Order of the Redeemer
The Order of the Redeemer ( Greek Τάγμα του Σωτήρος , Tagma tou Sotiros ) was founded by the Greek National Assembly on July 31, 1829 and statutes were provided by King Otto I on May 20, 1833.
history
After the long struggle for freedom against the Ottoman Empire , Greece gained independence from Turkish sovereignty in 1830 and was declared an independent kingdom . Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , who later became King of the Belgians, rejected the Greek crown, which was then transferred to Prince Otto of Bavaria, son of King Ludwig I , in 1832 .
Even before King Otto I of the Wittelsbach family arrived, the fourth Greek National Assembly founded the Order of the Redeemer in 1829 . It was meant to remind of the country's redemption from the Turkish yoke.
Order classes
The order consists of five classes and the number of holders is limited:
-
Grand Cross (12) -
Grand Commander (30) -
Commander (70) -
Gold Cross (240) -
Silver cross (unlimited)
Initially, the order was only awarded to Greeks who had distinguished themselves in the struggle for freedom. Later there was also an award for excellent services rendered to the state to nationals and foreigners as a special award.
Order decoration
Since 1863, the medal has been a white-enameled, gold-rimmed St. John's Cross, which hangs on the golden royal crown. A green enameled oak or laurel wreath appears in the corners. The medallion shows the image of the Redeemer on a golden background and is surrounded by a gold-framed blue circlet, which bears the following Old Testament motto in golden Greek characters:
- “Η ΔΕΞΙΑ ΣΟΥ ΧΕΙΡ, ΚΥΡΙΕ, ΔΕΔΟΞΑΣΤΑΙ ΕΝ ΙΣΧΥΙ” ( Genesis , 15: 6; Lord, your right hand is glorified in its power).
The reverse of the medallion contains the Greek coat of arms with the following legend:
- “Η ΕΝ ΑΡΓΕΙ Δ´ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΩΝ ΣΥΝΕΛΕΥΣΙΣ - 1829” (donated by the IV. Greek National Assembly in Argos 1829).
As the name suggests, the knights of the Silver Cross wear a cross in which all parts are made of silver; in the higher classes, they are made of gold.
The medal is worn on a light blue ribbon with white side stripes.
Known porters
literature
- Paul Ohm Hieronymussen: Handbook of European Orders in Color ("Europaeiske ordner i farver"). 2nd edition Universitas Verlag, Berlin 1975, ISBN 3-8004-0948-8 .
- Arnhard Graf Klenau (Hrsg.): European medals from 1700. Catalog, without Germany. VVA et al., Gütersloh et al. 1978, ISBN 3-921566-05-3 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Description of all orders, the images of which are contained in the color print work: "The orders, coats of arms and flags of all regents and states"., Author:? , Leipzig, 1883–1887
