Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon (Icelandic: Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921.[1] The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowadays, appointments are made on the nomination of the President of Iceland and that of a "five-member council".
Order of the Falcon | |
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![]() Grand Cross star | |
Type | State order |
Established | July 3, 1921 |
Grand Master | President of Iceland |
![]() Ribbon of the Order of the Falcon |
History and appointments
Christian X, the King of Denmark, also ruled Iceland until 11 July 1944. During a royal visit to Iceland, King Christian X issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.[1] When Iceland became a republic, new statutes were incorporated for the Order on 11 July 1944. The Republic of Iceland replaced the King by an elected President of Iceland who is the designated Grand Master of this Order. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally.[1] 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 is given to those who receive the awards.
Classes
![](../I/m/Order_of_the_Falcon_grand_cross_badge_sash_(Iceland_1950-1970)_-_Tallinn_Museum_of_Orders.jpg)
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The Order has five classes:[2]
- Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star (Keðja ásamt stórkrossstjörnu), only for heads of state
- Grand Cross (Stórkross)
- Grand Knight's Cross with Star (Stórriddarakross með stjörnu)
- Grand Knight's Cross (Stórriddarakross)
- Knight's Cross (Riddarakross)
Insignia
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. It is worn on the left shoulder.
In summary:
- Collar with Grand Cross – wears the badge on a collar[3] plus a star on the left chest;
- Grand Cross – wears the badge on a sash on the left shoulder,[3] plus a star on the left chest;
- Grand Knight's Cross with Star – wears the badge on a necklet, plus a star on the left chest;
- Grand Knight's Cross – wears the badge on a necklet;
- Knight's Cross – 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 | ||||
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Notable recipients
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson current (President of Iceland) Pike Ward, fisherman who started and developed the Icelandic fishing industry, awarded 1936. Iceland national handball team (Silver medalists in handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics) Guðni Ágústsson (Former Minister of Agriculture) Lennart Meri (Former President of Estonia) Dalia Grybauskaitė (Former President of Lithuania) Sauli Niinistö current (President of Finland) Frank-Walter Steinmeier current (President of Germany) David Architzel (Vice Admiral, US Navy) Knut O.H.A Hammarskjöld (Swedish Foreign Service) Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (Former President of Iceland) Charles Cobb, U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Helgi Hallvarðsson (Captain, Icelandic Coast Guard) Guðmundur Kjærnested (Commander, Icelandic Coast Guard) George P. L. Walker (Vulcanologist) Andrew Wawn (Philologist) Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Awarded 1963), Royal Consort of Elizabeth II Michael D. Haskins (Vice Admiral, US Navy) Elizabeth II (Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms) Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (Cellist) Orri Vigfússon (Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund) Warren W. Rosenthal, awarded 1983 Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands Carl XVI Gustav (King of Sweden)[3] Silvia (Queen of Sweden)[3] Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden[3] Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergotland Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson Albert II (King of Belgium) Juan Carlos I of Spain (Former King of Spain) Sofía (Former Queen of Spain) Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Cristina of Spain Margrethe II (Queen of Denmark) Frederick, Crown Prince of Denmark Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark Prince Joachim of Denmark Princess Marie of Denmark Princess Benedikte of Denmark Harald V (King of Norway) Sonja (Queen of Norway) Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway Princess Märtha Louise of Norway Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner Sigrún Eðvaldsdóttir (violinist), awarded 1998 Helgi Tomasson (New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet) awarded 1990 Baldur Stefansson, awarded 2002 Philip Cronenwett, awarded 2003 Brad Leithauser (writer, poet, scholar), awarded 2005. Thorbergur Thorvaldson, cement chemist, awarded 1939. A. R. Taylor, Professor of medieval English, Old Norse and modern Icelandic Studies, University of Leeds, awarded 1963 Rory McTurk, Professor of Icelandic Studies, University of Leeds, awarded 2007 Mark Watson, archaeologist, dog breeder and benefactor, awarded 1965 Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (former president of Iceland; first popularly elected female president in the world) Professor Carol H. Pazandak, significant contribution by a foreigner, awarded 1990 William Paton Cleland (Surgeon)[4] Anders Grubb, Professor of Clinical Chemistry, University of Lund, awarded 2007 for research on Icelandic hereditary diseases Helga Bachmann (actress) William Timlin (US Air Force) Awarded 1991 Jack T. Weir (Captain, US Navy) Awarded 1978 Evelyn (née Schwartz) Stefansson Nef (author, lecturer, arts patron, philanthropist) Awarded 2001 Børge Boeskov (President Boeing Aircraft Company) Victor Borge (Børge "Victor" Rosenbaum)(concert pianist, entertainer) Thomas E. Brittingham Jr. (Univ. Wisconsin-Madison) Awarded 1957 Erik J. Friis (Editor Scandinavian Review, American Scandinavian Foundation) Anna Kisselgoff (Columbia Univ.) Awarded 2002 Sir Arthur Young Koča Popović (Colonel General, YPA) Steinunn Thorarinsdottir (sculptor) Janis Johnson (Canadian Senator, Manitoba) Awarded 2000 Sunna Pam Olafson Furstenau (President Icelandic National League of North America), 2017 Vladimir Ashkenazy (pianist, conductor) Björk (singer, songwriter), 1997 Stefán Karl Stefánsson (actor, singer), 2018 Edda Björgvinsdóttir (actress), 2018 Friðrik Skúlason (computer scientist), 2018 Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (musician), 2018 Beverly Arason-Gaudet (President Icelandic National League of North America), 2019
Sources
- "The Order of the Falcon". Website of the President of Iceland. English.forseti.is. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- The Fellowship of the Order of the Falcon - website of The Reykjavík Grapevine
- Seegers Press, Photo from State visit of Swedish Royal Family in Iceland
- Caroline Richmond, Obituary of William Paton Cleland (1912-2005), British Medical Journal, 2005, 330; 1212; pdf
External links
- The Collection of Henrik Revens Website features orders and medals of Iceland as well as other Nordic countries