Order of Civil Merit (Bulgaria)
The Order of Civil Merit was founded on August 2nd, 1891 by Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria and awarded to nationals and foreigners for general services to the Principality and Kingdom of Bulgaria .
Order classes
- Grand Cross
- Grand Officer
- commander
- officer
-
Knight
- with crown
- without crown
-
Cross of Merit
- with crown
- without crown
Starting in 1908, the first three classes could also be awarded with diamonds for exceptional merits .
Order decoration
The medal is a gold-rimmed, white enamelled Pisan cross between the arms of the cross are green enamelled oak branches with fruits.
In the red enamelled medallion the white enamelled stylized ciphers FI (Ferdinand I) can be seen. The medallion is surrounded by a ring with the inscription за Гражданско заслуги (For civil merit). On the reverse a lion turned to the right with the coat of arms of the Princely House and the inscription 2. Август · 1891 (August 2, 1891).
The Cross of Merit is made of silver-plated bronze and completely without enamel .
Until 1908, the medal (1st model) was surmounted by a round princely crown. With the elevation to the kingdom, a square tsar's crown (2nd model) was used.
Carrying method
The grand cross is carried on a sash from the right shoulder to the left hip and with an eight-pointed breast star on which the medal is placed. Grand officer and commander decorate the award as a neck medal , grand officers also with a four-pointed breast star.
Officer's, Knight's and Merit Cross are worn on the ribbon on the left side of the chest. A rosette is attached to the officers' ribbon.
The ribbon is white with light green side and red edge stripes.
Medal bearer
- Johann Strauss (son) (date previously unknown)
- Arthur Zimmermann (1912)
- Pierce Charles de Lacy O'Mahony (1915)
- Hermann Senkowsky (1941)
- August Beckmann
- Kurt Klaudy (1938)
literature
- Arnhard Graf Klenau: European Order from 1700. Klenau, Rosenheim 1978, ISBN 3-921566-05-3 .
- Dimitri Romanoff: The Orders, Medals and History of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Balkan Heritage, Rungsted Kyst 1982, ISBN 87-981267-0-9 .