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This is alist of some of the modern orders, decorations and medals of Spain.
The majority of the top civil and military decorations currently granted by theGovernment of Spain on a discretionary basis can be traced back to the 19th and 20th centuries. Themilitary orders, a series of religious-military institutions created during the Middle Ages for military and borderland repopulation purposes in the Iberian Christian kingdoms, were brought under the control of the Crown from the late 15th to early 16th century. Since then,Spanish monarchs have beengrand masters of the orders, which enables them to award individuals with the habits of the former as an honor.
Provincial and municipal corporations (diputaciones andayuntamientos) have a tradition for granting medals, and "adoptive" and "predilect" son/daughter as honorific titles. After the creation ofautonomous communities in the late 20th century, regional administrations have also created their own set of civil decorations.
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TheSpanish military orders orSpanish Medieval knights orders are a set of religious-military institutions that emerged during theReconquista. The most important orders arose in the 12th century in the Crowns ofLeón andCastile (Order of Santiago,Order of Alcántara, andOrder of Calatrava) and in the 14th century in theCrown of Aragon (Order of Montesa). These orders were preceded by many others that did not survive, such as the AragoneseMilitia Christi ofAlfonso of Aragon and Navarre, theConfraternity of Belchite (founded in 1122), or the Military order of Monreal (founded in 1124), which were later refurbished byAlfonso VII of León and Castile. After the refurbishment, these orders took the name ofCesaraugustana and were integrated into theKnights Templar in 1149 withRamon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona. The PortugueseOrder of Aviz responded to identical circumstances in the remaining peninsular Christian kingdom.
During theMiddle Ages, native Military orders appeared in theIberian Peninsula, sharing many similarities with other internationalMilitary orders but also possessing unique peculiarities due to the peninsular's historical circumstances marked by the confrontation betweenMuslim and Christian forces.
The birth and expansion of these native orders occurred mainly during the Reconquista's stages in which territories south of theEbro andTagus were occupied. As a result, their presence in areas such asLa Mancha,Extremadura, andSistema Ibérico (Campo de Calatrava,Maestrazgo, etc.) came to define the main feature ofRepoblación, with each Order exercising a political and economic role similar to that of a feudalmanor through theirencomiendas. Simultaneously, the presence of foreign military orders such as theTemplar or theSaint John was notable. However, the suppression of the Knights Templar in the 14th century benefited Spain significantly.
The military orders' social implementation among noble families was significant, extending even through related female orders such as Comendadoras de Santiago and others similar.
After the turbulent period of thelate medieval crisis—in which the position ofGrand Master of the orders was the subject of violent disputes between the aristocracy, the monarchy and thefavourites (infantes of Aragon,Álvaro de Luna, etc.)—Ferdinand II of Aragon, in the late 15th century, managed to neutralize the orders politically to obtain the papal concession of the unification in the person of that position for all of them, and its joint inheritance for its heirs, the kings of the laterCatholic Monarchy, that administered through the Royal Council of the Military Orders.
Gradually losing any military function along theAntiguo Régimen, the territorial wealth of the military orders was the subject ofconfiscation in the 19th century, which reduced the orders thereafter to the social function of representing, as honorary positions, an aspect of noble status.[1]
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Although the appearance of the Hispanic military orders can be interpreted as pure imitation of the international arisen following theCrusades, both its birth and its subsequent evolution have distinctive features, as they played a leading role in the struggle of Christian kingdoms against the Muslims, in the repopulation of large territories, especially between theTagus and theGuadalquivir and became a political and economic force of the first magnitude, besides having great role in the noble struggles held between the 13th and 15th centuries, when finally theCatholic Monarchs managed to gain its control.
For theArabists, the birth of the Spanish military orders was inspired by the Muslims'ribat, but other authors believe that its appearance was the result of a merger of confraternities and council militias tinged with religiosity, by absorption and concentration gave rise to the large orders at a time when the struggle againstAlmohad power required every effort by the Christian side.[citation needed][neutrality isdisputed]
Traditionally it is accepted that the first to appear was that ofOrder of Calatrava, born in that village of the Castilian kingdom in 1158, followed by that ofOrder of Santiago, founded in Cáceres, in the Leonese kingdom, in 1170. Six years later was created theOrder of Alcántara, initially called ¨of San Julián del Pereiro¨. The last to appear was theOrder of Montesa it did later on, during the 14th century, in theCrown of Aragon due to the dissolution of the Order of the Templar.
