Order of St. Olav

Norwegian chivalric order

* Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
* Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden

Grand Cross set of the Order (1st type)

Awarded by

King of Norway
Type| Chivalric order with five degrees
Established| 21 August 1847; 177 years ago (1847-08-21)
Motto| RET OG SANDHED
(Justice and Truth)
Criteria| Remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity
Status| Currently constituted
Grand Master| King Harald V
Grades|

* Grand Cross with Collar
* Grand Cross
* Commander with Star
* Commander
* Knight 1st Class
* Knight

Precedence
Next (higher)| Medal for Outstanding Civic Service
Next (lower)| Royal Norwegian Order of Merit

Riband of the Order of St. Olav

The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (Norwegian: Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or Sanct Olafs Orden, the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav.[1]

Just before the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the Order of the Norwegian Lion was instituted in 1904 by King Oscar II, but no appointments were awarded by his successor, King Haakon VII. The Order of St. Olav thus became the kingdom's only order of chivalry for the next 80 years. The Grand Master of the order is the reigning monarch of Norway. It is used to reward individuals for remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity. Since 1985, appointments to the order has only been conferred upon Norwegian citizens, though foreign heads of state and royalty may be appointed as a matter of courtesy.

## Grades and classes

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The reigning monarch of Norway is the order's Grand Master.[2] The order consists of three grades, of which two are divided into two classes,[1] and may be awarded for either civilian or military contributions, in descending order of distinction. The collar is awarded as a separate distinction of the Grand Cross to those recipients deemed exceptionally worthy.

* Grand Cross (Storkors)  - awarded to heads of state as a courtesy and in rare cases to individuals for merit; wears the badge on a collar (chain), plus the star on the left chest. If the collar is not worn the badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder;
* Commander, which is divided into two classes:
* Commander with Star (Kommandør med stjerne)  - wears the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;
* Commander (Kommandør)  - wears the badge on a necklet;
* Knight, which is divided into two classes:
* Knight 1st Class (Ridder av 1. klasse)  - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
* Knight (Ridder)  - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

Ribbon bars

Grand Cross with Collar |
Grand Cross |
Commander with Star |
Commander |
Knight 1st Class |
Knight

## Insignia

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The Star of The Order of Saint Olav Design of the collar of the Order of St. Olav since 1906.

The collar of the Order is in gold, with five enamelled and crowned monograms "O", five enamelled and crowned coat-of-arms of Norway, and 10 gold crosses bottony each flanked by two battle axes with silver blades and golden shafts (The latter element is also featured in the coat of arms of the Church of Norway).

The badge of the Order is a white enamelled Maltese Cross, in silver for the knight class and in gilt of the higher classes; crowned monograms "O" appear between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is red with the golden Norwegian lion rampart bearing a battle-axe; the reverse disc bears the King Oscar's motto «Ret og Sandhed»  - "Justice and Truth" in Norwegian; both discs are surrounded by a white-blue-white ring. The cross is topped by a crown;[3] military awards have crossed swords between the crown and the cross.

The star of the Order for the Grand Cross is an eight-pointed silver star with faceted rays, bearing the obverse of the badge of the Order (minus the crown on the top).

The star for Commander with Star is a silver faceted Maltese Cross, with gilt crowned monograms "O" between the arms of the cross. The central disc is red with the golden Norwegian lion rampart bearing a battle axe, surrounded by a white-blue-white ring.[4]

The ribbon of the Order is red with white-blue-white edge stripes.[1]

In very exceptional circumstances the Order may be awarded "with diamonds", in which case a ring of diamonds replaces the white-blue-white enamel ring surrounding the central disc on the front of the badge as well as in the crown.[5][6]

The insignia are expected to be returned either upon the receiver's advancement to a higher level of the order or upon his or her death. The insignia are produced in Norway by craftsmen.

## Eligibility and appointment

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The King makes appointments upon the recommendation of a six-member commission, none of whom may be a member of the government, consisting of a chancellor, vice chancellor, the Lord Chamberlain (acting as treasurer), and three other representatives. The Lord Chamberlain nominates the members of the commission, and the monarch approves them.[7] Nominations to the order are directed at the commission through the county governor.

