Order of the Falcon

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This article is about the Icelandic order. For the Czechoslovak order, see Order of the Falcon (Czechoslovakia).
Order of the Falcon
Ster Orde van de Valk IJsland.jpg
Grand cross star
Type State order
Grand Master President of Iceland
Established July 3, 1921
Order of the Falcon ribbon.jpg
Ribbon of the Order of the Falcon

The Order of the Falcon (Icelandic: Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.[1]

Contents

History and appointments [edit]

During a royal visit to Iceland, King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.[1]

New statutes were incorporated for the Order on July 11, 1944, when Iceland became independent. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally.[1]

The President of Iceland is the designated Grand Master of the Order. A five-member council makes recommendations on awards to the Grand Master, who then grants the award. However, the Grand Master may award the Order without recommendations from the Order Council. The Grand Master and the Chairman of the Order Council then sign the Letters Patent, which are given to those who receive the awards.

Classes [edit]

Commander's star
Knight's Crosses on current suspension and older crown suspension

The Order has five classes:[1]

  1. Keðja með stórkrossstjörnu or Collar with Grand Cross, only for heads of state
  2. Stórkrossriddari or Grand Cross
  3. Stórriddari með stjörnu or Commander with Star
  4. Stórriddari or Commander
  5. Riddari or Knight

Insignia [edit]

The collar is gilded metal, consists of links bearing the Icelandic coat-of-arms and blue-enamelled discs bearing the white falcon.

The badge consists of a gilt cross, enamelled in white, with a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.

The star is a silver, eight-pointed star. For the Grand Cross class it has the badge of the Order superimposed upon it; for the Grand Knight with Star class it has a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.

The ribbon is blue with white-red-white border stripes.

In summary:

  • Grand Cross - wears the badge on a collar or a sash on the left shoulder,[2] plus a star on the left chest;
  • Grand Knight with Star - wears the badge on a necklet, plus a star on the left chest;
  • Grand Knight - wears the badge on a necklet;
  • Knight - wears the badge on a chest ribbon.

If a holder is promoted to a higher rank, the lower rank's insignia must be returned. The insignia is retained during the recipient's lifetime, but it must be returned to the Icelandic Government upon his or her death.

Ribbon bars
ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Cross BAR.png
Grand Cross with Collar
ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Cross BAR.png
Grand Cross
ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Knight with Star BAR.png
Commander with Star
ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Knight BAR.png
Commander
ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Knight BAR.png
Knight


Notable recipients [edit]

Source [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "The Order of the Falcon". Website of the President of Iceland. English.forseti.is. Retrieved July 1, 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c d Seegers Press, Photo from State visit of Swedish Royal Family in Iceland
  3. ^ Caroline Richmond, Obituary of William Paton Cleland (1912-2005), British Medical Journal, 2005, 330; 1212; pdf

External links [edit]

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