Order of the Dannebrog

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Order of the Dannebrog
Dannebrogordenen
Order of the Dannebrog Grand Cross Star 1850.jpg
Order of the Dannebrog, Breast Star with Grand Cross, unofficial model
Awarded by
Royal coat of arms of Denmark.svg
Sovereign of Denmark[1]
Award of  Kingdom of Denmark
Type Chivalric order with six classes, one class augmentation, and one decoration
Ribbon DNK Order of Danebrog Grand Cross BAR.png
Grand Commander

100px
Grand Cross with Diamonds
100px
Grand Cross
100px
Commander 1st Class
100px
Commander
100px
Knight 1st Class
100px
Knight
100px
Cross of Honour
Motto Gud og Kongen (God and the King)
Status Currently constituted
Grand Master Queen Margrethe II
Post-nominals <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
(S.Kmd)
(S.K.i diam.)
(S.K.)
(K1)
(K)
(R1)
(R)
Statistics
Established 12 October 1671[2]
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of the Elephant
Next (lower) Medal of Merit
Related Decoration of the Cross of Honour of the Dannebrog
File:Presentación de Cartas Credenciales en Dinamarca (10837327896).jpg
Marshall of the Queen with Grand Cross

The Order of the Dannebrog (Danish: Dannebrogordenen)[3] is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank,[4] who formed a single class known as White Knights to distinguish them from the Blue Knights who were members of the Order of the Elephant.[5] In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes.

The Grand Commander class is reserved to persons of princely origin. It is awarded only to royalty with close family ties with the Danish Royal House. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order.

Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests.

Insignia

The badge of the Order is a white enamelled Dannebrog cross (i.e., a cross pattée, the lower arm being longer than the others) with a red enamelled border, for the Knights in silver, and for everyone else in gold or silver gilt. At the top of this cross is the royal cypher of the bestowing monarch, crowned with the distinctive Danish royal crown[lower-alpha 1] On its front, the cross bears the royal cyphers of Christian V at its centre, as well as the motto of the Order: Gud og Kongen (God and the King) on its arms. On its reverse are found the crowned royal cyphers of Valdemar II Sejr, Christian V and Frederik VI,[lower-alpha 2] as well as the years 1219, 1671 and 1808, the years that each of them ascended the Danish throne. In each of the four angles of the cross is found a small Danish royal crown.

File:Wearing of the insignia of the Order of the Dannebrog (gentlemens).svg
The five classes wearing their respective insignia (gentlemen): 1: Ridder; 2: Ridder af 1. grad; 3: Kommandør; 4: Kommandør af 1. grad; 5: Storkors.

The classes are:

  • Special class
    • Grand Commander (Storkommandør) — wears the badge with diamonds[lower-alpha 3] on a necklet (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies), plus the star on the left chest;
  • First Order class
    • Grand Cross (Storkors) — wears the badge on a collar or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
  • Second Order class
    • Commander 1st Class (Kommandør af 1. grad) — wears the breast cross on the left chest, plus (for gentlemen) the badge on a neck ribbon;
    • Commander (Kommandør) — wears the badge on a neck ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies);
  • Third Order class
    • Knight 1st Class (Ridder af 1. grad) — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) with rosette on the left chest;
    • Knight (Ridder) — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) on the left chest.

The Grand Cross can, as a special honor, be awarded "with diamonds" (S.K.i diam.) (Storkors i diamanter). There is also a Cross of Honour (D.Ht.) (Dannebrogordens Hæderstegn).[2]

The collar of the Order is made of gold, with small enamelled Dannebrog crosses alternating with alternating crowned royal cyphers representing Kings Valdemar II Sejr and Christian V, the reputed and actual founders of the Order. When the collar is worn the sash is not worn.

The star of the Order is an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays with an enamelled Dannebrog cross (similar to the front of the badge but without the royal cypher above and the royal crowns between the arms of the cross) at the centre.

The breast cross of the Order is similar to the cross on the star but larger and with faceted silver instead of white enamel and without the silver rays of the star.

The ribbon of the Order is white silk moiré with red borders, the national colours of Denmark.[2]

File:Details of the costume of the Knights of the Dannebrog ca 1750 by Marcus Tuscher.jpg
Details of the vestments of the Knights of the Dannebrog. Ca. 1750.

The Order originally had a distinctive habit worn by the knights (after 1808, by the Knights Grand Cross) on very solemn occasions. The habit consisted of a white doublet, white breeches, white stockings and white shoes, over which was worn a red mantle with a white lining and with the star of the order embroidered in silver on its left side. Over this red mantle was worn a short white shoulder cape with a standing collar embroidered in gold, upon which was worn the collar of the Order (the habit was always worn with the collar and never with the ribbon of the Order). The habit also had a black hat with a plume of white and red ostrich feathers. This habit was almost identical to that worn by the knights of the Order of the Elephant.

Recipients

Each Danish ministry has a quota of Knights and Knights 1st class that they may use at their discretion. It is most often given to high-ranking officers of the police, armed forces and emergency services.

Also used for politicians in Folketinget after 8 years of elected service. Ministers are given the rank of Knight 1st Class.

The rank of Commander is given to colonels, ministers and other high-ranking officials as a retirement-decoration after long service. Commander 1st class is given for admirals, generals, Supreme-court judges, ambassadors, and other governmental leaders as a retirement decoration.

British general Sir Arthur Paget wearing the Grand Cross, 1908.

The Grand Cross is most often used for admirals, generals, Supreme-court judges, ambassadors and similar as a reward for very meritorious service to Denmark.

Grand Cross with Breaststar with Diamonds[lower-alpha 4] is most often given to high-ranking officers of the Royal Court, such as Hofmarskals.