Princes and Princesses with succession rights to the throne are appointed to the highest degree upon reaching their age of majority.[8]

## Ranking

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The Order of St. Olav is the highest civilian honour currently conferred by Norway and only ranks after the military War Cross among all Norwegian decorations still awarded in the general ranking.

In the order of precedence used at the royal court of Norway, bearers of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav with collar are ranked 15th in the order of precedence, directly after the Mistress of the Robes and generals and directly before recipients of the War Cross with Sword. Bearers of the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav are ranked 16th.

## Current holders of the Grand Cross

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This list contains holders of the Grand Cross, some of whom have also been awarded the Collar and gives the year of their appointment. The list is collated alphabetically by the last name; those recipients not possessing the last name, such as royalty and most Icelanders are collated by the first name. Six of the listed are not heads of states or royals; these are marked by names in bold. Before the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit was created in 1985, appointments to the Order of St Olav was awarded to members of a foreign delegation during state visits. Many holders of the Grand Cross who are not heads of state are not listed here.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

|

Country  | Name  | Charge  | Grand Cross
with Collar  | Grand Cross  | Year

|
|
|
|
|

Argentina | Mauricio Macri | Former President |  | Y | 2018
Austria | Heinz Fischer |  | 2007
Belgium | Albert II | Former King | Y |  | 1964
Mathilde | Queen |  | Y | 2003
Paola | Former Queen |  | 1997
Philippe | King |  | 2003
Brazil | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | President |
Bulgaria | Georgi Parvanov | Former President |  | 2006
Croatia | Ivo Josipović |  | 2011
Denmark | Benedikte | Princess |  | 1974
Frederik X | King (when Crown Prince) | Y | 2024, 1990
Joachim | Prince |  | 1991
Margrethe II | Former Queen (when Princess) | Y | 1958
Marie | Princess |  | Y | 2014
Mary | Queen (when Crown Princess) |  | 2005
Christian | Crown Prince (when Prince) |  | 2023
Estonia | Arnold Rüütel | Former President |  | 2002
Toomas Hendrik Ilves |  | 2014
Finland | Alexander Stubb | President |  | 2024
Sauli Niinistö | Former President |  | 2012
Tarja Halonen |  | 2000
Tellervo Koivisto | Former President's wife |  | 1983
Germany | Joachim Gauck | Former President |  | 2014
Horst Köhler |  | 2007
Marianne von Weizsäcker | Former first lady |  | 1986
Iran | Farah Pahlavi | Former Empress |  | 1965
Iceland | Guðni Th. Jóhannesson | Former President |  | 2017
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |  | 1982
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir | Y |
Italy | Sergio Mattarella | President |  | Y | 2016
Japan | Akihito | Emperor Emeritus | Y | 2001, 1953
Masako | Empress (when Crown Princess) |  | 2001
Michiko | Empress Emerita |
Naruhito | Emperor (when Crown Prince) |
Nobuko | Princess |
Jordan | Abdullah II | King |  | 2000
Hussein | Crown Prince |  | 2020
Hassan | Prince (when Crown Prince) |  | 1980
Rania | Queen |  | 2000
Latvia | Guntis Ulmanis | Former President |  | 1998
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga |  | 2000
Andris Bērziņš |  | 2015
Lithuania | Valdas Adamkus |  | 1998
Dalia Grybauskaitė |  | 2011
Luxembourg | Henri | Grand Duke | Y |
Maria Teresa | Grand Duchess |  | Y | 1996
Netherlands | Beatrix | Former Queen (when Princess) | Y |  | 1964
Margriet | Princess |  | Y
Willem-Alexander | King | Y | 2021, 1996
Máxima | Queen |  | 2013
Norway | Astrid | Princess | Y |  | 1956
Kjell Magne Bondevik | Former Prime Minister |  | Y | 2004
Lars Petter Forberg | Former Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household |
Åge Bernhard Grutle |  | 2015
Haakon | Crown Prince | Y |  | 1991
Magne Hagen | Former Cabinet Secretary to the King |  | Y | 2000
Harald V | King | Y
Grand Master |  | 1955, 1991
Ingrid Alexandra | Princess |  | Y | 2022
Märtha Louise | Y |  | 1989
Mette-Marit | Crown Princess | Y | 2016, 2001
Edvard Moser | Professor, psychologist and neuroscientist, Nobel laureat |  | 2018
May-Britt Moser |
Gry Mølleskog | Former Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household |  | 2022
Arne Omholt | Former Marshal of the Court |  | 2016
Carsten Smith | Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway |  | 2003
Sonja | Queen | Y |  | 1972
Sverre Magnus | Prince |  | Y | 2023
Berit Tversland | Former Cabinet Secretary to the King |  | 2012
Poland | Andrzej Duda | President |  | 2016
Bronislaw Komorowski | Former President |  | 2012
Aleksander Kwaśniewski |  | 1996
Lech Wałęsa |  | 1995
Portugal | António Ramalho Eanes | Y |  | 1978
Aníbal Cavaco Silva |  | Y | 2008
Romania | Emil Constantinescu |  | 1999
South Korea | Moon Jae-in |  | 2019
Slovakia | Andrej Kiska |  | 2018
Ivan Gašparovič |  | 2010
Slovenia | Borut Pahor |  | 2019
Danilo Türk |  | 2011
Spain | Cristina | Princess |  | 1995
Elena |
Felipe | King |
Juan Carlos I | Former King | Y |  | 1982
Sofía | Former Queen |  | Y
Sweden | Carl XVI Gustaf | King  | Y |  | 1974
Carl Philip | Prince |  | Y | 2005
Christina | Princess |  | 1992
Daniel | Prince |  | 2022
Désirée | Princess |  | 1992
Madeleine |  | 2005
Silvia | Queen |  | 1982
Victoria | Crown Princess |  | 1995
Thailand | Sirikit | Former Queen |  | 1965
Turkey | Abdullah Gül | Former President |  | 2013
United Kingdom | Charles III | King | Y |  | 1978
Andrew | Prince and Duke of York |  | Y | 1988
Edward | Prince and Duke of Kent |
Richard | Prince and Duke of Gloucester |  | 1973

