Military awards and decorations

Award, usually a medal of some sort, mark of honor

"Military Order of Merit" redirects here. For the Persian order, see Military Order of Merit (Iran).

Not to be confused with Military order (religious society).

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Wall of Medals in the French Foreign Legion Museum

Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement.[1] A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.

Civil decorations awarded to military personnel should not be considered military decorations, although some orders of chivalry have civil and military divisions. Decorations received by police and fire brigade personnel may sometimes be considered alongside military decorations, on which they may be modelled, although they are strictly not military awards.

Military awards and decorations may take the form of medal ribbons or miniature medals, which are mounted together on a bar known as a barrette.[2]

## History

[edit]

See also: List of military decorations, Civil decoration, State decoration, and Neck decoration

The I class of the Mannerheim Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty from 1941

Decorations have been known since ancient times. The Egyptian Old Kingdom had the Order of the Golden Collar while the New Kingdom awarded the Order of the Golden Fly.[3] Celts and Romans wore a torc or received other military decorations such as the hasta pura, a spear without a tip. Dayaks wore and still wear tattoos, etc. Necklaces and bracelets were given during the early Middle Ages, evolving into large, richly jewelled necklaces, often with a pendant (commonly a medal) attached.

The oldest military decorations still in use is Sweden's För tapperhet i fält ('For Valour in the Field') and För tapperhet till sjöss ('For Valour at Sea') awarded to officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces who have—as the medal names suggest—shown valour in the field or at sea in wartime. The medal was instituted by Swedish king Gustav III on 28 May 1789, during his war against Russia. Whilst technically it is still active, it is for practical purposes inactive, not having been awarded since 1915. The next oldest is the Austro-Hungarian Tapferkeits Medaille Honour Medal for Bravery 1789–1792. This medal was instituted on 19 July 1789, by the Emperor Joseph II.

Another of the oldest military decorations still in use is Poland's War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin for 'For Military Valour'). It was first awarded in 1792.

## Forgery

[edit]

See also: Military imposter and Medal inflation

Medals have been forged by many people to make the medal appear more valuable or to make one look like a more decorated soldier. Medal forgeries can include: adding bars, engraving a famous soldier's name on it or creating a whole new medal. Medal forgery is illegal in most countries and can be punishable by imprisonment.

## Contemporary use

[edit]

Today military decorations include:

* Orders of merit;
* Bravery awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
* Distinguished service awards, in the form of a cross, star or medal on a ribbon;
* Campaign medals worn on a ribbon;
* Service medals worn on a ribbon;
* Awards for entire units, in the form of battle honours, campaign streamers, fourragères, or unit citations.

In most NATO militaries, only the service ribbons are normally worn on everyday occasions (as opposed to the actual medals).

### Examples

[edit]

List of highest military decorations by country

* Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations
* Orders, decorations, and medals of Belgium
* Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces
* Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces
* Israeli military decorations
* Awards and decorations of the Russian Federation
* Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union
* Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain
* Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom
* Awards and decorations of the United States military

## See also

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3.
2. ^ "Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal Regulations". The Governor General of Canada. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
3. ^ David, Rosalie (1998). The Ancient Egyptians: Beliefs and Practices. Sussex Academic Press. p. 101\. ISBN 1898723729.

* v
* t
* e

Highest military awards for gallantry

List of highest military decorations by country

Current|

* Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross (Argentina)
* National Hero of Armenia (Armenia)
* National Hero of Azerbaijan title (Azerbaijan)
* Bir Sreshtho (Bangladesh)
* Hero of Belarus title (Belarus)
* Order of Bravery (Bulgaria)
* Order of August First (China)
* Order of Duke Domagoj (Croatia)
* Valour Cross (Denmark)
* Cross of Liberty (Estonia)
* Mannerheim Cross (Finland)
* Légion d'honneur (France)
* Cross of Honour for Valour (Germany)
* Cross of Valour (Greece)
* Param Vir Chakra (wartime) / Ashoka Chakra (peacetime) (India)
* Order of Fat'h (Iran)
* Military Medal for Gallantry (Ireland)
* Medal of Valor (Israel)
* Gold Medal of Military Valor (Italy)
* Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (Malaysia)
* Military Order of William (Netherlands)
* War Cross (Norway)
* Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan)
* Medal of Valor (Philippines)
* War Order Virtuti Militari (wartime) / Order Krzyża Wojskowego (peacetime) (Poland)
* Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal)
* Order of Michael the Brave (Romania)
* Hero of the Russian Federation title (Russian Federation)
* Order of the White Eagle with swords (Serbia)
* Order of the Somali Star (Somalia)
* Nkwe ya Gauta (South Africa)
* Laureate Cross of St. Ferdinand (Spain)
* Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Sri Lanka)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (Sweden)
* Order of Rama (Thailand)
* Medal of Honor (Turkey)
* Order of Katonga (Uganda)
* Order of the Gold Star (Ukraine)
* Victoria Cross (United Kingdom
* Australia
* Canada
* New Zealand)
* Medal of Honor (United States)

