Order of the Polar Star

The Royal Order of the Polar Star
Kungliga Nordstjärneorden
Cross and star of the order
Awarded by

The Monarch of Sweden
Type Five grade order of merit
Motto Nescit Occasum
Day 28 April
Eligibility Until 1975: Swedish and foreign persons
Since 1975: Foreign citizens and members of the Swedish Royal Family
Awarded for Until 1975: Civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions.
After 1975: Services to Sweden
Status Currently constituted
Grand Master His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Chancellor Ingemar Eliasson[1]
Grades (w/ post-nominals) Commander Grand Cross (KmstkNO)
Commander 1st Class (KNO1kl)
Commander 2nd Class (KNO2kl)
Knight 1st Class (RNO1kl)
Knight (RNO)
Established 1748
First induction 1748
Precedence
Next (higher) The Royal Order of the Seraphim
Next (lower) The Royal Order of the Sword

1748 - 1975

1975 - present
Ribbon bars of the order

The Order of the Polar Star (Swedish Nordstjärneorden) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim.

The Order of the Polar Star was until 1975 intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign "civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions".

Its motto is, as seen on the blue enameled centre of the badge, Nescit Occasum. This is Latin and means "it knows no decline". This is to prove that Sweden is as constant as a never setting star. The Order's colour is black. This was chosen so that when wearing the black sash, the white, blue and golden cross would stand out and shine as the light of enlightenment from the black surface. Women and clergy men are not called knight or commander but simply as Member (Ledamot).

After the reorganization of the orders in 1975 the order is only awarded to foreigners and members of the royal family. It is often awarded to foreign office holders (such as Prime and Senior Ministers) during Swedish state visits. It is also awarded to junior members of royal families who would not qualify for the more prestigious Order of the Seraphim.

Contents

Grades

The Order currently has five degrees:

  1. ^ a b Clergymen and women become ledamöter (Members) instead of knights

This order also has a medal, "the Polar Star Medal".

Insignia

See also

External links

References