The Royal Order of Civil Merit (;

Abbr. An abbreviation () is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method including shortening, contraction, initialism (which includes acronym), or crasis. An abbreviation may be a shortened form of a word, usually ended with a trailing perio ...

: OMC) is a

knighthood A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

and one of the three preeminent

orders of merit The Order of Merit () is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order re ...

bestowed by the

Kingdom of Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, alongside the

Order of Charles III The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, originally Royal and Much Distinguished Order of Charles III (, originally ; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OC3) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bes ...

(established in 1771) and the

Order of Isabella the Catholic The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OYC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Order of Charles III (established in 1771) and ...

(established in 1815). Each of the three orders aims to reward a distinct type of achievement. The Order of Charles III primarily honors heads of state and high-ranking government officials, while the Order of Isabella the Catholic primarily rewards services that strengthen diplomatic relations across the former

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

. In contrast, the Order of Civil Merit was created by King

Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII ( Spanish: ''Alfonso León Fernando María Jaime Isidro Pascual Antonio de Borbón y Habsburgo-Lorena''; French: ''Alphonse Léon Ferdinand Marie Jacques Isidore Pascal Antoine de Bourbon''; 17 May 1886 – 28 February 1941), also ...

in 1926 to recognize "the civic virtues of the officials in the service of the State, as well as the extraordinary services of Spanish and foreign citizens for the good of the Nation." It was, therefore, founded as a modern order of merit, dedicated to acknowledging exceptional deeds for the benefit of civil society. Royal Decree 2396/1998, enacted on November 6, 1998, regulates the Order today. In accordance with this law, the Order seeks to “reward merits of a civil nature, acquired by officers of any of the public Administrations .. or by persons outside the Administration, who provide or have provided relevant services to the State, with extraordinary work, charitable initiatives, or with exemplary perseverance in the fulfillment of their duties." The Order "may also be granted to people of foreign nationality, provided that they have rendered distinguished services to Spain or notable collaboration in all matters that benefit the Nation.” The great prestige that the Order of Civil Merit enjoys in Spain and internationally is due to several reasons. First, like the Order of Isabella the Catholic, it has become a powerful instrument of international relations, with notable recipients worldwide. Second, it is a highly selective and rare honour – since its creation, a relatively small number of people worldwide have received the Order of Civil Merit, compared to other national orders of merit with larger memberships, such as UK's

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, France's

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

, Germany's

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (, or , BVO) is the highest state decoration, federal decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It may be awarded for any field of endeavor. It was created by the first List of president ...

, or Italy's

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

. Third, members of the Order enjoy various legal privileges, including a

style of address Address terms are linguistic expressions used by a speaker to start conversation or call someone. George Yule defines address form as a word or phrase that is used for a person to whom speaker wants to talk. Address forms or address terms are soc ...

, a

heraldic achievement In heraldry, an achievement, armorial achievement or heraldic achievement (historical: hatchment) is a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a coat of arms is entitled. An achievement comprises not only ...

, and the exclusive right to wear the medal,

rosette Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to: Flower shaped designs * Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation * Rosette (design), a small flower design *hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms: ** R ...

and

ribbon A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mate ...

of the Order.

History

The Royal Order of Civil Merit was instituted by His Majesty King

Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Alfonso León Fernando María Jaime Isidro Pascual Antonio de Borbón y Habsburgo-Lorena''; French language, French: ''Alphonse Léon Ferdinand Marie Jacques Isidore Pascal Antoine de Bourbon''; 17 May ...

, by Royal Decree of June 25, 1926, at the proposal of the President of the Council of Ministers, General

Miguel Primo de Rivera Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, Grandee, GE (8 January 1870 – 16 March 1930), was a Spanish dictator and military officer who ruled as prime minister of Spain from 1923 to 1930 during the last years of the Resto ...

