Order of the Aztec Eagle

Order of the Aztec Eagle
Awarded by  Mexico
Type	Order
Awarded for	Services given to Mexico or to humankind
Status	Currently awarded
Grades (w/ post-nominals)	Collar Cross Band Medal Placard Venera Insignia
Established	1933
Ribbon of the Order of the Aztec Eagle

The Order of the Aztec Eagle (Spanish: Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca;) is a Mexican order and is the highest decoration awarded to foreigners in the country.

It was created by decree on December 29, 1933 by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to services given to Mexico or humankind by foreigners. It corresponds to similar distinctions given to Mexican citizens such as the Condecoración Miguel Hidalgo or the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor. It is given by the office of the foreign minister on the instructions of a Council established for this purpose headed by the President.

History

The Order of the Aztec Eagle is partially descended (in name at least) from the Imperial Order of the Mexican Eagle that was created by Maximilian I of Mexico on January 1, 1865. It consisted of two classes: the Superior Class only available to Heads of State awarding a Grand Cross with Collar, and the Ordinary Class consisting of the following ranks: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight.

Design

There is some design similarity of the order with the coat of arms of Mexico, particularly the golden eagle holding a snake, which is associated with the Aztec civilization.

Classes

The classes are, in descending order:

• Collar (awarded to heads of state);
• Cross (awarded to prime ministers and other heads of government);
• Band (awarded to government ministers, secretaries, and ambassadors);
• Medal (awarded to government undersecretaries or equivalent, plenipotentiary ministers);
• Placard (awarded to ad hoc business representatives and equivalent servants of embassies in Mexico);
• Venera (a type of insignia, awarded to ad interim business representatives and other members of diplomatic missions); and
• Insignia proper (awarded under the Council's discretion).

Notable recipients

Royalty

• Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia - Collar (1954)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - Collar (1964)
• Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent - Collar
• Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Collar (1973)
• Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran - Collar (1975)
• King Olav V of Norway - Cross
• King Juan Carlos I of Spain - Collar
• Queen Sofía of Spain - Band
• Emperor Akihito of Japan - Collar
• King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden - Collar (2004)
• Queen Margrethe II of Denmark - Collar (2008)
• Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark - Band (2008)
• Felipe, Prince of Asturias - Band (2008)
• Letizia, Princess of Asturias - Band (2008)
• Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands - Collar (2009)
• Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange - Band (2009)
• Princess Máxima of the Netherlands - Band (2009)

Presidents

• Dwight D. Eisenhower - Collar (1945)
• Rafael Trujillo - Collar
• Josip Broz Tito - Collar (1963)
• Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva - Collar (2007)
• Michelle Bachelet - Collar (2007)
• Nelson Mandela - Band (2010)

Politicians

• Alexandra Kollontai - Band (1944)
• Henry H. Arnold - Collar (1945)
• Lisa Shoman - Band (2008)
• Ted Kennedy - Band (2008)
• Yves Ducharme

Other

• Nigel Davies (1980)
• Claudio Arrau (1982)
• Plácido Domingo - (1985)^[1][2]
• Satish Gujral - Insignia proper
• Charles Butt - (2001)
• Bill Gates - Placard (2007)
• Melinda Gates - Insignia proper (2007)
• Anne d'Harnoncourt - Insignia proper (2007)
• Adair Margo - Insignia proper (2007)
• Earl A. Powell III - Insignia proper (2007)
• Tomás Ybarra-Frausto - Insignia proper (2007)
• Yuri Knorozov
• Rigoberta Menchú - Insignia proper (2010)
• Mario Vargas Llosa - 2011^[3]

References

1. ^ Plácido Domingo - the Official authorized website (Accessed 19 February 2008), <http://www.placidodomingo.com/inhalt.php?id=706&menu_level=2&id_mnu=1037&id_kunden=196>
2. ^ Plácido Domingo inagotable - Hoy Digital (Accessed 19 February 2009), <http://67.199.16.148/en-sociedad/2008/6/9/92792/print>
3. ^ http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2011/03/04/mario-vargas-llosa-mexico-me-abre-los-brazos-en-vez-de-censurarme

• Mexican Chamber of Deputies. Ley de premios, estímulos y recompensas civiles (Law of civilian prizes, stimuli and awards). Text of the law as of June 30, 2006. (Pdf, in Spanish).

External links

• http://www.medals.org.uk/mexico/mexico001.htm
• http://www.blasoneshispanos.com/Ordenes/OtrasOrdenes/AguilaAzteca/AguilaAzteca.htm