Order of the Sun of Peru

The Order of the Sun of Peru (Spanish: Orden El Sol del Perú), formerly known as the Order of the Sun, is the highest award bestowed by the nation of Peru to commend notable civil and military merit. The award is the oldest civilian award in the Americas, first being established in 1821.

Order of the Sun of Peru
TypeOrder of merit
Awarded forCivil and military merit
DescriptionPurple ribbon
Presented bythe Republic of Peru
EligibilityAll
StatusCurrently awarded
Established8 October 1821, discontinued 1825,
re-established 1921
Ribbon of the Order
Precedence
Next (higher)None (highest)
Next (lower)Order of Merit for Distinguished Service

History

The Order was originally instituted on 8 October 1821 by General José de San Martín upon reaching Lima, to recognize those who had distinguished themselves in the campaign against the Spanish Royalists. The three classes of appointment to the Order were, in descending order of precedence: Founder, Meritorious and Associate.

It was discontinued four years later, after many grantees started to use the award as a nobility title, similar to the earlier Castile titles awarded by the colonial government. The Congress issued a law abolishing the Order of the Sun on 9 May 1825.

In 1921, the Order was re-established to commemorate the Centennial of Peruvian Independence.

Classes

The award consists of the following classes:

  1. Grand Collar
  2. Grand Cross with Diamonds
  3. Grand Cross
  4. Grand Officer
  5. Commander
  6. Officer
  7. Knight
Ribbon bars
Grand Collar
Grand Cross with Diamonds
Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight

Notable recipients
Certificate confirming that the Order of the Sun of Peru was conferred on Ernesto Burzagli in the name of the President of the Peruvian Republic in 1924.

Royalty

Other people
U.S. First Lady Pat Nixon is awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun for her efforts to deliver relief supplies after an earthquake in 1970. At left is Peruvian First Lady Consuelo Velasco; at right is the Peruvian Ambassador to the United States.

Notes
  1. "Peru: Order of the Sun of Peru". medals.org.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

References
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