Grand Cross is the highest class in many

orders Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g.

Grand Collar A collar also known as collar of an order is an ornate chain, often made of gold and enamel, and set with precious stones, which is worn about the neck as a symbol of membership in various chivalric orders. It is a particular form of the livery ...

. In rare cases, the insignia itself is referred to as the "grand cross". In international relations, in many times the class of Grand Cross is typically reserved for royalty,

heads of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

and equivalent. Sometimes a holder of the highest class or grade are referred to as "

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

Grand Cross",) is used in the Swedish

Orders Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

of the

Sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

, Polar Star and Vasa and in the Finnish

of the

White Rose The White Rose (german: Weiße Rose, ) was a Nonviolence, non-violent, intellectual German resistance to Nazism, resistance group in Nazi Germany which was led by five students (and one professor) at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, ...

and

Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large cat of the genus '' Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adu ...

., name="Ex-01", group=A "

Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

Grand Cross", or just "Grand Cross". In the United Kingdom, the rank of "Knight Grand Cross" or "Dame Grand Cross" allows the recipient to continue to use the

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...

" Sir" (male) or "

Dame ''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...

" (female) as a

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

before his or her name. The knighthood is initially conferred, as in other countries, at the lower rank of the order, typically " Knight Commander". In Bavaria, the royal military order established by Maximilian Joseph consisted of three classes with the Grand Crosses ranking above the Commanders and Knights. The Grand Cross title has also been used to confer military merit. For instance, the

Grand Duchy of Baden The Grand Duchy of Baden (german: Großherzogtum Baden) was a state in the southwest German Empire on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918. It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and subs ...

awarded Prince Rupprecht a Grand Cross after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

. From 1870 to 1918, the

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

also set the Grand Cross as the highest rank of the Order of the Iron Cross, followed by the first and second classes.

Denomination "Grand Cordons"

The orders in which the highest rank (or second after "Collar") is named "Grand Cordons" include the following orders: * : Grand Cordons of the Order of Leopold (highest) * : Grand Cross of the

National Order of Merit An order of merit is conferred by a state, government or royal family on an individual in recognition of military or civil merit. Order of merit may also refer to: * FIFA Order of Merit, for significant contribution to association football * PDC ...

(highest National Order that admits Brazilian Nationals to its ranks) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Rio Branco The Order of Rio Branco (''Ordem de Rio Branco'') is an honorific order of Brazil instituted by decree 51.697 of February 5, 1963. It is named in honor of the Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco. The President of Brazil serve ...

(special purpose) * : Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit * : Grand Cross of the Order of Defense Merit * : Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit * : Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Aeronautical Merit Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

**: Grand Cross of the (highest of the state) **: Grand Cross of the (highest of the state) * : Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia * : Grand Cross of the

Royal Order of Monisaraphon The Royal Order of Monisaraphon ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសមុនីសារាភ័ណ្ឌ) was founded by King Sisowath of Cambodia on 1 February 1905. It is conferred for accomplishment and outstanding support in the ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Royal Order of Sahametrei The Royal Order of Sahametrei ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសលំដាប់សហមេត្រី) is a chivalric order conferred by the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Royal Order of Sahametrei was instituted in ...

* : Grand Cross of the

* : Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (Cameroon) (2nd) * : Grand Cordon of the

Order of Valour The Order of Valour is an order of knighthood of Cameroon. History It is regulated by the ordonnance N° 72/24 of 30 November 1972. It is one of the four orders of Cameroon:Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...

(2nd) * : Grand Cordons of the

Order of the Nile The Order of the Nile (''Kiladat El Nil'') was established in 1915 and was one of the Kingdom of Egypt's principal orders until the monarchy was abolished in 1953. It was then reconstituted as the Republic of Egypt's highest state honor. Sultana ...

(highest) * : Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour (highest) ** : Grand Cross of the Order of Tahiti Nui (highest of the overseas collectivity) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

* : Grand Cross of the Kola-tree National Order (2nd) * : Grand Cross of the National Order of Fidelity and People (highest) * : Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (Guinea) (highest) * : Grand Cross of the National Order of the Campaign of Independence (highest) * : Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-rankin ...

(highest) * : Grand Cordons of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (2nd after Collar) * : Grand Cordons of the Order of the Precious Crown (highest) * : Grand Cordons of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight f ...

