Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria)
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The Order of Military Merit (Bulgarian: Орден „За военна заслуга“) is a Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria. It is the third highest order in the Republic of Bulgaria along with the Order of Civil Merit and the Order of the Madara Rider. The order was established with a decree of the Knyaz[1] on 18/19 May 1900 as a sign of the benevolence of the Monarch to the bravery of the Bulgarian army. It was similar to the Order of Civil Merit but made for military personnel.
It was awarded to military figures for immaculate service and special merit. It was established with six grades, in 1933 the Grand Cross was added. War decoration could be added for front-line combat service.
History
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The order had a shape of Pisan cross with shoulder covered in red enamel. There were always two swords (to emphasize the military character, not as an additional award for front-line service) between them with edges pointing to the top. In the centre of the averse was placed the monogram of the founder Prince Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry (from 5 October 1908 to 3 October 1918 Tsar / King of Bulgaria) surrounded by a ring in green enamel with inscription ЗА ВОЕННА ЗАСЛУГА (For Military Merit). The averse resembled that of the Order of Civil Merit but with green ring. It had a royal crown on the top.
During war, the order had a slightly different resemblance with a laurel wreath on the shoulders of the cross and white ring. The Grand Cross was worn on a wide yellow ribbon with black and white edges - the colours of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty. The fourth, fifth and sixth grade were worn on a small triangle ribbon on the chest.
After 9 September 1944, when the communists seized power and betrayed the brotherhood in arms of the Axis powers during WWII, the ribbon was substituted with one of the Order of Civil Merit, the monogram of Ferdinand was removed and replaced with the Bulgaria tricolour flag. In the 1950s, the order was abolished. It was restored in two grades in 2004.
Great and Grand Cross
- Until the introduction of the Grand Cross in the 30's, the highest class of the order was the first class, which was being worn and often referred to as a Grand cross decoration. Theoretically, the transformation of the first class into a Grand cross grade meant that a new grade had to be introduced, similarly to the transformation with the classes of the Royal Order of St. Alexander in 1908. The Great cross represented a 54-56 mm wide cross, similar in appearance to the Grand cross badge, but was instead suspended from a slightly thinner order sash with slightly amended widths of the colours. It was worn again over the right shoulder. The breast star for the later Great cross resembled the generic Grand cross breast star but is a bit smaller (about 84mm wide) and all eight sets of rays are made of silver. Among the people who were decorated with this high decoration were again Bulgarian or foreign army generals. [...]
- The Grand Cross has been officially introduced in 1933. Prior to this date though, the 1st class of the order has been referred to and being awarded as a regular Grand cross decoration. In practice, the introduction of the Grand cross badge simply meant that the existent first class was to be renamed accordingly, while in its place was introduced a Great cross badge – I class decoration. The badge of the Grand cross (I class prior to 1933) represents a 75mm (65 mm for Boris III emissions) wide crimson-enamelled gilded-rimed cross suspended form an elaborately designed, gilded and enamelled royal crown. The badge is attached to a wide yellow order sash (about 10cm wide) with black and and thinner white border stripes on either side. The sash is worn over the right shoulder and across the chest, having a rosette and/or bow near its end. In addition to the badge and its sash, the set includes a 97mm eight-pointed star, made of four silver and four gilded alternating sets of rays. In the centre of the star is positioned the badge of the order without its crown suspension. The star is worn on the left side of the breast. In the 1930’s, a slightly amended variation of the Grand cross breast star has been introduced. It’s slightly larger in size – 102 mm and its rays are made up of series of relief beads, rather than the usual smoothed rays. The Grand cross set (or 1st class set, prior to 1933), has been awarded to the highest-ranking officials within the army – generals, including foreign generals, rarely to non-army officials of very high rank.[2]
Classes
- Grand Cross (I. Grade; BMO1/BO1)
- Replaced the Great Cross; awarded to senior state officers and military personnel. The cross was worn with a sash over the shoulder and a breast star.
- Grand Officer (II. Grade; BMO2/BO2)
- Awarded only to generals. It is similar to the cross of I grade but had a size of 63 mm. It was worn with a ribbon around the neck. In addition to the badge, holders of the grand officers’ cross also display a rhomboid silver breast star (88 mm) made of four sets of silvery rays and the order badge superimposed over the centre. It’s worn on the left side of the chest.
- Commander (III. Grade; BMO3/BO3)
- Awarded to commanders of regiments (colonels and lieutenant colonels). The size of the cross was between 54 and 63 mm. It had no stars and was worn with a ribbon around the neck.
- Officer (IV. Grade; BMO4/BO4)
- Awarded to majors and captains who commanded companies. It was similar to the cross of III grade but smaller - between 48 and 51 mm.
- Knight (V. Grade; BMO5/BO5)
- Awarded to commanders with rank up to captain, Opalchentsi (Bulgarian Volunteer Corps), further volunteers in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the Balkan Wars and others. The size of the cross was between 48 and 51 mm.
- Silver Cross (VI. Grade; BMOsKr/BO6)
- Awarded to sergeants, Opalchentsi (Bulgarian Volunteer Corps), further volunteers in the wars and others. The diameter of the cross was 46 mm.
References
- ↑ A knyaz, also knez, knjaz or kniaz (Church Slavonic: кънѧѕь, romanized: kŭnędzĭ), is a historical Slavic title, used both as a royal and noble title in different times. It is usually translated into English as 'prince', 'king' or 'duke', depending on specific historical context and the potentially known Latin equivalents at the time; the word was originally derived from the common Germanic *kuningaz ('king').
- ↑ National Order of Military Merit
