Order of the Falcons

This article explains the Icelandic Order of the Falcon, for the other meaning see Order of the Falcon (Czechoslovakia) or the Saxon House Order of the White Falcon .

Breast star of the Grand Cross

Knight's Cross in the current version and earlier version with a crown

The Order of the Falcon ( Icelandic hin íslenska fálkaorða ) is the national order of merit of Iceland . It was donated on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X. on the occasion of his visit to the island kingdom, which was then ruled in personal union with Denmark , as an Icelandic order in three classes.

Order classes

The order originally consisted of three classes. On June 15, 1926, the Komtur with a star was added as a further class. The order currently consists of five classes, with the highest class “Chain with Star of the Grand Cross” only being awarded to heads of state.

Since July 11, 1944, the award has been made by the Icelandic President , who is also the Grand Master of the Order.

• Chain with the star of the Grand Cross (Keðja ásamt stórkrossstjörnu)
• Grand Cross (Stórkross)
• Commander with a star (Stórriddarakross með stjörnu)
• Commander (Stórriddarakross)
• Knight (Riddarakross)

Order decoration

The medal is a white enameled, gold-rimmed paw high cross with beveled ends. The oval medallion is enamelled blue on the front, rimmed with gold and shows a silver falcon. The reverse was adorned with the initials CCX (Christian X. of Denmark and Iceland) and the inscription FYRSTI DESEMBER 1918 all around until 1944 . With the proclamation of the republic, the inscription was changed to SEYTJÁNDI JÚNI 1944 (re-establishment June 17, 1944).

Carrying method

The Grand Cross is carried on a sash from the right shoulder to the left hip and with a breast star . The Grand Cross can also be worn on a collar on special occasions . This is made of gold and alternately shows a falcon on a blue background on 25 medallions and the Icelandic national coat of arms on 25 medallions. The commander's cross is worn as a neck medal and the cross for knights on a ribbon on the left half of the chest. The ribbon is sky blue with white side stripes.

All insignia are to be returned after the death of the borrower.

Known porters

The Order of the Falcon was awarded to exponents of cultural life such as the singer Björk , the writer Arnaldur Indriðason , the actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson or the director Friðrik Þór Friðriksson , to scientists such as the German meteorologist Ferdinand Dannmeyer , the Swiss old Germanist Andreas Heusler or his compatriot, the Nordist Oskar Bandle , to athletes - including the Icelandic national handball team for the silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games - and to personalities in Icelandic and international politics such as Icelandic Prime Minister Ólafur Thors and German Chancellor Willy Brandt .

See also : Category: Bearers of the Order of the Falcons

literature

• Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann , Ottfried Neubecker (ed.): Ordens-Lexikon. Part 3. The Order Collection, Berlin 1964.

Web links

• Hin íslenska fálkaorða , Homepage of the Falcon Order (in Icelandic)
• Database query

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hin íslenska fálkaorða ( Icelandic ) Forseti Íslands. Retrieved August 6, 2016.