Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain

The oldest Military Honours of Spain existing today originated mainly at the time of the Islamic occupation of Spain.

Historical Orders of Chivalry

Crown of Aragón

• Cofradía de Belchite (Brotherhood of Belchite), Alfonso the Battler, King of Aragón (1122).
• Orden de San Salvador de Monreal (Order of St. Salvador of Monreal), Alfonso the Battler (1124).
• Orden del Hacha (Order of the Axe), Ramón Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona (1149).
• Orden de Montjoie (Order of Mountjoy), Rodrigo Álvarez (1173).
• Orden de San Jorge de Alfama (Order of St. George of Alfama), Peter II (1201).
• Orden de Santa María de la Merced (Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy), St. Peter Nolasco, supported by James I (1218).
• Orden de San Pedro Mártir (Order of St. Peter Martyr), Saint Dominic^[1] (1216).
• Orden del Armiño (Order of the Ermine), Alfonso V (1436).

Crown of Castile

• Orden de los Hermanos Hospitalarios de Burgos (Order of Brothers Hospitallers of Burgos), Alfonso VIII (1212).
• Order of Santa María de España (Order of St. Mary of Spain), Alfonso X (1270).
• Orden de la Escama (Order of the Scale), Alfonso XI (1313).
• Orden de la Banda (Order of the Band), Alfonso XI (1330).
• Orden de la Paloma (Order of the Dove), John I (1379).
• Orden de la Razón (Order of the Reason), John I (1385).
• Orden de las Azucenas y de la Jarra (Order of the Annunciation Lilies and the Vase) commonly known as Orden de la Terraza (Order of the Terrace), Ferdinand of Antequera, Infante of Castile (Ferdinand I as King of Aragón) (1403).^[2]

Current Orders of Chivalry

The Catholic Monarchs Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon introduced a military honours system which was approved by the Pope Adrian V in 1523. They awarded titles and hereditary honours to nobles and soldiers. Of those titles only the following still exist today:

• Orden de Calatrava (Order of Calatrava), St. Raymond of Fitero, first abbott of the cistercian monastery of Fitero (Navarre), 1158.
• Order of Santiago (Order of Santiago), King Ferdinand II of León, 1170.
• Order of Alcántara (Order of Alcántara), St. Julian de Pereiro, 1176.
• Orden de Santa María de Montesa y San Jorge de Alfama (Order de St. Mary of Montesa and St. George of Alfama) commonly known as Orden de Montesa (Order of Montesa), King James II of Aragon and Pope John XXII, 1317.
• Orden de San Juan (Order of St. John)
• Orden del Santo Sepulcro (Order of the Holy Sepulchre)

Dynastic Order

• The Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro (Insigned Order of the Golden Fleece), is a chivalrous Order founded in 1430 by the Duke of Burgundy, Philip III of Burgundy.^[3] It was established in Spain by Philip II, although his father Charles I attempted to found it before him.^[4]

Military Decorations

• Real y militar Orden de San Fernando (Royal & Military Order of Saint Fernand)
• Medalla Militar (Military Medal)
• Cruz de Guerra (War Cross)
• Medalla del Ejército (Army Medal)
• Medalla Naval (Navy Medal)
• Medalla Aérea (Air Force Medal)
• Cruces del Mérito Militar (Crosses of Military Merit) (Royal Decree 1040/2003)
• Cruces del Mérito Naval (Crosses of Naval Merit)(Royal Decree 1040/2003)
• Cruces del Mérito Aeronáutico (Crosses of Air Force Merit) (Royal Decree 1040/2003)
• Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo (Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild)^[5]
• Cruz a la Constancia en el Servicio (Long Military Service Cross)
• Cruz Fidélitas (Fidelity Cross)

Other Military Awards

• Citación como Distinguido (Distinguished Service Award)
• Mención Honorífica (Mention in dispatches)

International Military Decorations

• The Medalla al Servicio de la Política Europea de Seguridad y Defensa (Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal)
• The Medalla de las Naciones Unidas (United Nations Medal)
• The Medalla de la OTAN (NATO Medal)

Obsolete

• Real y Militar Orden de María Cristina (Royal and Military Order of Maria Christina) (1889-1931)
• Real y Militar Orden Naval de María Cristina (Royal and Military Naval Order of Maria Christina) (1891-1931)
• Medalla de Sufrimientos por la Patria (Medal of Suffering for the Motherland) (1814-1989)
• Medalla del Mutilado (Medal of the Maimed) (1938-1989)^[6]
• Medalla del Sáhara (Sahara Medal) (1977)

Obsolete International Military Decorations

• The Medalla de Servicio de la Unión Europea Occidental (WEU Service Medal)

