Order of Glory (Tunisia)

The Order of Glory ( tr, İftihar Nişanı or ar, Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar) was a Tunisian honorary order founded in 1835 by Al-Mustafa ibn Mahmud the Bey of Tunisia. The order was awarded until the constitutional role of the Bey was abolished following 1957.

Background information

The order essentially existed in two different models: the first awarded from its creation in 1835 and the second following 1859. Initially awarded in a single class, the order was reorganized and awarded in five classes following 1843 and expanded to six classes in 1882:

:# Grand Cordon
:# Grand-officer
:# Commander
:# Officer
:# Knight of 1st class
:# Knight of 2nd class

This order could be awarded to people of French nationality, cities (like Verdun), and other notable foreigners with some connection to Tunisia. It was given by the bey of Tunis on a proposal from the chief vizier for Tunisian subjects and, in all the other cases, on a proposal from the resident general of France (which occupies de facto the post of Foreign Minister of Tunisia). Although the resident general has a quota, this last remains about it always the large Master. Each bey having put his monogram on the center of the decoration, it is possible to determine the approximate award date of each order.

Examples of the decoration

The typical decoration is manufactured from solid silver with green and red enameled rays for some classes. The reverse of the decoration as well as the bow and suspension ring may have jeweler, date, and acceptance markings. These particular decorations (second model) were awarded by Ali Muddat ibn al-Husayn Bey (1882–1902).

Image:JMA-fav.jpg , JM Abdul Aziz seen wears the Commander around his neck.
Image:Grand officier nichan.jpg , Grand-officer (Tunisian made)
Image:Nichan commandeur.jpg , Commander (detail) (Tunisian made)
Image:Nichan officier.jpg , Officer (detail) (French made)

These particular decorations were awarded by Muhammad III as-Sadiq Bey (1859–1882) and illustrate the differences that can exist between French and local Tunisian manufactured decorations:

Image:nichanIftikharSadiqGrandCrossTN.jpg , Grand-officer (Tunisian made)
Image:nichanIftikharSadiqGrandCrossFR.jpg , Grand-officer (French made)

Text of the diploma

Awardees were given a diploma which in general had the following text (translated):

Praises with God alone! On behalf of the Servant of God glorifié, of that which puts as a God his confidence and the care of its destinies leaves him, ame of the bey Possesseur of the Kingdom of Tunis with ame of the decorated personon the proposal of Our Foreign Minister, which made known to us your noble qualities, We conferred this decoration to you. Our name is engraved there and it is umber of the classclass of Our Kind of Nichan Iftikhar. Carry it with joy and happiness! Writing it ate of decoration

These two diplomas awarded to the same person in 1927, commander class, illustrate the order's typical diplomas:

Image:NichanIftikharDiplomeTN1927.jpg , Arabic diploma
Image:NichanIftikharDiplomeFR1927.jpg , French diploma

Notable recipients

* Abdessalem ben Mohamed GOAIED El Ferchichi El Aloui El Mohammedi (1877-1919) Leader & Caid of the Fraichiche tribe, Thala, Tunisia, Knight of the Order of Glory, Tunisia, 1901, Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France, 1907, Knight of the Order of Glory, Tunisia, 1910
* J.M. Abdul Aziz, Business Leader Saigon, Recipient Légion d'honneur, French Silver Red Cross
* Archduke Wilhelm of Austria, colonel in Ukrainian People's Army
* Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, President of Czechoslovakia, awarded in 1922
* Paul Boyer, French photographer
* Augusto Carlos Teixeira de Aragão, Portuguese army general, doctor, numismatist, archaeologist, historian.
* Albert Besson, doctor, hygienist and bacteriologist French
* Pierre Billotte, general and politician French
* Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, British admiral
* Gustave Daladier, French flying ace and professional soldier
* A. Peter Dewey, American army officer
* Louis Dewis, Belgian / French post-impressionist painter
* Émile-Joseph Duzer, French colonel (Commander)
* Theodore Roosevelt Jr., brigadier general
* Dwight David Eisenhower, general and American president
* Louis Leon César Faidherbe, French soldier and colonial administrator
* Célestin Hennion, French army officer and prefect of police
* Henri Gadeau de Kerville, French scientist
* Benjamin Jaurès, French naval officer
* Louis Loyzeau de Grandmaison, French general
* Antonia Mercé, Spanish dancer resident in France; recipient in 1933
* Pierre Messmer, French politician
* Louis McClellan Potter, American sculptor
* Bernard Saint-Hillier, French general
* Philippe Thomas (1843–1910), amateur geologist who discovered deposits of phosphates in Tunisia.
* Pakubuwana X
* Petrus I Regout (1801-1878), Dutch industrialist
* Alexander Schaepkens (1815-1899), Dutch pictorial artist

References

{{Reflist

External links

Tunisian Nishan Iftikhar on Medals of the World

Awards established in 1835
Awards disestablished in 1957
Orders, decorations, and medals of Tunisia