Order of the White Rose
Encyclopedia
The Order of the White Rose of Finland 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 swastika
s 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.
The classes of the Order of the White Rose of Finland are:
(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.)
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty
Order of the Cross of Liberty
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty , the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of the two orders, and usually of the Order of the Cross of Liberty as well, Grand Mastership of...
, and the Order of the Lion of Finland
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland 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...
. The President of Finland
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
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
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
(temporary head of state) on January 28, 1919. The name comes from the nine roses argent in the coat of arms of Finland
Coat of arms of Finland
The coat of arms of Finland is a crowned lion on a red field, the right forepaw replaced with an armoured hand brandishing a sword, trampling on a saber with the hindpaws...
. 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
Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Akseli Gallen-Kallela was a Finnish painter who is best known for his illustrations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic . His work was considered very important for the Finnish national identity...
. The swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
s of the collar was replaced by fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
crosses in 1963, designed by heraldic artist Gustaf von Numers
Gustaf von Numers
Gustaf von Numers was a Swedish-speaking Finnish civil servant and leading heraldic artist.-Life:Von Numers studied heraldry in the 1930s under Arvid Berghman and was considered one of the leading Finnish experts in the area. He was a tireless writer on all heraldic matters...
. The honour can be granted for military as well as civilian merit. The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine.
The President of Finland
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
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.
Classes
- 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 GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
(1962) and Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
(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
Anneli Jäätteenmäki
Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki, Master of Laws was the first female Prime Minister of Finland, in office from 17 April 2003 to 24 June 2003....
did not lead to the President awarding the cross.)
List
- Ernesto BurzagliErnesto BurzagliErnesto Burzagli CB was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Italy during the early 20th century. During a lifetime career in the Italian Royal Navy , he rose to the rank of Admiral and Chief of Staff...
, 1926. - Eduard DietlEduard DietlEduard Dietl was a German general of World War II. He was born in Bad Aibling, Bavaria. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 1941 - John FawcettJohn FawcettJohn Fawcett was an English actor and playwright.He was the son of an actor of the same name . At the age of eighteen he ran away from school and appeared at Margate as Courtall in The Belles Stratagem; afterwards he joined Tate Wilkinson's company and turned from tragedy to low comedy parts...
, 1958 - Charles de GaulleCharles de GaulleCharles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, 1962 - Josip Broz TitoJosip Broz TitoMarshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
, 1963 - Greta KukkonenGreta KukkonenGreta Peck was a Finnish-American real estate broker and first wife of Hollywood actor Gregory Peck. Her first husband was Charles Rice.The Kukkonen family emigrated to the United States in 1913...
, 1967 - Leonid BrezhnevLeonid BrezhnevLeonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
, 1976 - Olli MannermaaOlli MannermaaOlli Mannermaa was a Finnish interior architect. He was born in Turku.His two sibling brothers Pentti and Esko Mannermaa.- Training :...
, 1979 - Mart LaarMart LaarMart Laar is an Estonian statesman, historian and a founding member of the Foundation for the Investigation of Communist Crimes. He was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002, and is the leader of the conservative party Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica...
, 2009 - Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, 2010
Special honors
- Grand Cross with collar, jewels and swords was awarded only once, to Carl Gustaf Emil MannerheimCarl Gustaf Emil MannerheimBaron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
4 June 1944. - Grand Cross with jewels, to three Finns: SenatorSenate of FinlandThe Senate of Finland combined the functions of cabinet and supreme court in the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1816 to 1917 and in the independent Republic of Finland from 1917 to 1918....
Otto StenrothOtto StenrothOtto Stenroth was a Finnish lawyer, politician and banker.He served as a member of Kansallis-Osake-Pankki bank executive board 1889-1893, deputy director general 1893-1906. Thereafter, he served as the chairman of the board of Hypoteekkikassa 1904-1908 and 1909-1916...
1938, Foreign Minister Carl EnckellCarl EnckellCarl Enckell was a Finnish politician, officer and a diplomat. He was the first representative of independent Finland in Saint Petersburg...
1946 and Jean SibeliusJean SibeliusJean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
1950. - Grand Cross with swords has been awarded to three Finnish Lieutenant Generals: Hjalmar SiilasvuoHjalmar SiilasvuoHjalmar Fridolf Siilasvuo was a Finnish general who led troops in the Winter War, Continuation War and Lapland War...
, Edvard Hanell and Aksel AiroAksel AiroAksel Fredrik Airo was a Finnish lieutenant general and main strategic planner during the Winter War and the Continuation War. He was the virtual second-in-command of the Finnish army under Field Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim....
. The decoration has also been awarded to a number of foreign high officers, such as the German Colonel General Eduard DietlEduard DietlEduard Dietl was a German general of World War II. He was born in Bad Aibling, Bavaria. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
.
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.