Civil Decorations

Background

• The Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III (Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III), Established by Charles III in 1771 to decorate those having benefited Spain and her Crown by the actions. It is the highest civil decoration that exists in Spain.
• The Real Orden de Isabel la Católica (Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic), established by Fernand VII in 1815, to “reward unflinching loyalty to Spain and the merits of Spanish and foreign subjects in benefit of the Nation and especially those services relating to the prosperity of the American and other overseas territories”. The decoration is currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• The Orden del Mérito Civil (Order of Civil Merit), established by Alfonso XIII in 1926 to “reward the civic virtues of civil servants as well as the extraordinary services to the Nation of Spanish and foreign subjects”. It too is currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Politics & Justice

• The Orden de la Cruz de San Raimundo de Peñafort (Order of the Cross of Saint Raymond of Penyafort), established in 1944 to “reward relevant merits performed by those persons involved in the administration of Justice and for their contribution and study of all branches of Law and for the untarnished services to judicial activities under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.^[7] Depende de la Subsecretaría de Justicia, a través de la División de Tramitación de Derechos de Gracia y Otros Derechos, y dentro de la orden existen diversas cruces y medallas.^[8]
• The Orden del Mérito Constitucional (Order of Constitutional Merit), established by Felipe Gonzalez’s government in 1988 to “reward those persons who distinguish themselves by their services to the Constitution and of the values established therein”. It can be awarded both to persons or organizations (public or private).^[9]
• The Orden de Cisneros (Order of Cisneros), founded in 1944 to reward political merit. It is one of the least known decorations still in existence today.^[10]
• The Real Orden de Reconocimiento Civil a las Víctimas del Terrorismo (Royal Order for Civil Recognition of the Victims of Terrorism), created in 1991, in order to honour those killed, wounded or kidnapped by terrorists. It consists of a Crand Cross, that can be awarded posthumously to the deceased and a Comendation, for those injured and kidnapped.^[11]
• The Medalla de Oro del Senado (Gold Medal of the Senate)
• The Medalla de Oro del Congreso de los Diputados (Gold Medal of the Congress of Deputies)

Culture & Society

• The Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio (Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise), founded in 1945 with the aim of to “reward relevant merits in the fields of education, science, culture, higher education and research”.In 1988 this order replaces the Civil Order of Alfonso XII.
• The Orden de las Artes y las Letras de España (Order of Arts and Letters of Spain)
• The Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo (Royal Order of Sports Merit)
• The Medalla al Mérito en la Investigación y en la Educación Universitaria (Medal of Merit for Research and for University Education)
• The Medalla al Mérito Filatélico (Medal of Philatelic Merit)
• The Medalla al Mérito de la Radioafición (Medal of Merit for Radio Operators)
• The Medalla al Mérito en las Bellas Artes (Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts)

Social Affairs

• The Orden Civil de la Solidaridad Social (Civil Order of Social Solidarity), established in 1988 to replace the old 'Orden de Beneficencia' (Order of Charity) with the aim of “recognizing persons or organizations, both Spanish and foreign having distinguished themselves in promoting or performing activities related to social welfare”.^[12]
• The Orden Civil de Sanidad (Civil Order of Health), created in 1943 to replace the old Cross of Epidemias, to the end of “rewarding service and merit in the ambit of medical care or in the course of assistance in fighting epidemias”.^[13]
• The Orden al Mérito del Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (Order of Merit of the National Drug Plan), established in 1995, it comprises 3 levels: Gold medal, for those who “have distinguished themselves in the performance of their activities or for achievements of special significance or importance, or that entailed a risk to their life, both in prevention, assistance, reinsertion or in combating drug trafficking as well as its consequences or derived illicit earnings”; Silver medal, for those “having carried out or carrying out noteworthy activities with continued dedication and solidarity, in the above mentioned areas, taking into account their real results”; White cross, for those “having shown exemplary and significant dedication in the above mentioned reas”.^[14]
• The Orden Civil del Mérito Medioambiental (Civil Order of Environmental Merit), created in 2009 to reward persons and organizations for eminent services or out-standing actions, for nature conservation, natural heritage and biodiversity preservation, the fight against climate change, environmental quality, the defense and promotion of the marine water and continental resources sustainability and, in general, initiatives on environmental protection.^[15]
• The Medalla al Mérito Social Penitenciario (Medal of Social Penitentiary Merit), introduced in 1996, intended to reward those individuals or institutions that have contributed to the prison rehabilitation.^[16]
• The Medalla de Honor de la Emigración (Medal of Honour of Emigration)
• The Medalla y Placa a la Promoción de los Valores de Igualdad (Equality Values Promotion Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla de la Seguridad Social (Medal of Social Security)
• The Distinciones de la Cruz Roja Española (Spanish Red Cross Decorations)
• The Medalla del Donante de Sangre (Blood Donor Medal)

