Orders, decorations, and medals of Croatia

The system of honours of the Republic of Croatia was established after the independence of Croatia in 1991. There are eighteen main decorations awarded by the highest authorities of the Republic since 1995, in addition to several other medals.

Velered - Red - Spomenica

The orders, decorations, and medals authorized under the law instituted in 1995 are listed below in their order of precedence.^[1] Some orders were instituted in 1992. All of the orders have one class, except the Homeland's Gratitude Medal, which has four classes.

• Grand Order of King Tomislav (Velered kralja Tomislava)
• Grand Order of Queen Jelena (Velered kraljice Jelene)
• Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV (Velered kralja Petra Krešimira IV.)
• Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir (Velered kralja Dmitra Zvonimira)
• Order of Duke Trpimir (Red kneza Trpimira)
• Order of Duke Branimir (Red kneza Branimira)
• Order of Duke Domagoj (Red kneza Domagoja)
• Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski (Red Nikole Šubića Zrinskog)
• Order of Ban Jelačić (Red Bana Jelačića)
• Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan (Red Petra Zrinskog i Frana Krste Frankopana)
• Order of Ante Starčević (Red Ante Starčevića)
• Order of Stjepan Radić (Red Stjepana Radića)
• Order of Danica Hrvatska with the face of one of (Red Danice hrvatske s likom):
  • Marko Marulić - for culture
  • Blaž Lorković - for business/economics
  • Ruđer Bošković - for sciences
  • Nikola Tesla - for innovation
  • Franjo Bučar - for sports
  • Katarina Zrinska - for health, social welfare and the promotion of moral values
  • Antun Radić - education
• Order of the Croatian Cross (Red hrvatskog križa)
• Order of the Croatian Trefoil (Red hrvatskog trolista)
• Order of the Croatian Wattle (Red hrvatskog pletera) ^[2]
• Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War (Spomenica domovinskog rata)
• Commemorative Medal of the Homeland's Gratitude (Spomenica domovinske zahvalnosti)

Orders and decorations are for merit in establishing, maintaining and promoting an autonomous, independent and sovereign Republic of Croatia, merit in the realization of the Croatian nation-building idea and the development and construction of the Republic of Croatia, and for exceptional courage and heroism in war, in immediate war danger or in special peacetime circumstances.^[3]

Državna nagrada

Croatia also awards the Croatian State Award (Croatian: Državna nagrada) each year to Croatian citizens who have excelled in a specific field.

Medalja

In addition to the orders and decorations above, Croatia has also established various medals for long service, etc., as well as a series of commemorative medals for the military campaigns in 1995. Among these are:

• Medal for Participation in Operation "Flash" (Medalja za sudjelovanje u operaciji "Bljesak")
• Medal for Participation in Operation "Summer '95" (Medalja za sudjelovanje u operaciji "Ljeto '95")
• Medal for Participation in Operation "Storm" (Medalja za sudjelovanje u operaciji "Oluja")
• Medal for Exceptional Undertakings in Maintaining the Constitutional and Legal Order of the Republic of Croatia and Protecting Citizens' Lives and Property.

Medals are awarded "to members of the active and reserve components of the armed and police forces of the Republic of Croatia for participation in certain military-police operations and to individuals for exceptional undertakings."^[3]

Government awards

State ministries grant their own annual awards:

• Vladimir Nazor Award - Awarded for achievements in literature, music, film, applied art, theater art, architecture and urbanism.
• Ivo Horvat Award - Awarded for work in conservation.

Independent State of Croatia

The Independent State of Croatia, in existence from 1941 to 1945, also awarded various orders, decorations, and medals.

References

External links

• Zakon o odlikovanjima i priznanjima Republike Hrvatske, NN 20/95 ("Law on Decorations", in Croatian)
• Hrvatska Odlikovanja, Narodne Novine, Zagreb 1996.