(highest) * : Grand Cordons of the Order of the Star of Jordan (highest) * : Grand Cordons of the Order of Merit (Lebanon) (highest) * : Grand Cross of the

National Order of Madagascar The National Order of Madagascar is the highest of honorific orders of Madagascar. History The National Order was created on 14 October 1958, the date on which the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed. Classes The Order consists of the followin ...

(highest) * : Knight Grand Cross Military William Order (highest) * : Knight Grand Cross

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau ( nl, Orde van Oranje-Nassau, links=no) is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has ...

(3rd) * : Knight Grand Cross

Order of the Netherlands Lion The Order of the Netherlands Lion, also known as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands ( nl, De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw, french: L'Ordre du Lion Néerlandais) is a Dutch order of chivalry founded by King William I of the Netherlands on ...

(2nd) * : Grand Cross of the National Order (Niger) (highest) * : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Niger) (2nd) * : Grand Cordons of the

Order of the Lion and the Sun The Imperial Order of the Lion and the Sun ( Persian: نشان سلطنتی شیر و خورشید) was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials (later extended to Iranians) who had rendered disting ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Tower and Sword The Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit ( pt, Antiga e Muito Nobre Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito), before 1910 Royal Military Order of the Tower an ...

* : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal) (2nd) * : Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion (Senegal) (highest) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Charles III The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, originally Royal and Much Distinguished Order of Charles III ( es, Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III, originally es, Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III) was establ ...

* Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Sword The Royal Order of the Sword (officially: ''Royal Order of the Sword''; Swedish: ''Kungliga Svärdsorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry and military decoration created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the ...

* Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of t ...

* Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of Vasa The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It was u ...

* : Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (2nd) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Mono The Order of Mono is the highest Togolese order of chivalry, established on September 2, 1961 by President Sylvanus Olympio. The order is named after the major river passing through the country: the Mono River. The Order of Mono consists of five ...

(highest) * : Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (highest) * : Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (3rd) * : Grand Cordon of the Order of the 7th November 1987 (4th) * : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic (2nd) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing (as a symbol of purification) a ...

(highest) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

(highest) * : Grand Cross of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...

(highest) * : Grand Cross of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(highest) * : Grand Cross of the Order of Saint John (highest)

Former

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of Columbus The Order of Columbus () was a short-lived Brazilian order of merit. It was instituted on 6 June 1890, just two months after the abolition of all Imperial Brazilian Orders. The first constitution of the Brazilian republic abolished the order of C ...

(Abolished as a state order in 1891) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Highest, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Saint Benedict of Avis (2nd, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Saint James of the Sword (3rd, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Cross (4th, cancelled as national order in 1891 and reestablished as the National Order of the Southern Cross in 1932) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Dom Pedro I (5th, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order) * : Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Rose (6th, cancelled as national order in 1890, since then claimed as house order) * ** French Comoros: Grand Cross of the

Order of the Star of Anjouan The Ordre de l'Étoile d'Anjouan (Order of the Star of Anjouan) was a French colonial order of knighthood founded in 1874. History It was established in 1874 by sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar of the Grande Comore island of Anjouan, reorganised ...

(Deprecated in 1963 by the

) **

French Dahomey French Dahomey was a French colony and part of French West Africa from 1894 to 1958. After World War II, by the establishment of the French Fourth Republic in 1947, Dahomey became part of the French Union with an increased autonomy. On 4 October ...

: Grand Cross of the Order of the Black Star (Deprecated in 1963 by the

) **

French Somaliland French Somaliland (french: Côte française des Somalis, lit= French Coast of the Somalis so, Xeebta Soomaaliyeed ee Faransiiska) was a French colony in the Horn of Africa. It existed between 1884 and 1967, at which time it became the French Te ...

: Grand Cross of the Order of the Light (Deprecated in 1963 by the

) * : Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Kapiʻolani (3rd, became obsolete in 1893)

Gallery

Illustration of typical insignia, as in the case of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleo ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Explanatory notes

References

Footnotes

{{Orders Orders of chivalry Medals Sashes

Denomination "Grand Cordons"

Former

Gallery

See also

Explanatory notes

References

Footnotes