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Order of the White Eagle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Order of the White Eagle | |
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| Awarded by Republic of Poland | |
| Type | Single grade order |
| Eligibility | All |
| Awarded for | |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | November 1, 1705 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | none |
| Next (lower) | Order Virtuti Militari |
| Related | Order of the Garter |
 The ribbon of the Order |
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The Order of the White Eagle (Polish: Order Orła Białego) is Poland's highest decoration awarded to both civilians and the military for their merits. It was officially instituted on November 1, 1705 by Augustus II the Strong and bestowed on eight of his supporters, four Polish magnates, three Russian field marshals, amongs them Peter von Lacy and one Cossack hetman.
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The Order of the White Eagle was, in 1705, originally a red enamel oval on a light blue ribbon. This was replaced by a cross in 1709. By 1713 it was worn from the neck, with a blue sash and a star. August of Saxony had bestowed 40 medals by the time he died in 1733. After the third partitioning of Poland in 1795, the Order was abolished, though it had been renewed by 1807 and was the highest decorations of the Duchy of Warsaw and of the Kingdom of Poland during their existences. It was also popular among the Russian tzars who granted several of those medals to themselves. In 1830, after an November Uprising against Imperial Russia, to which Poland belonged at the time, the Order was modified to more closely resemble Russian decorations. It remained like this until the Russian Revolution of 1917, in which Russian Empire has fallen.
The Order of the White Eagle officially became Poland's highest decoration by act of Parliament of February 4, 1921, and the insignia was redesigned. In the interbellum the Order was awarded to 24 Polish citizens and 87 foreigners. Among them were 33 monarchs and heads of states, 10 prime ministers, 12 members of royal families and 15 ministers.
After 1948, when the People's Republic of Poland came into existence, the Order of the White Eagle was no longer awarded, but it was never officially abolished. It was also used by the Polish Government in Exile. Following the collapse of communism, the Order was once again reinstated on October 26, 1992. The President of Poland is always the Grand Master of the Order.
The badge of the order consisted of a gold crowned double-headed eagle enamelled in black, with a cross superimposed upon its chest: this was a gold Maltese cross enamelled in red with white enamel outline and golden rays between the arms. A white enamel crowned eagle with spread wings, facing left (the coat-of-arms of Poland) was superimposed on the cross. It was worn on a plain dark blue sash.
The star of the order consisted of an eight-pointed gold star with straight rays; the central disc bore a red-bordered white enamelled cross pattée with golden rays between the arms, surrounded by a blue ring bearing the motto "Pro Fide, Lege et Rege" (For Faith, Law and the King).
The badge of the order consists of a gold Maltese cross enamelled in red with white enamel outline and golden rays between the arms. A white enamel crowned eagle with spread wings, facing left (the coat-of-arms of Poland) is superimposed on the cross. It is worn on a plain light blue sash.
The star or plaque of the order consists of an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays, with a cross superimposed upon it: this is a gold Maltese cross enamelled in red with white enamel outline and golden rays between the arms. The motto of the order, „Za Ojczyznę i Naród” ("For Fatherland and Nation"), appears on the arms of the cross. the central disc is in white enamel, with the monogram "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska) surrounded by a green enamelled wreath.
This is a list of some of those who have been invested in the Order, now awarded in recognition of significant service, both military and civil, in the interests of Poland.
- Further Reading on the history of the Order: The Order of the White Eagle by Rafal Heydel-Mankoo
- Picture of the Order of the White Eagle
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| Order of the White Eagle · Virtuti Militari · Polonia Restituta · Order of the Military Cross · Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland · Cross of Valor · Cross of Merit with Swords · Cross of Merit · Cross of Merit for Bravery · Medal for Sacrifice and Courage · Medal for Long Marital Life |