Order Of The Dannebrog

The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as ''White Knights'' to distinguish them from the ''Blue Knights'' who were members of the Order of the Elephant. In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes.

The ''Grand Commander'' class is reserved to persons of princely origin. It is awarded only to royalty with close family ties with the Danish Royal House. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order.

Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests.

Insignia

The ''badge'' of the Order is a white enamelled Dannebrog cross (i.e., a cross pattée, the lower arm being longer than the others) with a red enamelled border, for the Knights in silver, and for everyone else in gold or silver gilt. At the top of this cross is the royal cypher of the bestowing monarch, crowned with the distinctive Danish royal crown On its front, the cross bears the royal cyphers of Christian V at its centre, as well as the motto of the Order: (God and the King) on its arms. On its reverse are found the crowned royal cyphers of Valdemar II Sejr, Christian V and Frederik VI, as well as the years 1219, 1671 and 1808, the years that each of them ascended the Danish throne. In each of the four angles of the cross is found a small Danish royal crown.

The classes are:
* Special class
**Grand Commander () — wears the badge with diamonds on a necklet (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies), plus the star on the left chest;
* First Order class
**Grand Cross () — wears the badge on a collar or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
* Second Order class
**Commander 1st Class () — wears the breast cross on the left chest, plus (for gentlemen) the badge on a neck ribbon;
**Commander () — wears the badge on a neck ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies);
* Third Order class
**Knight 1st Class () — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) with rosette on the left chest;
**Knight () — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) on the left chest.

The Grand Cross can, as a special honor, be awarded "with diamonds" (S.K.i diam.) (). There is also a Cross of Honour (D.Ht.) ().

The ''collar'' of the Order is made of gold, with small enamelled Dannebrog crosses alternating with alternating crowned royal cyphers representing Kings Valdemar II Sejr and Christian V, the reputed and actual founders of the Order. When the collar is worn the sash is not worn.

The ''star'' of the Order is an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays with an enamelled Dannebrog cross (similar to the front of the badge but without the royal cypher above and the royal crowns between the arms of the cross) at the centre.

The ''breast cross'' of the Order is similar to the cross on the ''star'' but larger and with faceted silver instead of white enamel and without the silver rays of the ''star''.

The ''ribbon'' of the Order is white silk moiré with red borders, the national colours of Denmark.

The Order originally had a distinctive habit worn by the knights (after 1808, by the Knights Grand Cross) on very solemn occasions. The habit consisted of a white doublet