V. Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...
and
Amelita Ramos Amelita "Ming" Jara Martinez-Ramos (born December 29, 1926) is a former First Lady of the Philippines. She is the widow of Fidel V. Ramos. Early life Ramos was born Amelita Jara Martinez to Rufino Martinez and Josefa Jara Martinez, both from ...
, president and first lady of the Philippines * 1993: Zhelyu Zhelev and Maria Zheleva, president and first lady of Bulgaria * 1994: Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya and Aïcha Mint Ahmed Tolba, president and first lady of
Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...
* 1988: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, president of Indonesia * 1979: Félix Houphouët-Boigny, president of
Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
* 1978: Saddam Hussein, then vice president of Iraq * 1968:
Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba (; ar, الحبيب بورقيبة, al-Ḥabīb Būrqībah; 3 August 19036 April 2000) was a Tunisian lawyer, nationalist leader and statesman who led the country from 1956 to 1957 as the prime minister of the Kingdom of T ...
and Wassila Ben Ammar, president and first lady of Tunisia * 1968: Habib Bourguiba Jr., minister of foreign affairs of Tunisia * 1965:
Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
, president of the
Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
* 1957: Camille Chamoun, president of Lebanon


Foreign royalty

* 2021: Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland of
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
* 2021: Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland of
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
* 2021: Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland of
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
* 2008: H.H.E. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah of Kuwait * 2008: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...
* 2006:
Princess Märtha Louise Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...
of Norway * 2000: King Mohammed VI of Morocco * 2000:
Princess Astrid Princess Astrid may refer to: People * Astrid Njalsdotter (11th century) * Astrid Olofsdotter of Sweden (died 1035) * Astrid of Sweden (1905–1935) * Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (born 1932) * Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria (born 1954) * ...
of Belgium * 2000: Prince Lorenz of Belgium * 2000:
Prince Laurent nl, Laurens Benedikt Boudewijn Maria ger, Laurentius Benedikt Balduin Maria , image = Prince Laurent of Belgium (2015 F).jpg , caption = Prince Laurent in 2015 , birth_date = , birth_place = Belvédère Castle, Laeken, Brussels, ...
of Belgium * 1999: Princess Alia and husband Mohammad Al-Saleh of Jordan * 1995: King Ja'afar Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia * 1995: Queen Najihah Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia * 1966: King King Faisal of Saudi Arabia * 1962: King Saud of Saudi Arabia * 1960:
King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
of Thailand * 1955: Princess Dina of Jordan (then queen)


Others

*2018: Monirul Islam * 2017:
State Minister Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In o ...
Nasrul Hamid Nasrul Hamid (Rakesh Chandra Rai as born 13 November 1964) is an Awami League politician and the State Minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. Early life and education Hamid was born on 13 November 196 ...
of Bangladesh * 2017:
Ignacio Echeverría Ignacio Echeverría Miralles de Imperial, (25 May 1978 – 3 June 2017) was a Spanish lawyer and banker. He fought off two of the terrorists in the 2017 London Bridge attack, before being killed by other terrorists. Biography Ignacio Echever ...
*2013:
Fadi Al-Atrash Joumblatt Fadi (also spelled Fahdi or Fadhi) is a given name meaning "redeemer or savior". Fady and Fadey are similar names. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Fadi Abboud (born 1955), Lebanese businessman and politician * Fadi Afash (born ...
* 2009:
Amancio Ortega Amancio Ortega Gaona (; born 28 March 1936) is a Spanish billionaire businessman. He is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara and Bershka clothing and accessories shops. As of November 202 ...
* 2007:
Miriam Defensor Santiago Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago (''née'' Defensor; June 15, 1945 – September 29, 2016) was a Filipino scholar, academic, lawyer, judge, author, and stateswoman who served in all three branches of the Philippine government: judicial, executiv ...
* 2005:
Abderrahim Harouchi Abderrahim Harouchi (31 January 194421 August 2011) was a Moroccan pediatric surgeon and politician who served as minister of public health from 1992 to 1995 and Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity from 2004 to 2006. Biography ...
*1948: J. Hunter Guthrie


Gallery

File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross set.png, Grand Cross set with bestowal document. File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross Star.png, Breast Star of the Grand Cross grade. File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross Badge.png, Grand Cross badge of the Order. File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross with awarding document.png, Grand Cross set of insignia. File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Commander.png, Commander grade of the Order. File:Spain - Order of Civil Merit Commander grade set.png, Set of the 3rd Class Commander grade.


References


External links


World Awards
{{Authority control Civil Merit, Order of Civil Merit, Order of Awards established in 1926 1926 establishments in Spain