Order of the Falcon

Order of the Falcon
Grand Cross star
Type State order
Established July 3, 1921
Grand Master President of Iceland

Ribbon of the Order of the Falcon

The Order of the Falcon (Icelandic: Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.[1]

History and appointments

During a royal visit to Iceland, King Christian X issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.[1]

New statutes were incorporated for the Order on July 11, 1944, when Iceland became a republic. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally.[1]

The President of Iceland is the designated Grand Master of the Order. 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 are given to those who receive the awards.

Classes

Breast Star of the class Grand Knight with Star.
Knight's Crosses on current suspension and older crown suspension

The Order has five classes:[2]

  1. Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star (Keðja ásamt stórkrossstjörnu) , only for heads of state
  2. Grand Cross (Stórkross)
  3. Grand Knight's Cross with Star (Stórriddarakross með stjörnu)
  4. Grand Knight's Cross (Stórriddarakross)
  5. 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
Collar with Grand Cross
Grand Cross
Grand Knight's Cross with Star
Grand Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross

Notable recipients

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 "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.
  2. ↑ The Fellowship of the Order of the Falcon - website of The Reykjavík Grapevine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Seegers Press, Photo from State visit of Swedish Royal Family in Iceland
  4. ↑ Caroline Richmond, Obituary of William Paton Cleland (1912-2005), British Medical Journal, 2005, 330; 1212; pdf
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