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Order of the Falcon
Grand_Cross_Order_of_the_Falcon_Iceland_AEA_Collections.jpg
Grand Cross star
Awarded by the

President of Iceland
Award of  Iceland
Type State order
Status Currently constituted
Grand Master President of Iceland
Statistics
Established July 3, 1921
Ribbon of the Order of the Falcon

The Order of the Falcon (Icelandic language: Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921.[1] The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowadays, appointments are made on the nomination of the President of Iceland and that of a "five-member council."

History and appointments[]

Christian X, the King of Denmark, ruled Iceland until 17 June 1944. During his royal visit to Iceland in 1921, King Christian X issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.[1] When Iceland became a republic, new statutes were incorporated for the Order on 11 July 1944. The Republic of Iceland replaced the King by an elected President of Iceland who is the designated Grand Master of this Order. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally.[1] A five-member council makes recommendations on awards to the Grand Master, who then grants the award. However, the Grand Master may award the Order without recommendations from the Order Council.[2] The Grand Master and the Chairman of the Order Council then sign the Letters Patent, which is given to those who receive the awards.

Classes[]

Order of the Falcon grand cross badge sash (Iceland 1950-1970) - Tallinn Museum of Orders

Grand Cross sash and sash badge

Tweemaal de Orde van de Valk

Knight's Crosses on current suspension and older crown suspension

The Order has five classes:[3]

  1. Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star (Keðja ásamt stórkrossstjörnu), only for heads of state
  2. Grand Cross (Stórkross)
  3. Grand Knight's Cross with Star (Stórriddarakross með stjörnu)
  4. Grand Knight's Cross (Stórriddarakross)
  5. Knight's Cross (Riddarakross)

Insignia[]

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The collar is gilded metal; it consists of links bearing the Icelandic coat-of-arms and blue-enamelled discs bearing the white falcon.

The badge consists of a gilt cross, enamelled in white, with a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.

The star is a silver, eight-pointed star. For the Grand Cross class it has the badge of the Order superimposed upon it. For the Grand Knight with Star class it has a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.

The ribbon is blue with white-red-white border stripes. It is worn on the left shoulder.

In summary:

  • Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star – wears the badge on a collar plus a star on the left chest;
  • Grand Cross – wears the badge on a sash on the left shoulder, plus a star on the left chest;
  • Grand Knight's Cross with Star – wears the badge on a necklet, plus a star on the left chest;
  • Grand Knight's Cross – wears the badge on a necklet;
  • Knight's Cross – wears the badge on a chest ribbon.

If a holder is promoted to a higher rank, the lower rank's insignia must be returned. The insignia is retained during the recipient's lifetime, but it must be returned to the Icelandic Government upon his or her death.

Ribbon bars
Collar with Grand Cross
Grand Cross
Grand Knight's Cross with Star
Grand Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross

Notable recipients[]

Politicians and heads of state[]

  • Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson (current President of Iceland )
  • Iceland Guðni Ágústsson (former Minister of Agriculture)
  • Iceland Jóhannes Jóhannesson (First Chairman of the order council)
  • Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (former President of Iceland)
  • Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir (former president of Iceland; first popularly elected female president in the world)
  • Estonia Lennart Meri (former President of Estonia )
  • Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė (former President of Lithuania )
  • Finland Sauli Niinistö (current President of Finland )
  • Finland Tarja Halonen (former President of Finland )
  • Finland Martti Ahtisaari (former President of Finland )
  • Finland Mauno Koivisto (former President of Finland )
  • Finland Urho Kekkonen (former President of Finland )
  • Finland Juho Kusti Paasikivi (former President of Finland )
  • Finland Kyösti Kallio (former President of Finland )
  • Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier (current President of Germany )
  • United Kingdom Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Awarded 1963), Royal Consort of Elizabeth II
  • United Kingdom Elizabeth II (former Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms )
  • Netherlands Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
  • Sweden Carl XVI Gustav (King of Sweden )
  • Sweden Silvia (Queen of Sweden )
  • Sweden Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
  • Sweden Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland
  • Sweden Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
  • Sweden Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland
  • Sweden Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson
  • Belgium Albert II (King of Belgium )
  • Spain Juan Carlos I of Spain (former King of Spain )
  • Spain Sofía (former Queen of Spain )
  • Spain Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo
  • Spain Infanta Cristina of Spain
  • Denmark Margrethe II (Queen of Denmark )
  • Denmark Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
  • Denmark Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
  • Denmark Prince Joachim of Denmark
  • Denmark Princess Marie of Denmark
  • Denmark Princess Benedikte of Denmark
  • Norway Harald V (King of Norway )
  • Norway Sonja (Queen of Norway )
  • Norway Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
  • Norway Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway
  • Norway Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
  • Norway Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
  • Canada Janis Johnson (Canadian Senator, Manitoba) Awarded 2000
  • United States Lisa Murkowski (United States Senator, Alaska)[4]

