Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav

Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
Name	Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
Caption	Ribbon of the Grand Cross
Awarded by	The Monarchy of Norway
Type	Order of chivalry
Motto	Ret og Sandhed, ("Justice and Truth")
Eligibility	Norwegian and foreign citizens
For	Outstanding services to the Kingdom of Norway and humanity
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	King Oscar I
Sovereign	King Harald V
Chancellor	Kristin Krohn Devold
Grades	Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander, Knight 1st Class, Knight
First award	1847
Post-nominals	St. Olavs Orden
Lower	Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
Caption2	The star of the Grand Cross

Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. It is Norway's highest civilian honor, awarded for outstanding services to the nation and humanity. Founded by King Oscar I in 1847, it is named for King Olaf II Haraldsson, the patron saint of Norway. The order is administered by the Royal Court of Norway and personally conferred by the reigning monarch.

History

The order was instituted by King Oscar I on August 21, 1847, during the Union between Sweden and Norway. It was created as a distinct Norwegian honor at a time of growing national consciousness, separate from the Swedish Order of the Seraphim. The order is named for Saint Olaf, whose reign and martyrdom at the Battle of Stiklestad were pivotal in the Christianization of Norway. Following the Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, the order was retained by the new independent monarchy under King Haakon VII. Its statutes were comprehensively revised in 1985 to modernize its award criteria and administration.

Classes and insignia

The order comprises five classes in descending order of precedence: Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander, Knight First Class, and Knight. The Grand Cross is typically worn with a sash over the shoulder and a star on the chest. The Commander with Star wears a badge on a necklet and a star, while a Commander wears only the necklet badge. Knights wear their insignia on a ribbon on the left breast. The design is consistent across classes but varies in size and the inclusion of additional elements like crowns and enameled Maltese crosses.

Award criteria and appointment

Appointments are made by the monarch on the advice of the order's council, which is chaired by the chancellor, currently Kristin Krohn Devold. The order is conferred upon Norwegian and foreign citizens for "outstanding services to the homeland and mankind." These services can encompass exceptional achievements in culture, science, business, and public service. Notable institutional recipients include the Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Norwegian Armed Forces. The number of living Norwegian holders is strictly limited by statute.

Insignia design and symbolism

The central insignia is a white-enameled Maltese cross in silver or gold, with crowned monograms of "O" (for Olav) between the arms. The obverse medallion features the Norwegian lion in gilt on a red background, surrounded by a blue ring inscribed with the motto Ret og Sandhed. The reverse medallion bears the monogram of the founding monarch, Oscar I. The star is an eight-pointed silver star with the obverse medallion at its center. The ribbon is solid red, symbolizing the blood of Saint Olaf, and for military awards it features a stripe of silver laurel leaves.

Notable recipients

Prominent Norwegian recipients include polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, composer Edvard Grieg, and novelist Sigrid Undset. Foreign monarchs such as Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Akihito of Japan have been honored. Distinguished international figures include humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, statesman Winston Churchill, and scientist Marie Curie. Recipients from the United States include Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. The order has also been awarded to institutions like the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the University of Oslo.

Administration and statutes

The order is administered by the Royal Court of Norway, with the monarch as its Grand Master. The council, led by the chancellor, reviews all proposals for appointments. The current statutes, established by King Harald V in 2022, supersede previous versions from 1985. These statutes define the classes, award criteria, and ceremonial protocols, including the design of the insignia and the rules for wearing the order. The chancery maintains the official register of recipients and oversees the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, which serves as a lower-ranking honor.

Category:Orders of chivalry of Norway Category:1847 establishments in Norway