Imitating the international orders, the Spanish adopted their organization. Themaster was the highest authority of the order, with almost absolute power, both militarily, and politically or religiously. It was chosen by thecouncil, made up of thirteen friars, where it comes to its components the name of "Thirteens". The office of Master is life-time and in his death, theThirteen, convened by the greater prior of the order, choose the new. It should be the removal of the master by incapacity or pernicious conduct for the order. To carry out it needed the agreement of its governing bodies: council of the thirteen, "greater prior" and "greater convent".
TheGeneral Chapter is a kind of representative assembly that controls the entire order. What are the thirteen, the priors of all the convents and allcommanders. It should meet annually a certain day in the greater convent, although in the practice these meetings were held where and when the master wanted.
In each kingdom was a "greater commander", based in a town or fortress. Thepriors of each convent were elected by the canons, because it must bear in mind that within the orders werefreyles milites (knights) andfreyles clérigos, professed monks who taught and administering the sacraments.
Residence of the Grand MasterDue to their dual nature as both military and religious institutions, the orders developed separate double organizations for each of these areas, though they were not always completely detached.
In the political-military area, the orders were divided into "major encomiendas", with each peninsular kingdom having a greater encomienda in which the order was present. The main commander was in charge of them. Below the major encomiendas were the encomiendas, which were a collection of goods, not always territorial or grouped, but generally constituted territorial demarcations. The encomiendas were administered by a commander. The fortresses not under the command of the commander were headed by analcaide appointed by him.
Religiously, the orders were organized by convents, with a main convent serving as the headquarters of the order. The Order of Santiago was based in Uclés, following the rifts of the order with the Leonese monarchFerdinand II. The Order of Alcántara was based in theExtremaduran village that gave it its name.
The convents were not only places where the professed monks lived, but also constituted priories, religious territorial demarcations where the respective priors had the same powers as the bishoprics, resulting in the military orders being removed from the episcopal power in extensive territories.
The command of the army was exercised by the highest dignitaries of each order. At the apex was the master, followed by the main commanders. The figure ofalférez was highlighted at the beginning, but in the Middle Ages it had disappeared. The command of the fortresses was in the hands of the commander or analcaide appointed by him.
Recruitment was done throughencomiendas, with each presumably contributing a number of lances or men related to the economic value of the demarcation.
Of note is the surprising bellicosity of the orders and their rigorous promise to fight theinfidel, which often manifested itself in the continuation of authentic "private wars" against the Muslims when, for various reasons, the Christian kings gave up the struggle. This was due to signing truces or directing their military actions in other ways, as was the case whenFerdinand III of Castile, crowned king of León, abandoned the interests of this kingdom to pursue the conquest ofAndalusia in favor of theCrown of Castile.
The military orders played an important role not only in military affairs, but also in repopulation, economic growth, and social development. Simply conquering territory was not enough; it was also necessary to attract settlers and develop the land for defense and economic purposes.
The orders received vast tracts of land, which they used to gain political and economic power through repopulation efforts. They employed various methods to attract people to the newly acquired lands, such as granting generousfueros (legal codes) to villages under their jurisdiction. They often modeled their fueros on more generous ones, like those ofCáceres andSepúlveda. The tax exemptions by marriage from theFuero of Usagre were also implemented.
In addition, the orders sought to develop unproductive lands. To this end, they provided incentives for new settlers, such as donations of public lands and the organization offairs. They also undertook significant infrastructure projects to improve communication networks, such as building bridges and roads, which in turn facilitated trade. The tax-free nature of the fairs was particularly attractive to merchants and helped stimulate economic growth in the region.
The Hispanic military orders had diverse relationships with other powers and institutions. They generally received support from the papacy, as they constituted a strong foundation for the reconquest and directly depended on its authority. ThePopes granted episcopal authority to the priors of the orders in their conflict with the bishops, providing them greater independence.