(1870–1930); its first Regulations were published on May 25 of the following year. This Order was created to reward the civic virtues of civil servants serving the State, Province, or Municipality, as well as the extraordinary services performed by Spanish citizens for the benefit of the Nation. It could also be awarded to foreign citizens out of courtesy or reciprocity. From its inception, it has been a highly coveted honor, bestowed upon a selective number of recipients in each category: * Grand Cross, limited to 250 living members * Commander by Number, limited to 350 living members * Commander, limited to 500 living members * Knight, limited to 1,000 living members * Silver Cross, without limit Entry into the Order was granted by the King, at the proposal of the Minister of State, requiring the agreement of the Council of Ministers when it came to the awarding of the Grand Cross. In all cases, a file was drawn up demonstrating the justification for the reward, and the appointments and diplomas were issued by the Chancellery and Orders Section of the Ministry of State. The provisional government of the Republic, by Decree of July 24, 1931, abolished this and the other Orders dependent on the Ministry of State, except for the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and sought to replace them with the creation of the Order of the Republic. After that interregnum, by Decree of November 7, 1942, the Order of Civil Merit was reinstated, with its previous characteristics, privileges, and seniority, with the following categories: Grand Cross, Band (designation of the Grand Cross when awarded to women), Commander by Number, Commander, Officer, Knight, Ribbon (designation of the Knight's degree when awarded to women), and Silver Cross. Its Regulations were approved by Decree of February 3, 1945. Subsequently, by Decree of July 26, 1957, the category of Knight of the Collar was established in the Order of Civil Merit as the highest distinction of the Order. This high grade is reserved for decorating Sovereigns and Heads of State and, exceptionally, those of significant standing who already hold the Grand Cross of the Order. The significant changes experienced since that date, both in the social and political reality of Spain and in the legal-administrative order, have advised updating the governing rules of the Order, respecting the spirit that animated its creation and preserving its seniority and its order of precedence among the other Spanish orders. Thus, by Royal Decree 2396/1998, of November 6, published in the BOE 279, of November 21, and subsequent correction of errors published in the BOE 40, of February 16, 1999, the new Regulations of the Order have been approved, gathering in a single normative text all the previously scattered provisions. Among the most notable novelties of the new Regulations, the suppression of the denominations of the degrees of Lady's Band, Knight's Cross, and Lady's Ribbon can be mentioned, integrating the first into the Grand Cross, and creating the grade of Cross, which would include the other two, to avoid possible interpretations that could consider that maintaining these denominations could imply some type of gender discrimination. Additionally, decorated ladies are allowed, for aesthetic and functional reasons (given the characteristics of their gala attire), to use a reduced version of the insignia and to wear them differently from men, as specified for each grade in the new Regulations. Furthermore, two new types of insignia are regulated, in the grade of Encomienda, to grant distinctions to legal entities: the Tie, intended for institutions that have recognized the use of flags or similar emblems, and the Honor Plaque for institutions that do not possess such emblems. Lastly, to enhance the prestige of the distinctions of this Order and ensure that each is duly justified, the current Regulations introduce a detailed exposition of the merits to be considered for its award, the formal requirements that the admission and promotion proposals in the Order must meet, indicating the authorities authorized to make them, and the informational procedures that can be instructed to determine the appropriateness of the award.

Governance

Solemne apertura de la XIV Legislatura 07

By law, His Majesty King Felipe VI is the Grand Master of the Order of Civil Merit and hence, and all the decorations of this Order are conferred in his name. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Grand Chancellor of the Order, and it falls to him/her to propose to the Council of Ministers the award of the levels of the Collar and of the Grand Cross, and to award, on behalf of His Majesty the King, the lower levels of the Order. The Minister is also responsible for the protocol of the Order. As in the case of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, the Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Chancellor of the Order of Civil Merit, but it corresponds to the Directorate-General for Protocol, Chancellery and Orders to evaluate all the proposed awards of the decorations of this Order, requesting the mandatory reports and evaluating the suitability or not of accepting these proposals.