* Order of Saint Olav Grand Cross with swords badge 1st Type

* Order of Saint Olav Grand Cross with swords badge 2nd Type

* Order of St Olav - Commander

* Order of St Olav - Commander

* Order of St Olav - Commander

* Order of St. Olav Grand Cross badge

* Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star

* Order of St. Olav Knights Class

* Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star - 2nd Type

* Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star - 1st Type

* Order of St. Olav Collar and Star

* Order of St. Olav Grand Officer Star - 1st Type

* Order of St. Olav Grand Officer Badge - 1st Type

* Order of St. Olav Knight - 1st Type

## See also

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* Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway
* St. Olav's Medal

## References

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1. ^ a b c Hieronymussen & Lundø 1968, p. 102.
2. ^ Statutes, §2
3. ^ Hieronymussen & Lundø 1968, fig. 8, p. 102.
4. ^ "Utnevnelse til St. Olavs Orden". Retrieved 21 September 2014.
5. ^ "1071-1072 (Norges statskalender / 1940)". runeberg.org (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-08-23.
6. ^ "1011-1012 (Norges statskalender / 1947)". runeberg.org (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-08-23.
7. ^ section 5, Statues of the Order of St. Olav
8. ^ section 3, Statues of the Order of St. Olav

### Works cited

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* Hieronymussen, Poul Ohm; Lundø, Jørgen, eds. (1968). Eurooppalaiset kunniamerkit värikuvina [Europæiske ordner i farver] (in Finnish). Translated by Karnila, Christer. Porvoo: WSOY. OCLC 466954328.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of St. Olav.

* The Order of St. Olav Website of the Royal Court
* Statutes of the Order of St. Olav (in Norwegian) Website of the Royal Court

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Sweden