Order of the Dannebrog

The badge of the Order is a white enamelled Dannebrog cross (i.e., a cross pattée, the lower arm being longer than the others) with a red enamelled border, for the Knights in silver, and for everyone else in gold or silver gilt. At the top of this cross is the royal cypher of the bestowing monarch, crowned with the distinctive Danish royal crown[lower-alpha 1] On its front, the cross bears the royal cyphers of Christian V at its centre, as well as the motto of the Order: Gud og Kongen (God and the King) on its arms. On its reverse are found the crowned royal cyphers of Valdemar II Sejr, Christian V and Frederik VI,[lower-alpha 2] as well as the years 1219, 1671 and 1808, the years that each of them ascended the Danish throne. In each of the four angles of the cross is found a small Danish royal crown.

The collar of the Order is made of gold, with small enamelled Dannebrog crosses alternating with alternating crowned royal cyphers representing Kings Valdemar II Sejr and Christian V, the reputed and actual founders of the Order. When the collar is worn the sash is not worn.

The star of the Order is an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays with an enamelled Dannebrog cross (similar to the front of the badge but without the royal cypher above and the royal crowns between the arms of the cross) at the centre.

The breast cross of the Order is similar to the cross on the star but larger and with faceted silver instead of white enamel and without the silver rays of the star.

The ribbon of the Order is white silk moiré with red borders, the national colours of Denmark.[2]

Details of the vestments of the Knights of the Dannebrog, c. 1750

The Order originally had a distinctive habit worn by the knights (after 1808, by the Knights Grand Cross) on very solemn occasions. The habit consisted of a white doublet, white breeches, white stockings and white shoes, over which was worn a red mantle with a white lining and with the star of the order embroidered in silver on its left side. Over this red mantle was worn a short white shoulder cape with a standing collar embroidered in gold, upon which was worn the collar of the Order (the habit was always worn with the collar and never with the ribbon of the Order). The habit also had a black hat with a plume of white and red ostrich feathers. This habit was almost identical to that worn by the knights of the Order of the Elephant.

The Order is divided into six grades, which are grouped into four classes:

• Special class
  • Grand Commander (Storkommandør; S.Kmd.) — wears the badge with diamonds[lower-alpha 3] on a necklet (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies), plus the star on the left chest;
• First Order class
  • Grand Cross (Storkors; S.K.) — wears the badge on a collar or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
• Second Order class
  • Commander 1st Class (Kommandør af 1. grad; K.1) — wears the breast cross on the left chest, plus (for gentlemen) the badge on a neck ribbon;
  • Commander (Kommandør; K.) — wears the badge on a neck ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies);
• Third Order class
  • Knight 1st Class (Ridder af 1. grad; R.1) — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) with rosette on the left chest;
  • Knight (Ridder; R.) — wears the badge on a ribbon (gentlemen) or on a bow (ladies) on the left chest.

The Grand Commander grade is reserved for persons of princely origin. It is awarded only to royalty with close family ties to the Danish Royal House. The Grand Cross grade can, as a special honor, be awarded 'with diamonds' (S.K.i diam., short for Storkors i diamanter). The Order also has a related decoration, known as the Cross of Honour (D.Ht., short for Dannebrogordens Hæderstegn).[2] The insignia of the Order must be returned upon the death of the holder.

Order of wear

The order of wear for five of the six grades with their respective insignia (gentlemen) – 1: Knight; 2: Knight 1st Class; 3: Commander; 4: Commander 1st Class; 5: Grand Cross

The Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn (Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog) in modern times is only awarded to Danes on whom the Order of the Dannebrog has already been bestowed. It is also worn by members of the Danish royal family. Its badge is similar to the badge of the Order, but all in silver. It is worn on a ribbon (by gentlemen) or bow (by ladies), with rosette, on the left chest.

