Order of the Star of Romania


The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil Order and second highest State decoration after the Order of Michael the Brave. It is the oldest Order of Romania. It is awarded by the President of Romania, and has six grades, from lowest to the highest: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, Grand Cross, and Collar.

History

In 1863, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the Domnitor of the United Principalities of [Moldavia and Wallachia], asked the Romanian representative to Paris to contact the then well-known jewellery house Krétly, to manufacture a state decoration. Krétly presented a model, which was immediately accepted by the domnitor, and based on his agreement, 1,000 pieces of the order were made. It was decided that the order would have five ranks: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, and Grand Cross.
Unlike all other decorations in that time that were mostly inspired on the French Légion d'honneur, or which had their insignia like a Maltese cross, the model proposed by Krétly for this order was a blue cross crosslet (cruce repetată), a design that was then unique in decorational design.
The domnitor decided that the name of the honour would be "The Order of the Union". It was planned to institute the order on 24 January 1864, the date when the 5th anniversary of his election would be celebrated and a moment that marked the unification of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Because of this, the motto of the new order would fit the event: "GENERE ET CORDES FRATRES". The obverse of the insignia would bear the numbers "5" and "24", the days of January when he was elected in both Moldova and Wallachia.
Unable to legally institute the order due to Romania's status as an Ottoman vassal, Cuza awarded the insignia therefore only as a personal present, not as a state decoration. Most of the insignia produced for him remained stored in the Royal Palace's cellars.
In April 1877, when Romania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, the debate regarding the institution of Romanian decorations was revived. Mihail Kogălniceanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ion Brătianu cabinet, took part in the debates in the Assembly of Deputies regarding the institution of a state decoration. Because of the already earlier supplied "Order of The Union", it was decided that the shape of the decoration would be the same, modifying only the domnitor's seal. The motto was also changed, because the old one was not appropriate to the moment, to "IN FIDE SALUS". Regarding the name, Kogălniceanu insisted on "Steaua Dunării".
The name "Steaua României" appeared on 10 May 1877, when the law was voted in the Parliament, as the first law of the Sovereign Romania.
By Royal Decree, King Carol II changed the order of precedence in the Romanian honours system. As a result, in 1932, The Star of Romania dropped in precedence from second place to fourth place. In 1937, it dropped to seventh place. The main shape of the order, the blue repeated cross was kept, but the rays between the cross' arms were replaced by four heraldic eagles with wings spread, the insignia of Carol I of Romania|King Carol I] was placed on the obverse, and the reverse bore the year of its establishment, "1877". Also the number of persons that could be awarded The Star of Romania was increased:
  • Knight : 1,000 civilians and 350 military;
  • Officer : 500 civilians and 150 military;
  • Commander : 200 civilians and 75 military;
  • Grand Officer : 75 civilians and 25 military;
  • Grand Cross : 35 civilians and 10 military.
In 1938, the order was given a superior rank, called "Clasa I", between the Grand Officer rank and the Grand Cross rank, with a maximum of 50 civilians and 15 military personnel.
The statutes established by King Carol II were changed by General Ion Antonescu. Generally, the rules were the ones used during World War I. The order "The Star of Romania" became the second in the national hierarchy, after that of the Order of Michael the Brave.
Inspired by the German Iron Cross, Ion Antonescu decided that the first three grades of the orders the Star of Romania and the Crown of Romania, with spades, and the ribbon of The Medal "The Military Virtue" would be awarded for exceptionally brave acts with an oak leaf, attached to the ribbon.
After 1948, all the existing decorations were outlawed, and their wearing was forbidden. Just by keeping the insignia, one was considered a delinquent in the first years of communism.
In 1993, the idea of reinstating the oldest Order was proposed within the Special Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. After several attempts, in 1998/1999 the National Order "The Star of Romania" was reinstituted, with a design similar to the one used in 1932, but without the insignia of King Carol I, and with the republican insignia.

Grades

As per Law 29/2000, regarding Romania's national system of decorations, there are currently six grades:
  • 1st Class: Collar ;
  • 2nd Class: Grand Cross ;
  • 3rd Class: Grand Officer ;
  • 4th Class: Commander ;
  • 5th Class: Officer ;
  • 6th Class: Knight.

Notable recipients

First issue (1877–1948)

Second issue (since 1998)

By class

;1st Class: Collars
;2nd Class: Grand Crosses
;3rd Class: Grand Officers
;4th Class: Commanders
;5th Class: Officers
;6th Class: Knights
;Unknown Class