Recognized Merits and Awarding Process

Imposicion_de_la_Cruz_de_Caballero_de_la_Orden_del_Merito_Civil

In accordance with the law, the following merits will be taken into account for the awarding of decorations of this Order: # The provision of outstanding services of a civil nature to the State. # The performance of extraordinary works of undeniable merit. # Industriousness or extraordinary ability, demonstrated for the good of the general interest. # Great initiatives of national influence and, in general, exemplary acts that, benefiting the country, should be rewarded and encouraged. To enhance the prestige of the awards of this Order, so that admission and promotion within it truly constitute an extraordinary occasion that rewards the indicated merits, the Chancellery of the Order will ensure that each award is duly justified. The Chancellery of the Order, located in the Directorate General of Protocol, Chancellery, and Orders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be responsible for processing all proposals for the awarding of decorations of the said Order, for which purpose it will conduct the appropriate procedures, being empowered to request reports from all kinds of courts, authorities, official centers, and entities that it deems convenient, in order to determine the appropriateness or otherwise of the granting. Furthermore, the Chancellery will report on the appropriate grade, evaluating the importance of the merits acquired, the professional category and seniority of the proposed person, the age, and the decorations they may possess; it will submit a resolution proposal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs through the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Chancellor of the Order, and proceed with the issuance of the titles of the granted decorations. The King of Spain, as Grand Master of the Order, bestows the medals upon the new knights and dames in an official ceremony held at the Royal Palace on June 19 each year (the anniversary of his proclamation as King). However, extraordinary ceremonies may be held at any time throughout the year, particularly for foreign recipients or Spaniards living abroad.

Insignia, Motif, and Meaning

The Cross of the Order is made of gold, with dimensions of 48 x 50 mm. It is formed by four equal arms, in the shape of a

saltire A saltire, also called Saint Andrew's Cross or the crux decussata, is a Heraldry, heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross. The word comes from the Middle French , Medieval Latin ("stirrup"). From its use as field sign, the saltire cam ...

, enamelled in intense blue, and finally edged in white. Between these arms it carries five polished bursts of the same metal. In its center, it has an oval of intense blue enamel, bordered with white fillet, with the gold-colored inscription "To Civil Merit". Inside the oval, there is a die-cut in high relief, with the characteristic motif of the Order: a matron leaning on a column, with a sword in her right hand, tempered in the fire of sacrifice, as a symbol of civic virtues. Between the upper ends of the blades, it appears the Royal Crown of Spain. The entire set hangs from a green enamelled laurel wreath. 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 blue colour symbolizes nobility, truth and justice, while the white colour represents purity, peace and integrity. Blue and white are also colours strongly associated with the

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre in the 16th century. A br ...

. The elements in the motif of the Order have the following meaning: * Matron: Represents the homeland (Spain), honour, dignity, maturity, wisdom, and nurturing qualities * Leaning on a Column: Symbolizes the awardee, stability, support, strength, and the pillar upon which society stands * Sword in Right Hand: Represents the State, justice, protection, and readiness to defend * Tempered in the Fire of Sacrifice: Signifies strength gained through hardship, tested loyalty, dedication and purity Overall, the Order’s motif signifies civic and chivalric virtues such as justice, strength, stability, and dedication to the common good.

Current Grades

The Order of Civil Merit comes in seven classes, with the following insignia: * ESP Order of Civil Merit - Collar

Collar (''Collar'') – Order's Collar. In practice, this grade is reserved to heads of state. * ESP Order of Civil Merit GC

Grand Cross (''Gran Cruz'') – Sash and Plaque (Golden Order's Star). * ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades

Commander by Number (''Encomienda de Número'') – Plaque (Silver Order's Star). * ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades

Commander (''Encomienda'') – Golden Order's star on a necklet. * ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades

Officer's Cross (''Cruz de Oficial'') – Golden Order's cross hanging from a ribbon. * ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades

Cross (''Cruz'') – Silver Order's cross hanging from a ribbon. * Silver Cross (''Cruz de Plata'') – Simpler silver cross hanging from a ribbon.

Legal Rights and Privileges

By Royal Decree 2396/1998, the former rank of Knight’s Cross (Caballero) was renamed as 'Cross' to accommodate female recipients. Accordingly, all ranks above the Silver Cross confer

damehood ''Dame'' is a traditionally British honorific title given to women who have been admitted to certain orders of chivalry. It is the female equivalent of ''Sir'', the title used by knights. Baronetesses in their own right also use the title ''Da ...