The Court Marshal of Denmark (at left) wearing the Grand Cross insignia

Each Danish ministry has a quota of Knights and Knights 1st class that they may use at their discretion. It is most often given to high-ranking officers of the police, armed forces and emergency services.

Also used for politicians in Folketinget after 8 years of elected service. Ministers are given the rank of Knight 1st Class.

The rank of Commander is given to colonels, ministers and other high-ranking officials as a retirement-decoration after long service. Commander 1st class is given for admirals, generals, Supreme-court judges, ambassadors, and other governmental leaders as a retirement decoration.

British general Sir Arthur Paget wearing the Grand Cross, 1908

The Grand Cross is most often used for admirals, generals, Supreme-court judges, ambassadors and similar as a reward for very meritorious service to Denmark.

Grand Cross with Breaststar with Diamonds[lower-alpha 4] is most often given to high-ranking officers of the Royal Court, such as Hofmarskals.

Finally, the Grand Commander grade is given only to 8 people. The reigning monarch is always a Grand Commander, and he/she may give the grade to 7 others, most often close family.

Collar of the Order

1. Her Majesty Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark, Master of the Order (14 January 1972)[6]
2. His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden (10 October 1975)[7]
3. His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway (28 October 1991)[7]
4. Her Royal Highness Benedikte, Princess of Denmark (27 January 1993)[8][9]
5. His Royal Highness Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (1 January 2004)[10][11]
6. His Royal Highness Joachim, Prince of Denmark (16 April 2004)[12][13]

With the deaths of Prince Henrik of Denmark in 2018, and King Constantine II of Greece in 2023, two Grand Commander positions are available. The number of Grand Commanders never exceed 8.

It is possible for membership in the Order to be revoked. Before 1808, membership had only been revoked on two occasions – Peder Griffenfeld who was charged with treason, and Samuel Christoph von Plessen (1640–1704) who was charged with looting and gross misconduct. In more recent times, it has been revoked on the basis of criminality, such as Peter Adler Alberti (1910), Erik Ninn-Hansen (1995), and Peter Brixtofte (2008). Foreigners have also had their membership revoked. Several prominent Nazi officials, such as Hermann Göring and Konstantin von Neurath, were awarded the Order, but it was later revoked.[14]

Anton Michelsen (1809–1877)

Below is a list of jewelers who have made the insignia for the Order:

Anton Michelsen was made a part of Royal Copenhagen A/S, which is now the supplier.

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  Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Commander 2nd Class set of insignia from the reign of Christian IX
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  Collection of Orders of the Dannebrog in the Museum of Orders of Chivalry in Tallinn, Estonia
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  Commander Class from the reign of King Frederick IX
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  Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Knight 1st Class set of insignia from the reign of Frederick IX
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  Knights Class from the reign of Margrethe II, Ladies version
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  Reverse of a Knight 1st Class badge from the reign of Frederick IX
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  Diamond encrusted set of the Grand Cross grade
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  Obverse of a Knight 1st Class badge from the reign of Frederick IX
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  Knights Class set of insignia from the reign of Margrethe II
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  Badges of a Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Embroidered Grand Cross Star
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  Grand Cross Class of the order from the reign of Frederick IX
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  Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Insignia of the Knights Class with bestowal document, from the reign of Margrethe II
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  Boxes of the Grand Cross and knight 1st Class of the order
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  Frederick IX era Grand Cross of the order
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  Grand Cross breast star of the order from Frederick IX period
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  Grand Cross breast star
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  Set of the Grand Cross of the order from the reign of King Frederick IX
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  Star of the Commander 1st Class grade of the order
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  Knight 2nd Class from the reign of King Frederick IX
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  Grand Cross breast star studded with diamonds
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  Grand Cross of the order
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  The statutes of the order

• Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn
• List of Grand Commanders of the Dannebrog
• List of orders, decorations, and medals of the Kingdom of Denmark
• Order of the Elephant
• Order of the British Empire, roughly equivalent British honour
• Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps

• Media related to Order of the Dannebrog at Wikimedia Commons