National Order of Merit (Romania)

The National Order of Merit (Romanian: Ordinul Național Pentru Merit) is an order which is part of the National System of Decorations of Romania. A medal of merit also exists, but does not confer membership in the order.

National Order of Merit
Ordinul Național Pentru Merit
Grand Cross of the OrderKnight's Medal of the Order
Awarded by The President of Romania
(since 2000)
TypeOrder of Merit
RibbonSilver with two Black stripes on either side. (Civilian);
Silver with two Black stripes on either side and two gold stripes on each margin. (Military)
Eligibility(1) Civil, military;
(2) military units;
(3) foreign citizens.
Awarded forSpecial services rendered in the interests of Romania.[1]
StatusCurrently awarded
Grand MasterPresident Klaus Iohannis
GradesGrand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)National Order of Faithful Service
Next (lower)None (Lowest)
RelatedNational Medal for Merit

The Grand Cross's ribbon bar of the Order (military version)

History

The current order continues a tradition going back well over a century.

Composition of the order

The National Order of Merit is awarded in five grades in civil and military divisions, as well as a wartime division. It may be awarded to Romanians, foreign citizens, and military units. Its number is limited to 7,500 members. Members of the order are referred to as Knights of the Order for Merit, regardless of grade. Awards to foreigners, awards to military units, and awards in the wartime division are not figured in the total number under the order's limits. Awards are limited by grade and division as follows:[2]

  • Grand Cross, 150 civilian and 50 military
  • Grand Officer, 300 civilian and 100 military
  • Commander, 675 civilian and 225 military
  • Officer, 1,500 civilian and 500 military
  • Knight, 3,000 civilian and 1,000 military

Criteria

The National Order of merit recognizes important civil or military services rendered to Romania. Qualifying important services may include:[2]

  • Safeguarding the independence, sovereignty, territorial unity and integrity of the Romanian State
  • Developing the national economy
  • Accomplishments in the fields of science, art, or culture
  • Contribution to the development of relationships between Romania and other countries or international organizations
  • Meritorious military service organizing and managing military operations
  • Deeds committed on the battlefield or during military conflicts
Wartime Knight's Cross of the Order

Notable recipients

Historical form
  • Moses Gaster (1856–1939), "For Merit" National Order of the first class (1891)

Current form

References
  1. "ODM of the Republic of Romania: Order for Merit". Medals.org.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  2. Romania's national system of decorations (PDF). Bucharest: Monitorul Oficial. 2003. pp. 382–396. ISBN 973-567-404-1.
  3. For Merit National Order recipients (Decretul 488/2013)
  4. Presedintele Romaniei. Decretul 567 din 1 decembrie 2000 (Decretul 567/2000) Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Stoica, Ionel (1 May 2017). "Profesorul american Keith Hitchins, decorat de Klaus Iohannis cu Ordinul Național "Pentru Merit". Distincția a fost înmânată de ambasadorul George Maior". Adevărul (in Romanian).
  6. Bogdan Banu. "CORA - Congress of Romanian Americans". Romanianamericans.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  7. "General Raymond T. Odierno United States Army Commander United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)" (PDF). United States Joint Forces Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  8. ""Decret nr. 891 din 8 octombrie 2007 privind conferirea unor ordine naționale; emitent Președintele României"" (in Romanian). Portal Legislativ. 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
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