. For example, the recipient of a Collar is styled Knight or Dame of the Collar; the recipient of an Officer’s Cross is styled Knight or Dame Officer, etc. (cf. Article 13). Among the legal rights and privileges granted to Knights and Dames of the Order are the following. First, a

, in accordance with their rank (cf. Article 13): * Knights of the Collar or Grand Cross are addressed as ''Excelentísimo Señor'' ( Most Excellent Lord), and Dames of the Collar or Grand Cross are addressed as ''Excelentísima Señora'' (Most Excellent Lady). This is the same style given to a

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

or a

Grandee Grandee (; , ) is an official royal and noble ranks, aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ha ...

. * Knights Commander by Number are addressed as ''Ilustrísimo Señor'' (Most Illustrious Lord), and Dames Commander by Number are addressed as ''Ilustrísima Señora'' (Most Illustrious Lady). This is the same style given to a

Marquess A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wid ...

or a

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

. * All other Knights are addressed as ''Señor'' (Lord), and all other Dames are addressed as ''Señora'' (Lady). * In addition to the above, members of the Order who are Spanish citizens are addressed with the

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an Honorary title (academic), h ...

prefix A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word. Particularly in the study of languages, a prefix is also called a preformative, because it alters the form of the word to which it is affixed. Prefixes, like other affixes, can b ...

''Don'' (for Knights) or ''Doña'' (for Dames), in the same manner as ''Sir'' or ''Dame'' for knighted British nationals. Don/Doña is not just a courtesy, but a formal style granted to members of the Order, as part of the distinction. Second, Knights and Dames are expected to wear the Order's insignia with formal attire, and the Order's

with daily civilian or military attire, in accordance with their rank (cf. Article 11). Third, Knights and Dames receive an official diploma, issued on behalf of the Sovereign, certifying their appointment to the Order (cf. Article 9). Fourth, all Knights and Dames of the Order have the right to add the insignia of their rank to their

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

as a

. Fifth, it is customary for Knights and Dames to use the post-nominal letters "OMC" to indicate their membership in the Order (without distinction of rank).

Grand Masters of the Order of Civil Merit

# His Majesty

, King of Spain (1886-1931) # His Excellency

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...

, Head of the Spanish State (1936-1975) # His Majesty

Juan Carlos I Juan Carlos I (; Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain from 22 November 1975 until Abdication of Juan Carlos I, his abdic ...

, King of Spain (1975-2014) # His Majesty

Felipe VI Felipe VI (; Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. In accordance with the Spanish Constitution, as monarch, he is head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed For ...

, King of Spain (2014-present)

Notable Knights and Dames of the Collar or Grand Cross

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

Heads of State

* 2023:

João Lourenço João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço (born 5 March 1954) is an Angolan politician who is currently serving as the third president of Angola since 26 September 2017. Previously, he was the minister of defence from 2014 to 2017. In September 2018, ...

and

Ana Dias Lourenço Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço, GCIH (born 13 April 1957) is an Angolan economist, politician and former government minister. She has served as the First Lady of Angola since September 2017 as the wife of President João Lourenço. Early and perso ...

, president and first lady of the

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* 2021:

Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in (, ; born January 24, 1953) is a South Korean politician and former lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea from 2017 to 2022. Before his presidency, he served as the senior secretary for civil affairs and the Chief ...

and Kim Jung-sook, president and first lady of the

Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

* 2012:

Felipe Calderón Hinojosa Felipe is the Spanish variant of the name Philip, which derives from the Greek adjective ''Philippos'' "friend of horses". Felipe is also widely used in Portuguese-speaking Brazil alongside Filipe, the form commonly used in Portugal. Noteworthy ...

, president of

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* 2009: Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Rheima Hall, governor-general and first lady of

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

* 2010:

Petro Poroshenko Petro Oleksiiovych Poroshenko (born 26 September 1965) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian politician and Oligarchy, oligarch who served as the fifth president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine), Minister ...