Artists and entertainers[]

  • Iceland Björk (singer, songwriter), 1997
  • Iceland Helga Bachmann (actress)
  • Iceland Ólöf Pálsdóttir (sculptor), 1970
  • Iceland Steinunn Thorarinsdottir (sculptor)
  • Iceland Vladimir Ashkenazy (pianist, conductor)
  • Iceland Stefán Karl Stefánsson (actor, singer), 2018
  • Iceland Edda Björgvinsdóttir (actress), 2018
  • Iceland Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir (actress), 2023
  • Denmark Erling Bløndal Bengtsson (Cellist)
  • United States Brad Leithauser (writer, poet, scholar), awarded 2005.
  • Denmark Victor Borge (Børge "Victor" Rosenbaum) (concert pianist, entertainer)
  • Iceland Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Icelandic composer, awarded 1993.
  • Iceland Jónas Jónasson (composer, radio host), 2006

Scholars[]

  • United Kingdom George P. L. Walker (Volcanologist)
  • United Kingdom Andrew Wawn (Philologist)
  • Iceland Thorbergur Thorvaldson, cement chemist, awarded 1939.
  • Iceland Unnur Anna Valdimarsdóttir, Professor of Epidemiology, University of Iceland, awarded 2023.
  • United Kingdom A. R. Taylor, Professor of medieval English, Old Norse and modern Icelandic Studies, University of Leeds, awarded 1963
  • United Kingdom Rory McTurk, Professor of Icelandic Studies, University of Leeds, awarded 2007
  • United Kingdom Mark Watson , archaeologist, dog breeder and benefactor, awarded 1965
  • Australia William Paton Cleland (Surgeon)[5]
  • Sweden Anders Grubb, Professor of Clinical Chemistry, University of Lund, awarded 2007 for research on Icelandic hereditary diseases
  • United States John Lindow, Professor Emeritus of Old Norse and Folklore at University of California, Berkeley, awarded 2018 for scholarly contributions in the area of Icelandic medieval literature.
  • United States Carol J. Clover, Professor of Medieval Studies (Early Northern Europe) and American Film at the University of California, Berkeley.
  • United States Lee M. Hollander, translator of Kierkegaard and academic.
  • Iceland Sigrún Árnadóttir, awarded the Knight's Cross for the translation of several books to Icelandic including Alfie Atkins and for her contributions to Icelandic children's culture.

Other[]

  • United Kingdom Pike Ward, fisherman who started and developed the Icelandic fishing industry, awarded 1936.
  • Iceland Iceland men's national handball team (Silver medalists in handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics)
  • Iceland Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (chief goði of the Ásatrúarfélagið), 2018
  • Iceland Friðrik Skúlason (computer scientist), 2018
  • United States David Architzel (Vice Admiral, US Navy)
  • Iceland Guðmundur Kjærnested (Commander, Icelandic Coast Guard)
  • Iceland Sunna Olafson Furstenau (Founder/Pres Icelandic Roots; USA Rep Þjóðræknisfélag í Ísland, Pres USA & Canada)
  • Iceland Orri Vigfússon (Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund)
  • United States Anna Kisselgoff (Columbia Univ.) Awarded 2002
  • United States James L. Kauffman, Vice-admiral during World War II
  • United States William S. Key, Major General during World War II
  • United Kingdom Sir Arthur Young , police officer
  • Finland Antti Tuuri (Writer) translated some Icelandic sagas
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Koča Popović (Colonel General, YPA )
  • United States John W. White, USAF General, Commander Iceland Defense Force
  • Canada Signy Stefansson Eaton, socialite and philanthropist of Icelandic descent

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Order of the Falcon". Website of the President of Iceland. English.forseti.is. http://english.forseti.is/TheOrderoftheFalcon/. 
  2. (in fi) Eurooppalaiset kunniamerkit värikuvina. Porvoo: WSOY. 1968. p. 101. OCLC 466954328. 
  3. The Fellowship of the Order of the Falcon - website of The Reykjavík Grapevine
  4. Hersey, Linda (24 May 2021). "Sen. Murkowski honored by Iceland's president". https://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/sen-murkowski-honored-by-icelands-president/article_984860cc-bc3e-11eb-b22c-1bf2a2ac6e43.html. 
  5. Caroline Richmond, Obituary of William Paton Cleland (1912-2005), British Medical Journal, 2005, 330; 1212; pdf

External links[]

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