The relationship between the Hispanic military orders and other powers and institutions underwent several changes during different stages. Initially, monarchs recognized the potential of the orders in the reconquest and repopulation tasks and saw them as the "most precious jewel" of their crowns. Kings such asAlfonso of Aragon and Navarre andAlfonso VIII of Castile enticed the orders to their kingdoms by offering possessions and territories. Besides military or political donations, kings also granted tax privileges and favored the orders in numerous lawsuits with other powers. In return, the orders were loyal to the monarchs and carried out the missions entrusted to them. However, with the increasing power of the orders, monarchs such as Alfonso XI of Castile began a struggle to gain control through the designation of the master. This struggle continued until the Catholic Monarchs achieved absolute control over the orders' mastership, which became hereditary.
The relationship between the orders and the concejos of realengo, especially those endowed with extensive domains of difficult control and occupation, was problematic. The orders often preyed upon unpopulated areas until the kings put an end to their usurpations. However, from the 14th century, these councils suffered the same predation by lay lords. Disputes with neighbors also led to prolonged and even physical confrontations.
The relationship with the rest of the clergy was equally diverse. While some clergy supported the orders, there were also endless lawsuits and skirmishes, such as the attack on the bishops of Cuenca and Sigüenza by the Santiago's commander of Uclés. Tensions with the bishops were frequent in the struggle for ecclesiastical jurisdiction, which were subtracted from the priors, who finally received papal support.
The orders maintained brotherhood and coordination in their relations with each other. Calatrava and Alcántara were united by relations of affiliation without incurring a lack of autonomy of Alcántara. The orders had agreements for mutual aid and sharing of archives. For instance, the tripartite agreement of friendship, mutual defense, coordination, and centralization was signed in 1313 by Santiago, Calatrava, and Alcántara.
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The Military Orders were dissolved on April 29 of 1931 by theRepublican government.
During theSpanish Civil War, many non-militant, non-criminal, civilian leading members of the Orders were killed, their knights in the crosshairs of ideological revolutionists, put to death for revolutionary agendas: minimally, at least nineteen of theMilitary Order of Santiago, fifteen of theMilitary Order of Calatrava, five of theMilitary Order of Alcántara and four of theMilitary Order of Montesa were executed. These numbers are conservative in fact and unconfirmed, but doubtless, ideologically-inspired killings of those with serious ties to these Orders, existed beyond official recorded numbers – regardless of class, any persons intimately associated with these pre-modern Orders were targets of revolutionary assassinations and the death-toll was likely higher.
The "officially" tabulated balance of Knights of 1931 to 1935 in the midst of the chaos was as follows:
In 1985 only 19 documentation-verified knights, who professed a dedication before approximately 1931, remained of what was once a grand edifice of social significance to Spanish and greater European society.
After theSpanish Civil War, negotiations began withFranco, thecaudillo whose social policy aimed to synthesize modernity with traditional elements of redeeming value. He invited Bishop-PriorEmeterio Echeverría Barrena to an exchange, but it was unproductive, and the Order subsisted marginally or informally over the following years. It was not until April 2, 1980, when they were officially recorded as anassociation by theCivil Government ofMadrid. On May 26 of the same year, they were registered as a federation. The Order of Santiago, along withCalatrava,Alcántara, andMontesa, were reinstated as civil associations during the reign ofJuan Carlos I, as honorable and religious noble organizations, which they remain today.
On April 9, 1981, after fifty years,Juan Carlos I named his father,Infante Juan of Bourbon, President of theRoyal Council of the Military Orders. Currently, As of April 28, 2014[update], the position of President of the Royal Council is held byDon Pedro of Bourbon, Duke of Noto.
