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 the only Order of Chivalry of Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921.[1] The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowadays, appointments are made on the nomination of the President of Iceland and that of a "five-member council".
Contents
1 History and appointments
2 Classes
3 Insignia
4 Notable recipients
5 Sources
6 External links
History and appointments
Christian X, the King of Denmark, also ruled Iceland until 11 July 1944. During a royal visit to Iceland, King Christian X issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.[1] When Iceland became a republic, new statutes were incorporated for the Order on 11 July 1944. The Republic of Iceland replaced the King by an elected President of Iceland who is the designated Grand Master of this Order. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally.[1] 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]
Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star (Keðja ásamt stórkrossstjörnu), only for heads of state
Grand Cross (Stórkross)
Grand Knight's Cross with Star (Stórriddarakross með stjörnu)
Grand Knight's Cross (Stórriddarakross)
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
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson current (President of Iceland)
Pike Ward, fisherman who started and developed the Icelandic fishing industry, awarded 1936.
Iceland national handball team (Silver medalists in handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics)
Guðni Ágústson (Former Minister of Agriculture)
Lennart Meri (Former President of Estonia)
Dalia Grybauskaitė (Current President of Lithuania)
Sauli Niinistö current (President of Finland)
David Architzel (Vice Admiral, US Navy)
Knut O.H.A Hammarskjöld (Swedish Foreign Service)
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (Former President of Iceland)
Charles Cobb, U.S. Ambassador to Iceland
Helgi Hallvarðsson (Captain, Icelandic Coast Guard)
Guðmundur Kjærnested (Commander, Icelandic Coast Guard)
George P. L. Walker (Vulcanologist)
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Awarded 1963), Royal Consort of Elizabeth II
Michael D. Haskins (Vice Admiral, US Navy)
Elizabeth II (queen of 16 states)
Erling Blöndal Bengtsson (Cellist)
Orri Vigfússon (Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund)
Warren W. Rosenthal, awarded 1983
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
Carl XVI Gustav (King of Sweden)[3]
Silvia (Queen of Sweden)[3]
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden[3]
Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergotland
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland
Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson
Albert II (King of Belgium)
Juan Carlos I of Spain (Former King of Spain)
Sofía (Former Queen of Spain)
Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo
Infanta Cristina of Spain
Margrethe II (Queen of Denmark)
Frederick, Crown Prince of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Prince Joachim of Denmark
Princess Marie of Denmark
Princess Benedikte of Denmark
Harald V (King of Norway)
Sonja (Queen of Norway)
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
Sigrún Eðvaldsdóttir (violinist), awarded 1998
Helgi Tomasson (New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet) awarded 1990
Baldur Stefansson, awarded 2002
Philip Cronenwett, awarded 2003
Brad Leithauser (writer, poet, scholar), awarded 2005.
Thorbergur Thorvaldson, cement chemist, awarded 1939.
Rory McTurk, Professor of Icelandic Studies, University of Leeds, awarded 2007
Mark Watson, archaeologist, dog breeder and benefactor, awarded 1965
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (former president of Iceland; first popularly elected female president in the world)
Professor Carol H. Pazandak, significant contribution by a foreigner, awarded 1990
William Paton Cleland (Surgeon)[4]
Anders Grubb, Professor of Clinical Chemistry, University of Lund, awarded 2007 for research on Icelandic hereditary diseases
Helga Bachmann (actress)
William Timlin (US Air Force) Awarded 1991
Jack T. Weir (Captain, US Navy) Awarded 1978
Evelyn (née Schwartz) Stefansson Nef (author, lecturer, arts patron, philanthropist) Awarded 2001
Børge Boeskov (President Boeing Aircraft Company)
Victor Borge (Børge "Victor" Rosenbaum)(concert pianist, entertainer)
Thomas E. Brittingham Jr. (Univ. Wisconsin-Madison) Awarded 1957
Erik J. Friis (Editor Scandinavian Review, American Scandinavian Foundation)
Anna Kisselgoff (Columbia Univ.) Awarded 2002
Arthur Young (police officer)
Koča Popović (Colonel General, YPA)
Steinunn Thorarinsdottir (sculptor)
Janis Johnson (Canadian Senator, Manitoba) Awarded 2000
Sunna Pam Olafson Furstenau (President Icelandic National League of North America, USA Rep for Icelandic National League of Iceland, President Icelandic Roots), 2017
Vladimir Ashkenazy (pianist, conductor)
Björk (singer, songwriter), 1997
Stefán Karl Stefánsson (actor, singer), 2018
Edda Björgvinsdóttir (actress), 2018
Friðrik Skúlason (computer scientist), 2018
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (musician), 2018
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Awarded 1963), Royal Consort of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (queen of 16 states)
Sources
^ abc "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..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ The Fellowship of the Order of the Falcon - website of The Reykjavík Grapevine
^ abcde Seegers Press, Photo from State visit of Swedish Royal Family in Iceland
^ Caroline Richmond, Obituary of William Paton Cleland (1912-2005), British Medical Journal, 2005, 330; 1212; pdf
External links
The Collection of Henrik Revens Website features orders and medals of Iceland as well as other Nordic countries