, president of

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(then minister of foreign affairs) * 2008:

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (; 7 September 1948 – 13 May 2022) was the second president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, serving from November 2004 until his death in May 2022. Khalifa was the eldest ...

, president of the

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* 2007:

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and Kwon Yang-suk, president and first lady of the

* 2003:

Georgi Parvanov Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov (, ) (born 28 June 1957) is a Bulgarian historian and politician who was President of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating incumbent Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the November 2001 pres ...

and

Zorka Parvanova Zorka Petrova Parvanova ( ; born 4 May 1958) is a Bulgarian historian and former First Lady of Bulgaria from 2002 until 2012. She is married to Georgi Parvanov, the former President of Bulgaria. Early life and career Paravanova was born 4 Ma ...

, president and first lady of

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

* 2003:

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, president of

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

* 2003: Islom Karimov, president of

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* 2002:

Abdelaziz Bouteflika Abdelaziz Bouteflika (; ; 2 March 1937 – 17 September 2021) was an Algerian politician and diplomat who served as the seventh president of Algeria from 1999 to his resignation in 2019. Before his stint as an Algerian politician, Bouteflika s ...

, president of

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

* 1999:

Petar Stoyanov Petar Stefanov Stoyanov (, born 25 May 1952) is a Bulgarian statesman and politician who served as the 2nd President of Bulgaria from 1997 to 2002. A member of the Union of Democratic Forces, he won the second democratic election in modern B ...

and Antonina Stoyanova, president and first lady of

* 1996:

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, president of South Korea * 1996:

Leonid Kuchma Leonid Danylovych Kuchma (, ; born 9 August 1938) is a Ukrainian politician who was the second president of Ukraine, serving from 19 July 1994 to 23 January 2005. The only president of Ukraine to serve two terms, his presidency was marked by demo ...

and Lyudmila Kuchma, president and first lady of

* 1994:

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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

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* 1994:

Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya Mu'awiya Ould Sid'Ahmed al-Taya (born 28 November 1941) is a Mauritanian military officer and politician who served as the President of Mauritania from 1984 to 2005. He also served as the fifth Prime minister of Mauritania from 1981 to 19 ...

and Aïcha Mint Ahmed Tolba, president and first lady of

Mauritania Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a sovereign country in Maghreb, Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to Mauritania–Western Sahara border, the north and northwest, ...

* 1994:

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, president of Hungary * 1993:

Zhelyu Zhelev Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev (; 3 March 1935 – 30 January 2015) was a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who served as the first democratically elected and non-Communist President of Bulgaria, from 1990 to 1997. Zhelev was one of the most prom ...

and Maria Zheleva, president and first lady of

* 1988: Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, president of

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

* 1979:

Félix Houphouët-Boigny Félix Houphouët-Boigny (; 18 October 1905 – 7 December 1993), affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux ("The Old One"), was an Ivorian politician and physician who served as the first List of heads of state of Ivory Coast, pr ...

, president of

Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest city and ...

* 1978:

Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...

, then vice president of

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

* 1968:

Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba (3 August 19036 April 2000) was a Tunisian politician and statesman who served as the Head of Government of Tunisia, prime minister of the Kingdom of Tunisia from 1956 to 1957, and then as the first president of Tunisia from 1 ...

and Wassila Ben Ammar, president and first lady of

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

* 1965: Chiang Kai-shek, president of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

* 1957:

Camille Chamoun Camille Nimr Chamoun (, ; 3 April 19007 August 1987) was a Lebanese politician who served as the 2nd president of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958. He was one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War. Early yea ...

, president of

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

Foreign Royalty

* 2023:

Prince Joachim of Denmark Prince Joachim of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, (; Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian; born 7 June 1969) is a member of the Danish royal family. The younger son of Queen Margrethe II, he is fifth in the line of succession to the Danish throne, ...

* 2023:

Princess Marie of Denmark Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, (born Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier; 6 February 1976) is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, the younger brother of King Frederik X of Denmar ...