Finally, the Grand Commander grade is given only to 8 people. The reigning monarch is always a Grand Commander, and he/she may give the grade to 7 others, most often close family.

Diplomatic use

Award of the Order of the Dannebrog is often used as a tool of diplomacy. If a foreign country has an Order that they give to foreign diplomats in their country, then their diplomats in Denmark can be given an Order of the Dannebrog. To be eligible, the foreign ambassador must reside in Denmark for at least three years.

Diplomatic rank Rank of the Order
Ambassador Grand Cross
Chargés d Affairs e.p. Commander (Commander 1st Class, if over 40 years of age)
Chargés d Affairs a.i. Commander or Knight 1st Class
Ambassador Advisor Commander
1st Embassy Secretary Knight 1st Class
2nd or 3rd Embassy Secretary Knight
Defence Attachés Depending on military rank
Other Attachés Knight or Commander depending on merit

Cross of Honour

The Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn (Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog) in modern times is only awarded to Danes on whom the Order of the Dannebrog has already been bestowed. It is also worn by the individual members of the royal family. Its badge is similar to the badge of the Order, but all in silver, and is worn on a ribbon (gentlemen) or bow (ladies) with rosette on the left chest.

The insignia of the Order must be returned upon the death of the holder.

Grand Commanders

File:Order of the Dannebrog (heraldry).svg
Collar of the Order of the Dannebrog.

The late Prince Henrik of Denmark had been a Grand Commander since 1973. As such, his death in 2018 left one position of Grand Commander available. The number of Grand Commanders never exceed 8.

Revocation

File:Anton Michelsen (1809-1877).png
Anton Michelsen (1809-1877)

It is possible for membership in the Order to be revoked. Before 1808, membership had only been revoked on two occasions, Peder Griffenfeld who was charged with treason, and Samuel Christoph von Plessen who was charged with looting and gross misconduct. In more recent times it has been revoked on basis of criminality, such as Peter Adler Alberti (1910), Erik Ninn-Hansen (1995), and Peter Brixtofte (2008). Foreigners have also had their membership revoked. Several prominent Nazi officials, such as Hermann Göring and Konstantin von Neurath were awarded the order, which was later revoked.[14]

Jewelers and goldsmiths

Below is a list of jewelers who have made the insignia for the Order:

Jeweler Period
Royal Goldsmith Poul Kurtz 1655–1679
Royal Goldsmith Ferdinand Küblich 1670–1687
Royal Goldsmith Fridrich Kurtz 1679–1703
Royal Goldsmith Pierre Tresfort 1687–1729
Royal Goldsmith Jean Henri de Moor 1688–1696
Royal Goldsmith Andreas Normand 1700–1727
Royal Jeweler Frederik Fabritius 1746–1778
Royal Jeweler Christopher Fabritius 1778–1829
Royal Jeweler Frederik Fabritius −1832
Royal Goldsmith Nicolai Christensen  ?–1832
Jeweler Poul Ressen Eggersen 1832–1841
Royal Jeweler Anton Michelsen 1848 –

Anton Michelsen was made a part of Royal Copenhagen A/S who is now the supplier.

  • Orders of Denmark TMOK 2021.3.jpg

    Collection of Orders of the Dannebrog in the Museum of Orders of Chivalry in Tallinn, Estonia.

  • The proclamation and the medals as presented by HM Queen Margrethe.jpg

    Insignia of the Knights Class with bestowal document, from the reign of Margrethe II.

  • Brystkors for Kommandører af første Grad af Dannebrog.png

    Star of the Commander 1st Class grade of the order.

  • Koldinghus, Danish Order of Danebrog 2018-07-26.jpg

    Diamond encrusted set of the Grand Cross grade.

  • Order of the Dannebrog, 1876, General Georg Edvard Ramsay - National Museum of Finland - DSC04020.JPG

    Commander 2nd Class set of insignia from the reign of Christian IX.

  • Ridderkorset af Dannebrogordenen 1.jpg

    Knights Class from the reign of Margrethe II, Ladies version.

  • Order of the Dannebrog-Frederick IX times.jpg

    Commander Class from the reign of King Frederick IX.

  • Order of the Dannebrog.jpg

    Knights Class set of insignia from the reign of Margrethe II.

  • Bryststjerne for Storkommandører og Storkors af Dannebrog, båret af Generalmajor F.A.H.v.Wagner.jpg

    Embroidered Grand Cross Star.

  • Order of the Dannebrog - Knight 1st Class badge (Obverse).png

    Knight 1st Class badge from the reign of Frederick IX.

  • Order of the Dannebrog - Knight 1st Class.png

    Knight 1st Class set of insignia from the reign of Frederick IX.

  • Order of the Dannebrog - Knight 1st Class badge (Reverse).png

    Knight 1st Class badge from the reign of Frederick IX.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This royal crown is usually flat and of one piece with the badge itself, although some crowns, especially in badges made in the 19th century and early 20th centuries, are three dimensional, with the badge proper suspended from them.
  2. ↑ Valdemar II is the Danish king associated with the legendary origins of the Dannebrog and the reputed first founder of the Order, Christian V is the founder of the present Order and Frederik VI reformed the Order, dividing it into its present six classes
  3. ↑ On this badge table cut diamonds entirely replace the white enamel of the cross and smaller diamonds completely cover the royal crowns in the angles of this cross, the royal cypher of the current monarch and its royal crown at the top of this cross as well as the connecting link by which this badge hangs from its ribbon. Only the red enamel border which surrounds the table cut diamond cross of the badge is not set with diamonds.
  4. ↑ I.e., fourteen table-cut diamonds are set on the white enamel of the cross of the Order, which in this case has no royal ciphers, dates nor motto.

References

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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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