- Order of the White Rose of Finland
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Order of the White Rose of Finland
Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta
Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with CollarAwarded by 
FinlandType State Orders Awarded for Civil or military merit Status Currently awarded Statistics Established 28 January 1919 Precedence Next (higher) Order of the Cross of Liberty Next (lower) Order of the Lion of Finland 
Commander of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandThe Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta; Swedish: Finlands Vita Ros orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board.
The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Gustaf Mannerheim in his capacity as regent (temporary head of state) on January 28, 1919. The name comes from the nine roses argent in the coat of arms of Finland. The order's rules and regulations were confirmed on May 16, 1919, and its present rules date from June 1, 1940. The revised scale of ranks was confirmed most recently in 1985. The original decorations were designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The swastikas of the collar was replaced by fir crosses in 1963, designed by heraldic artist Gustaf von Numers. The honour can be granted for military as well as civilian merit. The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine.
The President of Finland wears the Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with Collar (a neck chain). The Collar is worn four centimetres from either side and hangs at equal distances at the front and back. To the Grand Cross, like also to the Commander marks is awarded with the Brisket Star.
Contents
Classes
Diploma of White Rose Order
The classes of the Order of the White Rose of Finland are:
Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with Collar- Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland
First Class Commander of the White Rose of Finland
Commander of the White Rose of Finland
First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland
Knight of the White Rose of Finland
Cross of Merit of the White Rose of Finland
First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland with golden cross
First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland
Medal of the White Rose of Finland
Recipients
Generally the Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to foreign heads of state, e.g. to Charles de Gaulle (1962) and Josip Broz Tito (1963). Prime Ministers of Finland customarily receive the Grand Cross. (Certain leftist politicians refused the cross or didn't wear it, and the transient term in office of Anneli Jäätteenmäki did not lead to the President awarding the cross.)
List
- Ernesto Burzagli, 1926.[1]
- Eduard Dietl, 1941
- John Fawcett, 1958[2]
- Charles de Gaulle, 1962
- Josip Broz Tito, 1963
- Leonid Brezhnev, 1976
- Olli Mannermaa, 1979
- Mart Laar, 2009
- Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, 2010
Special honors
- Grand Cross with collar, jewels and swords was awarded only once, to Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim 4 June 1944.
- Grand Cross with jewels, to three Finns: Senator Otto Stenroth 1938, Foreign Minister Carl Enckell 1946 and Jean Sibelius 1950.[3]
- Grand Cross with swords has been awarded to three Finnish Lieutenant Generals: Hjalmar Siilasvuo, Edvard Hanell and Aksel Airo. The decoration has also been awarded to a number of foreign high officers, such as the German Colonel General Eduard Dietl.[3]
References
External links
- Pictures of decorations
- The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland (Decorations) A sample photo of the Order
- The Collection of Henrik Revens Website features orders and medals of Finland as well as other Nordic countries.
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