Most werehonorific orders in payment of efforts by warrior girls attacking Muslims (and in some cases attacking English), and their high contribution to the reconquest of cities, some however came to become actually in femalemilitary orders.[16]
| Emblem | Name | Founded | Founder | Origin | Recognition | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Female order of the Band | 1387 | John I of Castile | Palencia,Castile and León (Crown of Castile) | Crown of Castile (1387– )[16] | |
 | Female order of the Hatchet | 1149 | Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona | Tortosa,Catalonia (County of Barcelona) | County of Barcelona (1149– )[17] | |
 | Order of Santiago | 1151 | Ferdinand II of León andPedro Suárez de Deza | Uclés,Castile-La Mancha (Kingdom of Castile) andLeón,Castile and León (Kingdom of León) | July 5, 1175 byPope Alexander III,Pope Urban III,Pope Innocent III | Kingdom of León (1158– ),Kingdom of Castile (1158– )[12] |
| Emblem | Name | Founded | Founder | Origin | Recognition | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Order of Saint Mary of Spain | 1270 | Alfonso X of Castile | Cartagena,Region of Murcia (Crown of Castile) | Crown of Castile (1177– )[18] |
TheCatholic Monarchs QueenIsabella I of Castile and KingFerdinand II of Aragon introduced a military honours system which was approved by the PopeAdrian VI in 1523. They awarded titles and hereditary honours to nobles and soldiers. Of those titles the following exist today:
Orden de Calatrava (Order of Calatrava),St. Raymond of Fitero, first abbott of thecistercian monastery ofFitero (Navarre), 1158.
Order of Santiago (Order of Santiago), KingFerdinand II of León, 1170.
Order of Alcántara (Order of Alcántara), St. Julian de Pereiro, 1176.
Orden de Santa María de Montesa y San Jorge de Alfama (Order de St. Mary of Montesa and St. George of Alfama) commonly known as Orden de Montesa (Order of Montesa), KingJames II of Aragon andPope John XXII, 1317.
Orden de San Juan (Order of St. John)
Orden del Santo Sepulcro (Order of the Holy Sepulchre)
TheInsigne Orden del Toisón de Oro (Insigned Order of the Golden Fleece) is a chivalrous Order founded in 1430 by theDuke of Burgundy,Philip III of Burgundy.[19] It was established in Spain byPhilip II, although his fatherCharles I attempted to found it before him.[20]
Real y militar Orden de San Fernando (Royal & Military Order ofSaint Ferdinand)
Medalla Militar (Military Medal)
Cruz de Guerra (War Cross)
Medalla del Ejército (Army Medal)
Medalla Naval (Navy Medal)
Medalla Aérea (Air Force Medal)
Cruces del Mérito Militar (Crosses of Military Merit) – Royal Decree 1040/2003_pasador.svg)
Cruces del Mérito Naval (Crosses of Naval Merit) – Royal Decree 1040/2003
Cruces del Mérito Aeronáutico (Crosses of Air Force Merit) – Royal Decree 1040/2003
Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo (Royal and Military Order ofSaint Hermenegild)[21]_pasador.svg)
Cruz a la Constancia en el Servicio (Long Military Service Cross)
Cruz Fidélitas (Fidelity Cross)
Medalla de Campaña (Campaign Medal)
Medal of the Century of Our Lady of the Pillar as Patron of the Spanish Civil Guard [es]
Medal of the V Centenary of Saint Barbara as Patron of the Artillery Weapon
Distinguished Service Award (Spain) [es] (Distinguished Service Award)Mención Honorífica [es] (Mention in dispatches)
TheMedalla al Servicio de la Política Europea de Seguridad y Defensa (Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal)
TheMedalla de las Naciones Unidas (United Nations Medal).svg)
TheMedalla de la OTAN (NATO Medal)
NATO Serge Lazareff Prize
Military Order of María Cristina [es] (Royal and Military Order of Maria Christina) (1889–1931)
Orden Naval de María Cristina [es] (Royal and Military Naval Order of Maria Christina) (1891–1931)_pasador.svg)
Medal of Suffering for the Motherland [es] (Medal of Suffering for the Motherland) (1814–1989).svg)
Medal of the Maimed (Spain) [es] (Medal of the Maimed) (1938–1989)[22]
Sahara Medal [es] (Sahara Medal) (1977)
TheMedalla de Servicio de la Unión Europea Occidental (WEU Service Medal)
TheReal y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III (Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III), Established byCharles III in 1771 to decorate those having benefited Spain and her Crown by their actions. It is the highest civil decoration that exists in Spain.