* 2021:

Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland (born Olof Daniel Westling; born 15 September 1973) is a member of the Swedish royal family by marriage to Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, making him the likely next consort of Sweden. Prior to his ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

* 2021:

Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland (born Sofia Kristina Hellqvist; 6 December 1984), is a member of the Swedish royal family. Before marrying Prince Carl Philip in 2015 and becoming a princess of Sweden, Sofia was a glamour model and reali ...

* 2021:

Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Duke of Värmland (Carl Philip Edmund Bertil; born 13 May 1979) is the only son and the second of three children of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. , Prince Carl Philip is fourth in the line of successi ...

* 2008: H.H.E. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah of

Kuwait Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...

* 2008: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

(later President of the UAE) * 2008: Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed of

Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...

* 2006:

Princess Märtha Louise Princess is a title used by a female member of a regnant monarch's family or by a female ruler of a principality. The male equivalent is a prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for t ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

* 2000:

King Mohammed VI Mohammed VI (; born 21 August 1963) is King of Morocco. A member of the Alawi dynasty, he acceded to the throne on 23 July 1999, upon the death of his father, King Hassan II. Upon ascending to the throne, Mohammed initially introduced several ...

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

* 2000: Princess Astrid of

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

* 2000: Prince Lorenz of

* 2000: Prince Laurent of

* 1999: Princess Alia and husband Mohammad Al-Saleh of

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

* 1995: King Ja'afar

Yang di-Pertuan Agong The King of Malaysia, officially ''Yang di-Pertuan Agong'' ( Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ), is the constitutional monarch and Figurehead, ceremonial head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

* 1995: Queen Najihah

Raja Permaisuri Agong The Queen of Malaysia, officially ''Raja Permaisuri Agong'' ( Jawi: ) is the consort of the ''Yang di-Pertuan Agong'', the elected, constitutional federal monarch of Malaysia. Title and precedence The queen's full style and title in Mala ...

* 1991: Prince Karin Aga Khan IV * 1966: King Faisal of

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

* 1962:

King Saud Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (; 15 January 1902 – 23 February 1969) was King of Saudi Arabia from 9 November 1953 until his abdication on 2 November 1964. During his reign, he served as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to 1954 a ...

* 1960: King Rama IX of

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

* 1955: Princess Dina of

(later Queen of Jordan)

Others

* 2025:

Daniel Barenboim Daniel Moses Barenboim (; born 15 November 1942) is an Argentines, Argentine-Israeli classical pianist and conductor based in Berlin, who also has Spain, Spanish and State of Palestine, Palestinian citizenship. From 1992 until January 2023, Bare ...

, musician * 2024:

Hanke Bruins Slot Hanke Gerdina Johannette Bruins Slot (born 20 October 1977) is a Dutch politician and military veteran who served as List of Ministers of the Interior of the Netherlands, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations from 2022 to 2023 and Minis ...

, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands * 2022:

Wolfgang Schmidt Wolfgang Schmidt may refer to: * Wolfgang Schmidt (athlete) Wolfgang Schmidt (born 16 January 1954) is a German former track and field athlete who competed for East Germany at the 1976 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the discus thr ...

, Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany * 2018: Monirul Islam, musician * 2017:

Nasrul Hamid Nasrul Hamid (born 13 November 1964) is an Awami League politician. He is a former Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh State Minister of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing ...

State Minister Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior ministers ...

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

* 2017:

Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...

Ignacio Echeverría, hero * 2016:

Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...

, tenor and conductor * 2015:

Sushma Swaraj Sushma Swaraj (''née'' Sharma; 14 February 1952 – 6 August 2019; ) was an Indian lawyer, politician and diplomat who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Delhi, and also the Minister of External Affairs of India in the first Narendra Modi ...

, minister of External Affairs of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

* 2015:

Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir Mohamed Salem Ould Béchir (; born December 17, 1962) is a Mauritanian politician who served as Prime Minister of Mauritania from 2018 to 2019, following the resignation of his predecessor, Yahya Ould Hademine, and his government, in late Oc ...

, interior minister of

*2013: Fadi Al-Atrash Joumblatt, musician * 2009:

Amancio Ortega Amancio Ortega Gaona, OMC (; born 28 March 1936) is a Spanish billionaire businessman. He is the founder and former chairman of Inditex fashion group, best known for its chains of Zara and Bershka clothing and accessories shops. He is cons ...

