Order of St. Olav
The Olav's Medal (no. The Kongelige Norske St. Olavs Orden ), also the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, or just Olav Medal was instituted on August 21, 1847 by King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway. It was named after King Olav II Haraldsson canonized by Norway and is the third highest medal of Norway. The award is presented in excellent merits for king and country, as well as for bravery and excellence in the arts and sciences at home and foreigners.
Order of classes
Originally, the Order of only the three Class:
- Grand Cross
- Commander
- Knight
On July 19, 1873, commander degrees and on March 17, 1890, the Knight degrees were divided into two classes. The division into
- Grand Cross
- Commander with Star
- Commander
- Knight 1st Class
- Knight
Exists today.
To Order also includes a Collar of which can confer makers of the Grand Cross of the king.
Order decoration
The religious character consists of a goldbordierten, graded in the different classes in the size of the Maltese cross. The white enameled cross has golden balls at the eight tips. In the middle there is a red, blue and white edged medallion. In the obverse the crowned golden lion of Norway with the battle-ax of St. Olav and in the lapel of the royal motto of the founder RET OG SANDHED is shown ( right and truth ).
The commanders and knights, who received the Medal for Military Valour, held under the crown two golden crossed swords. The ribbon is red with a white-blue- white stripes. It is supported by large crosses over the right shoulder to the left hip, from the commanders around the neck and of the knights on the left chest.
Circle of awardees
Apart from members of royal families and heads of state today is only awarded to Norwegian citizens of the St. Olav's Medal.
The religious character is carried on a crimson ribbon with white-blue- white hem: the Knight's Cross on the left chest, the Commander's Cross on the collar and the Grand Cross on a wide, to the left hip out of the right shoulder sash. Women wearing the Knight's Cross and the Commander's Cross on a loop of the Knight's Cross ribbon on the left chest.
If a class of the St. Olav's Order awarded for military merit, can be seen at two blue enamelled crossed swords under the royal crown on the cross. Special conditions apply for the return of the religious character ( after the death of the carrier or for promotion to a higher religious class).
Proposals should be sent to the king and to send the Order Chancellery. An official appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister Plenary Council consists of Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Treasurer ( farmyard boss ) and three councilors who represent the regions of Southern, Central and Northern Norway. The Plenary Council advises the king in all the ceremony of religious issues involved. The medal office is the secretariat of the Order.
Known awardees
- Check carrier of the St. Olav's Order