TheReal Orden de Isabel la Católica (Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic), established byFernand VII in 1815, to "reward unflinching loyalty to Spain and the merits of Spanish and foreign subjects in benefit of the Nation and especially those services relating to the prosperity of the American and other overseas territories". The decoration is currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs._-_Sash_of_Grand_Collar.svg)
_-_Crosses.svg)
TheOrden del Mérito Civil (Order of Civil Merit), established byAlfonso XIII in 1926 to "reward the civic virtues of civil servants as well as the extraordinary services to the Nation of Spanish and foreign subjects". It too is currently the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
TheOrden de la Cruz de San Raimundo de Peñafort (Order of the Cross ofSaint Raymond of Penyafort), established in 1944 to “reward relevant merits performed by those persons involved in the administration of Justice and for their contribution and study of all branches of Law and for the untarnished services to judicial activities under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice".[23] Relies on the Undersecretary of Justice, through the Division for the Processing of Pardon Rights and Other Rights, within this order there are various crosses and medals.[24]
TheOrden del Mérito Constitucional (Order of Constitutional Merit), established byFelipe Gonzalez’s government in 1988 to “reward those persons who distinguish themselves by their services to the Constitution and of the values established therein”. It can be awarded both to persons or organizations (public or private).[25]
TheOrden de Cisneros (Order ofCisneros), founded in 1944 to reward political merit.[26]
TheRoyal Order for Civil Recognition of the Victims of Terrorism [es] (Royal Order for Civil Recognition of the Victims of Terrorism), created in 1991, in order to honour those killed, wounded or kidnapped by terrorists. It consists of a Grand Cross, that can be awarded posthumously to the deceased and a Commendation, for those injured and kidnapped.[27]
TheOrden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio (Civil Order ofAlfonso X the Wise), founded in 1945 with the aim of to “reward relevant merits in the fields of education, science, culture, higher education and research”. In 1988 this order replaced theCivil Order of Alfonso XII.
TheOrden de las Artes y las Letras de España (Order of Arts and Letters of Spain)
TheReal Orden del Mérito Deportivo (Royal Order of Sports Merit).svg)
TheMedal of Merit for Research and for University Education [es] (Medal of Merit for Research and for University Education).svg)
TheMedalla al Mérito en las Bellas Artes (Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts).svg)
TheOrden Civil de la Solidaridad Social (Civil Order of Social Solidarity), established in 1988 to replace the old 'Orden de Beneficencia' (Order of Charity) with the aim of “recognizing persons or organizations, both Spanish and foreign having distinguished themselves in promoting or performing activities related to social welfare”.[28]
TheCivil Order of Health, created in 1829 (as Cross of Epidemics) to honor those doctors that "have distinguished themselves in the fulfillment of their obligations, assisting afflicted humanity with particular care, without being daunted by the imminent danger to their lives". In 1910 was merged with theOrder of Beneficence and reestablished in 1943 in its current form.[29]
TheOrden del Mérito del Cuerpo de la Guardia Civil (Order of Merit of theCivil Guard Corps)[33].svg)
TheOrden del Mérito Policial (Order of Police Merit)[34].svg)
TheMedalla al Mérito de la Protección Civil (Medal of Merit of Civil Defence).svg)
TheCondecoración a la Dedicación al Servicio Policial (Police Service Decoration)[35].svg)
TheMedalla al Mérito en el Trabajo (Medal of Merit for Labour)Autonomous cities
TheOrden de las Damas Nobles de María-Luisa (Order of the Noble Ladies ofQueen Maria Luisa)
TheMedalla Plus Ultra (Plus Ultra Medal)
TheReal y Militar Orden de España (Royal and Militar Order of Spain),Joseph Bonaparte (1809–1812)
TheOrden Civil de Alfonso XII (Civil Order of Alfonso XII),Alfonso XIII (1902–1931)Officially replaced by theCivil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise (1988)
TheOrden de la República Española (Order of the Spanish Republic),Second Republic (1932–1939).
TheOrden Imperial del Yugo y las Flechas (Imperial Order of the Yoke and Arrows),Francisco Franco (1937–1976).
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