Jonas Arnell (born 28 February 1969), briefly known as Arnell-Szurkos, is a Swedish phaleristician and

heraldist Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and genealo ...

. Since 1 January 2023, he is Herald at the Chancery of the Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood.

Biography

Arnell was raised in

Eskilstuna Eskilstuna () is a Urban areas in Sweden, city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden. The city of Eskilstuna had 69,948 inhabitants in 2020, with a total population of 107,806 inhabitants in Eskilstuna municipality ...

and has a degree of Bachelor of Education from

Linköping University Linköping University (LiU; ) is a public university, public research university based in Linköping, Sweden. Originally established in 1969, it was granted full university status in 1975 and is one of Sweden's largest academic institutions. T ...

and a degree of Bachelor of Social Science from

Stockholm University Stockholm University (SU) () is a public university, public research university in Stockholm, Sweden, founded as a college in 1878, with university status since 1960. With over 33,000 students at four different faculties: law, humanities, social ...

. Between 1995 and 2014 he worked in the education, research and culture field, mostly as Political Advisor in the Parliament Chancery of the

Christian Democrats Christian democracy is an ideology inspired by Christian social teaching to respond to the challenges of contemporary society and politics. Christian democracy has drawn mainly from Catholic social teaching and neo-scholasticism, as well a ...

. Between 2015 and 2023, Arnell worked in the defence sector, mostly as Deputy

Secretary-General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

for the Swedish Soldiers Homes Association. He is an Associate Companion of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...

since 2013 and Member of the Royal Swedish Society Pro Patria since 2019.

Phaleristics

Arnell has been committed to phaleristics since 1990, since 1998 as a phaleristics writer and lecturer in Sweden and abroad. One aspect has been to support and promote genuine orders of chivalry, a work for which Arnell has received several awards. In 1999 Arnell launched a lobby campaign via e-mails to the MPs of the

Parliament of Sweden The Riksdag ( , ; also or , ) is the parliament and the supreme decision-making body of the Kingdom of Sweden. Since 1971, the Riksdag has been a unicameral parliament with 349 members (), elected proportionally and serving, since 1994, f ...

to undo the Orders Reform of 1975 (which reserved the

Order of the Seraphim The Royal Order of the Seraphim (; ''Seraphim'' being a category of angels) is the highest order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Sweden. It was created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the ...

and the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

for foreign and stateless citizens and put 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 23 February 1748, together with the Or ...

and the

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

dormant). This contributed to his subsequent employment at the Parliament Chancery of the

. Arnell was active in this question for almost 20 years. Different Christian Democratic MP's made motions on his drafts 1999–2001, 2004–2007, 2009–2011 and 2014. No motion carried, as a majority of Parliament votes could not be reached. The recurring motions was instead a way to keep life in the matter, until the Awards Reform. In 2017, Arnell was one of three taking initiative to found the Swedish Phaleristics Association and in 2020 he was elected member of the

International Commission for Orders of Chivalry The International Commission for Orders of Chivalry, established in 1960, is a privately run and privately funded organization consisting of scholars specializing in chivalric matters and systems of awards. History Initial controversy (1964� ...

. Since 1 January 2023, Arnell is Herald in the Chancery of the Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood, after being Amanuensis 2018–2022.

Heraldry

Arnell is also committed to

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and genealo ...

and has been the Herald Pursuivant for the Swedish Heraldry Association 2002–2008 and member of the Vapenbilden editorial board 2008–2013, 2023–. He was elected member of the Heraldic Society in 2004.

Selected awards and decorations

* King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal IV in gold (15 September 2023) * The

Royal Patriotic Society The Royal Patriotic Society () is a Sweden, Swedish royal family, royal society founded in 1772 in Stockholm, Sweden, by royal charter of King Gustav III of Sweden. The original aim was to improve agriculture, mining and the textile industry. The ...

's large medal in gold (2015) ''for significant acts'', 25 years as a phaleristician * The

Swedish Numismatic Society Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

's medal of merit in silver (2023) * The

Swedish Federation for Voluntary Defence Education and Training The Swedish Federation for Voluntary Defence Education and Training (, commonly known as ''Försvarsutbildarna'') is a nationwide voluntary defence organization with the aim of strengthening the Swedish Total Defence. The organization was founded ...

badge of merit in gold (2023) * Knight of the

Order of the White Rose of Finland The Order of the White Rose of Finland (; ) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The ...

(The Finnish state visit 23 April 2024) * Cross of Merit with Silver Star of the

Order of the Holy Sepulchre Order of the Holy Sepulchre or Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre may refer to: * Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic), chivalric order belonging to the Holy See (the Roman Catholic Church) * Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Orthodox), chivalric ...

motu proprio In law, (Latin for 'on his own impulse') describes an official act taken without a formal request from another party. Some jurisdictions use the term for the same concept. In Catholic canon law, it refers to a document issued by the pope on h ...

'' (2017, Cross of Merit 2011) * Fellow of

The Society of Sciences in Lund The New Society of Letters at Lund (''Vetenskapssocieteten i Lund'' in Swedish) is a scientific academy founded in 1920. The society's aim is to gather younger scientists - Docents - in the humanities, theology and social sciences at Lund Universi ...

(2021) * Fellow of the

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body of Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. The Society's aim is to promote the cultural heritage of Scotland. The usu ...

(2024) * Honorary Member of the Student Union of the Faculty of Philosophy,

(2021) * Scholarship from the Sten Lewenhaupt fund in Arla Coldin/The Order of Coldinu (2022) ''for research on Swedish orders'' *

Kentucky Colonel Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the US state of Kentucky. It is the most well-known colonelcy in the United States. A Kentucky Colonel Commission (the certificate) is awarded in the name of the Commonwealth by the go ...

(2023)

External links

Orders, decorations and medals in Sverige
- Official website
jonar242 on Orders, Decorations and Medals in Sweden
- Official blog

Publications

* Arnell-Szurkos, Jonas (red.) (2024). ''När och hur bör utmärkelser bäras'' hen and How Should Decorations be Worn Borås: Kungl. Maj:ts Orden. ISBN 9789198949803 * Arnell, J. (2013) Ordensväsendet genom historien och idag rders of Chivalry and Merit Through History and Today In: ''Acta Locumtenentiae Sueciae Ordinis Equestris sancte Sepulchri Hierosolymitani'' (6): 35–39. ISSN 1652-8263 * Arnell, J. (2006) Order of the Seraphim; Order of the Sword; Order of the Polar Star; Order of the Vasa. In: ''World Orders of Knighthood and Merit''. Vol I. 373-379; 505-510; 510-515; 515-520. London: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage. * Arnell, J. (2006) Order of Charles XIII; Vadstena Noble Maiden Diocese; Grand Order of the Amaranth; Order of Innocence. In: ''World Orders of Knighthood and Merit''. Vol II. 1744-1747; 1809. London: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arnell, Jonas Living people 1969 births People from Örebro Linköping University alumni Stockholm University alumni Swedish heraldry