The Saint Olav Order, brest star Grand Cross I Type (1873-1905) GOLD

The Saint Olav Order, officially the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (Norwegian Den Kongelige Norske St. Olavs Orden) or just Olav Order, was founded on August 21, 1847 by King Oskar I of Sweden and Norway. It was named after St. King Olav II Haraldsson of Norway and is Norway's third highest award after the War Cross and the Borgerdådsmedalje. The award is given to nationals and foreigners for outstanding services to the king and fatherland, as well as for bravery and outstanding achievements in art and science.
Order classes

Originally the order consisted of three classes:

     Grand Cross (Storkors)
     commander (commander)
     Knight (Ridder)
On July 19, 1873, the commander rank and on March 17, 1890, the knight rank were each divided into two additional classes. The division into

     Grand Cross (Storkors)
     Commander with star (Kommandør med stjerne)
     Commander (Kommandør)
     Knight 1st class (Ridder av 1st class)
     Knight (Ridder)

exists to this day.

The order also includes a collar that the king can award to recipients of the Grand Cross.
Order decoration

The medal consists of a gold-bordered Maltese cross, graduated in size in the different classes. The white-enameled cross has gold balls at the eight points. In the middle there is a red medallion with a blue and white border. The crowned golden lion of Norway with the battle ax of St. Olav is depicted on the obverse and the founder's royal motto RET OG SANDHED (Law and Truth) is depicted on the reverse.

The commanders and knights who received the order for military merit wear two golden crossed swords under the crown. The band is red with white-blue-white stripes. It is worn over the right shoulder to the left hip by the Grand Crosses, around the neck by the Commanders, and on the left chest by the Knights. Women wear the Knight's Cross and the Commander's Cross on a loop of the Knight's Cross ribbon on the left chest.
Circle of medal holders

Apart from members of the royal family and heads of state, the Order of St. Olav is now only awarded to Norwegian citizens.

If a class of the Order of St. Olav was awarded for military merit, this can be recognized by two blue enameled, crossed swords under the royal crown on the cross. Special regulations apply to the return of the medal (after the death of the bearer and upon promotion to a higher order class).

Suggestions should be addressed to the king and forwarded to the order's chancellery. The Council of the Order, appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, consists of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Treasurer (Head of the Court) and three council members representing the regions of Southern, Central and Northern Norway. The Council of Orders advises the King on all questions relating to the awarding of orders. The Order Chancellery is the secretariat of the Order.Ritter.