Security

• The Orden del Mérito del Cuerpo de la Guardia Civil (Order of Merit of the Civil Guard Corps)^[17]
• The Orden del Mérito Policial (Order of Police Merit)^[18]
• The Medalla al Mérito de la Protección Civil (Medal of Merit of Civil Defence)
• The Medalla al Mérito de la Seguridad Vial (Medal of Merit of Road Security)
• The Medalla al Mérito Penitenciario (Medal of Penitentiary Merit)
• The Condecoración a la Dedicación al Servicio Policial (Service Police Decoration)^[19]

Socioeconomics

• The Orden Civil del Mérito de Telecomunicaciones y de la Sociedad de la Información (Civil Order of Merit for Telecommunications and Information Society)
• The Orden Civil del Mérito Postal (Civil Order of Postal Merit)
• The Orden del Mérito Agrario, Pesquero y Alimentario (Order of Agricultural, Fishing and Alimentary Merit)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito Turístico (Touristic Merit Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito del Transporte Terrestre (Land Transport Merit Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito de la Marina Mercante (Merchant Marine Merit Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla al Mérito en el Trabajo (Medal of Merit for Labour)
• The Medalla al Mérito en el Seguro (Insurance Merit Medal)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito en el Comercio (Commerce Merit Medal and Plaque)

Regions

• The Medalla de Andalucia (Medal of Andalusia)
• The Medalla de las Cortes de Aragón (Medal of Aragonese Corts)^[20]
• The Medalla de Asturias (Medal of Asturias)
• The Medalla de Oro de Canarias (Gold Medal of Canary Islands)
• The Medalla de Oro de las Islas Baleares (Gold Medal of Balearic Islands)
• The Medalla del Parlamento de Cantabria (Gold Medal of the Parliament of Cantabria)
• The Medalla de Extremadura (Medalla de Extremadura)
• The Medalla de Oro de Castilla-La Mancha (Gold Medal of Castile-La Mancha)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito Deportivo en Castilla-La Mancha (Sports Merit in Castile-La Mancha Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla y Placa al Mérito Sanitario en Castilla-La Mancha (Health Merit in Castile-La Mancha Medal and Plaque)
• The Medalla al Mérito en la Iniciativa Social de Castilla-La Mancha (Social Initiatives of Castile-La Mancha Medal)
• The Medalla de Castilla y León (Castile and León Medal)
• The Medalla al Mérito Profesional de Castilla y León (Professional Merit Medal of Castile and León)
• The Medalla de las Cortes de Castilla y León (Corts of Castile and León Medal)
• The Medalla al Mérito Parliamentario (Parliamentary Merit Medal), Castile and León
• The Medalla d'Or de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia)
• The Premi Creu de Sant Jordi (Cross of St. George Award), Catalonia.
• The Medalla de Galicia (Medal of Galicia)
• The Medalla Castelao (Castelao Medal), Galicia
• The Medalla de La Rioja (Medal of La Rioja)
• The Orden del Dos de Mayo (Order of the Second of May), Merit Order of the Community of Madrid.^[21]
• The Medalla de la Comunidad de Madrid (Medal of the Community of Madrid)
• The Medalla de la Región de Murcia (Medal of the Region of Murcia)
• The Medalla de Oro de Navarra (Gold Medal of Navarre)
• The Cruz de Carlos III El Noble de Navarra (Charles III the Noble of Navarre Cross), Navarre
• The Gernikako Arbolaren Gurutzea - Cruz del Árbol de Gernika (Cross of the Tree of Gernika), Medal of Basque Country.^[22]
• The «Lan Onari» Goraipamena («Lan Onari» Award), Basque Country
• The «Lagun Onari» Goraipamena («Lagun Onari» Award), Basque Country
• Distinciones de la Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian Community Distinctions)
• The Orden de Jaume I el Conqueridor (James I the Conqueror Order), Valencian Community

Autonomous cities

• The Medalla de la Autonomía de Ceuta (Medal of Autonony of Ceuta)
• The Medalla de la Ciudad de Melilla (City of Melilla Medal)

Others

• The Orden de las Damas Nobles de María-Luisa (Order of the Noble Ladies of Queen Maria Luisa)
• The Medalla Plus Ultra (Plus Ultra Medal)
• The Medalla al Mérito en el Ahorro (Merit in Savings Medal), Spanish Confederation of Savings Banks Medal.

Obsolete Orders

• The Real y Militar Orden de España (Royal and Militar Order of Spain), Joseph Bonaparte (1809-1812)
• The Orden Civil de María Victoria (Civil Order of María Victoria), King Amadeo (1871-1873).^[23]
• The Orden Civil de Alfonso XII (Civil Order of Alfonso XII), Alfonso XIII (1902-1931) Officially replaced by the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (1988)
• The Orden de la República Española (Order of the Spanish Republic), Second Republic (1932-1939).
• The Orden Imperial del Yugo y las Flechas (Imperial Order of the Yoke and the Arrows), Francisco Franco (1937-1976).

See also

• Spanish knights orders

References