Obsolete|

* Order of Saint Louis (Kingdom of France)
* Military Order of Maria Theresa (Austria-Hungary)
* Medal of Bravery (Kingdom of Hungary)
* Pour le Mérite (Kingdom of Prussia)
* Military Order of Max Joseph (Kingdom of Bavaria)
* Military Order of St. Henry (Kingdom of Saxony)
* Military Merit Order (Kingdom of Württemberg)
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Nazi Germany)
* Order of the Golden Kite (Empire of Japan)
* Order of Lāčplēsis (Latvia)
* Grand Cross of Valour (Rhodesia)
* Laureate Plate of Madrid (Second Spanish Republic)
* Castle of Good Hope Decoration (South Africa)
* Vietnam Military Merit Medal (South Vietnam)
* Hero of the Soviet Union (Soviet Union)
* Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords (Kingdom of Yugoslavia)
* Order of Freedom (SFR Yugoslavia)
* Grass Crown (Ancient Rome)
* Hero of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan)

* v
* t
* e

Phaleristics

Auxiliary science of history and numismatics about orders, decorations, and medals

Distinctions
(Lists)|

| By conferee|

| Founts of honour*|

* States
* and their national/public/official authorities
* Dynasties
* heads of currently or formerly sovereign royal families

|

Private|

* Ecclesiastical
* Organisations
* Commercial
* (Self-styled order)

By type|

| Orders|

* Order of chivalry
* Military order
* Order of merit
* Royal family order

| Titles (Styles,
Post-nominal)|

| By function|

* Grand master
* Chancellor
* Treasurer
* Assessor
* Bailiff
* Prior
* Chaplain
* Master of ceremonies

|

* Grand Cross / Grand Cordon
* Commander
* Officer
* Hospitaller
* Knight/Dame
* Postulant
* Squire
* Page

Jurisdictions|

* Charter
* Bailiwick
* Chapter
* Commandery
* Obedience
* Grand Lodge
* Lodge

Others,
by field|

| Military (List)|

* List of highest
* Campaign medal
* Law enforcement

|

Civilian (List)|

| Society|

* Peace
* Intellectual freedom
* Human rights
* Law
* Humanitarianism
* Politics
* Volunteer

|

Culture|

* Architecture
* Art
* Film
* History
* Literature
* Music
* Philosophy
* Poetry
* Theatre

* Science
* Religion-related
* Ecclesiastical
* Sports
* Scouting
* Beauty

By insignia
(Named after
people)|

| For wearing
(decorations)|

| Formal|

* Chelengk
* Collar
* Livery collar
* Grand Cross / Grand Cordon
* with sash
* Medal
* Necklet
* Medal bar
* Medal ribbon
* Robe of honour
* Tiraz

|

Other|

* Rosette
* Award pin
* Lapel pin
* Collar pin
* Tie pin
* Badge
* Heraldic
* Pilgrim
* Championship belt
* Embroidered patch
* Epaulette
* Ribbon
* Ring
* Championship ring
* Button
* Campaign
* Service
* Shoulder mark
* Tie clip

Prizes|

* Booby prize
* Wooden spoon
* Deal toy
* Plaquette
* Prize book
* Prize money
* Prize of war
* War trophy
* Human trophy
* Rosette
* Trophy
* Acrylic
* Participation
* Prizes known as the Nobel of a field

Ceremonies
and events|

* Accolade
* Vigil
* Feoffment
* Passage fee
* Festival
* Vow
* Collar day

Related
organisations|

* Family history society
* Fraternity
* Confraternity
* Fraternal order
* Fraternities and sororities
* Secret society
* Guild
* Syndicate
* Learned society
* Fellowship
* Honor society
* Hereditary society
* Club
* Gentlemen's club
* International Commission for Orders of Chivalry
* Magical organization
* Religious order

Related
concepts|

* Chivalry
* Numismatics
* Heraldry
* Vexillology
* Service flag
* Battle honour
* Campaign streamer
* Nobility
* Order of precedence
* Taonga
* Honorary degree
* Devotional medal
* Awareness ribbon
* Code of conduct
* Code of honor
* High society

* * = Direct or indirect reference to fount of honour is the accepted criterion for official distinctions
* Category:Orders, decorations, and medals
* Wikipedia:WikiProject Orders, decorations, and medals
* Wikipedia:WikiProject Awards

Authority control databases

National|

* Czech Republic
* Latvia

Other|

* NARA

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