, founder of multinational fashion company

Zara Zara may refer to: Businesses * Zara (retailer), a fashion retail company based in Spain * Zara Investment Holding, a Jordanian holding company * Continental Hotel Zara, Budapest, Hungary People and fictional characters * Zara (name), primari ...

* 2007:

Miriam Defensor Santiago Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago (June 15, 1945 – September 29, 2016) was a Filipino scholar, academic, lawyer, judge, author, stateswoman, and politician who served in all three branches of the Philippine government: judicial, executive, and l ...

, Filipino stateswoman * 2005: Abderrahim Harouchi, Moroccan minister of public health * 2005: Yehudi Menuhim, violinist and conductor * 1995:

Miguel Indurain --> Miguel is a given name and surname, the Portuguese and Spanish form of the Hebrew name Michael. It may refer to: Places * Pedro Miguel, a parish in the municipality of Horta and the island of Faial in the Azores Islands * São Miguel (disam ...

, five-times winner of the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...

* 1995:

Mahathir Mohamad Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...

, prime minister of

* 1982:

Germán Arciniegas Germán Arciniegas Angueyra (December 6, 1900 - November 29, 1999) was a Colombian historian, writer and journalist who was known for his advocacy of educational and cultural issues, as well as his outspoken opposition to dictatorship. He also se ...

, Colombian essaist and historian * 1976: Lord Killanin, president of the

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based in L ...

* 1973:

Ricardo Armando Novoa Arciniegas Ricardo Armando Novoa Arciniegas (1 September 1931 – 12 May 2017) was a El Salvador, Salvadoran attorney at law, notary, writer and politician. Early life Born the 1st of September 1931. His parents were Fidel Novoa Fuentes and Mercede ...

, Salvadorian politician * 1966:

Joaquín Rodrigo Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquess of the Gardens of Aranjuez (; 22 November 1901 – 6 July 1999), was a Spanish composer and a virtuoso pianist. He is best known for composing the '' Concierto de Aranjuez'', a cornerstone of the classical g ...

, composer * 1968:

Habib Bourguiba Jr. Habib Bourguiba Jr. (; 9 April 1927 – 28 December 2009) was a Tunisians, Tunisian diplomat and politician. Biography Jean-Claude Habib Bourguiba was the son of Habib Bourguiba, who became the first List of Presidents of Tunisia, President of ...

, minister of foreign affairs of

* 1959:

Juan Antonio Samaranch Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquess of Samaranch ( Catalan: ''Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló'', ; 17 July 1920 – 21 April 2010) was a Spanish sports administrator under the Franco regime (1973–1977) who served as the seventh ...

, president of the

*1948: J. Hunter Guthrie, American philosopher

Death of Members

Article 12 of the Royal Decree 2396/1998 establishes that upon the death of those awarded the rank of Collar, their heirs are obliged to promptly return the insignia to the Chancellery of the Order. This return will be made through the Spanish Diplomatic Representations or Consular Offices abroad, if the relatives reside outside Spain. The Chancellery of the Order will issue the corresponding document, which accredits said return. The death of those awarded the other ranks does not oblige their heirs to return the insignia, although the death must be communicated to the Chancellery of the Order by the same procedure indicated above, for due record.

Rescission of Distinctions

Article 14 of the Royal Decree 2396/1998 establishes that the person decorated with any grade of the Order of Civil Merit who is convicted of a criminal act, by virtue of a final sentence, may be deprived of the title and the privileges and honors inherent to their status. To this end, the Chancellery of the Order may initiate the corresponding informative procedure, in which the interested party will be given a hearing. The removal will be agreed upon by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the grades of Commander by Number, Commander, Officer's Cross, Cross, and Silver Cross, and by the Council of Ministers for the grades of Collar and Grand Cross.

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 Commander grade File:Star of the Royal Order of Civil Merit (1926).png, Original design of the Star of the Royal Order of Civil Merit (1926)

References

External links

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