Cross of Liberty
Encyclopedia
The Cross of Liberty was established by then Prime Minister of Estonia, Konstantin Päts
, on 24 February 1919 to honor people for their services during the Estonian War of Independence and conferred in three grades, each in three classes. Grade I was for military leadership, Grade II for personal courage, and Grade III for civilian service. Grade and class is attached to the name of recipient in the form of post-nominal letters
. The 1st class of II grade was never conferred. Bestowal of the Cross of Liberty was terminated in 19 June 1925.
The last surviving recipient of the Cross of Liberty was Karl Jaanus VR II/3, who died on 6 October 2000.
The War of Independence Victory Column in Tallinn, opened in 2009, is modelled after the Cross of Liberty.
Konstantin Päts
Konstantin Päts VR I/1 and III/1 was the most influential politician of interwar Estonia. He was one of the first Estonians to become active in politics and started an almost 40-year political rivalry with Jaan Tõnisson, first through journalism with his newspaper Teataja, later through politics...
, on 24 February 1919 to honor people for their services during the Estonian War of Independence and conferred in three grades, each in three classes. Grade I was for military leadership, Grade II for personal courage, and Grade III for civilian service. Grade and class is attached to the name of recipient in the form of post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
. The 1st class of II grade was never conferred. Bestowal of the Cross of Liberty was terminated in 19 June 1925.
The last surviving recipient of the Cross of Liberty was Karl Jaanus VR II/3, who died on 6 October 2000.
The War of Independence Victory Column in Tallinn, opened in 2009, is modelled after the Cross of Liberty.
Notable recipients of the Cross of Liberty
- The British Unknown WarriorThe Unknown WarriorThe British tomb of The Unknown Warrior holds an unidentified British soldier killed on a European battlefield during the First World War. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, London on 11 November 1920, simultaneously with a similar interrment of a French unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in...
VR I/1 - the French Unknown SoldierTomb of the Unknown SoldierTomb of the Unknown Soldier refers to a grave in which the unidentifiable remains of a soldier are interred. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-profile national monuments. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified...
VR I/1 - The Italian Unknown SoldierTomb of the Unknown SoldierTomb of the Unknown Soldier refers to a grave in which the unidentifiable remains of a soldier are interred. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-profile national monuments. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in wars without their remains being identified...
VR I/1 - The city of VerdunVerdunVerdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
VR I/1 - Eduard Ahman VR I/3
- Albert I of BelgiumAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
VR I/1 - Jānis BalodisJanis BalodisJānis Balodis was an army officer and politician who was a principal figure in the foundation and government of independent Latvia. He was commander in chief of the army and navy during the Latvian war of independence and later was a cabinet member and vice president...
VR I/1 - David Beatty, 1st Earl BeattyDavid Beatty, 1st Earl BeattyAdmiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...
VR I/1 - Stanley BaldwinStanley BaldwinStanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley VR III/1 - Arthur BalfourArthur BalfourArthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
, 1st Earl of Balfour VR III/1 - Aristide BriandAristide BriandAristide Briand was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic and received the 1926 Nobel Peace Prize.- Early life :...
VR III/1 - William Clive Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman VR III/1
- Frederick Lambart, 10th Earl of CavanFrederick Lambart, 10th Earl of CavanField Marshal Frederick Rudolph Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE was a British Army officer and Chief of the Imperial General Staff.-Army career:...
VR I/1 - Robert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of ChelwoodRobert Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of ChelwoodEdgar Algernon Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood CH, PC, QC , known as Lord Robert Cecil from 1868 to 1923, was a lawyer, politician and diplomat in the United Kingdom...
VR III/1 - Sir Austen ChamberlainAusten ChamberlainSir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG was a British statesman, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and half-brother of Neville Chamberlain.- Early life and career :...
VR III/1 - Christian X of DenmarkChristian X of DenmarkChristian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
VR I/1 - Sir Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
VR I/1 - Georges ClemenceauGeorges ClemenceauGeorges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
VR III/1 - Walter CowanWalter CowanAdmiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan, 1st Baronet, KCB, MVO, DSO & & Bar , known as Tich Cowan, was a British Royal Navy admiral who saw service in both World War I and World War II; in the latter he was one of the oldest British servicemen on active duty.-Early days:Cowan was born in Crickhowell,...
VR I/1 - Gaston DoumergueGaston DoumerguePierre-Paul-Henri-Gaston Doumergue was a French politician of the Third Republic.Doumergue came from a Protestant family. Beginning as a Radical, he turned more towards the political right in his old age. He served as Prime Minister from 9 December 1913 to 2 June 1914...
VR III/1 - Eric Drummond, 16th Earl of Perth VR III/1
- Carl EnckellCarl EnckellCarl Enckell was a Finnish politician, officer and a diplomat. He was the first representative of independent Finland in Saint Petersburg...
VR III/1 - Rafael ErichRafael ErichRafael Waldemar Erich was a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party, Professor, diplomat, and Prime Minister of Finland ....
VR III/1 - The Rt. Hon. Herbert FisherHerbert FisherHerbert Albert Laurens Fisher OM, FRS, PC was an English historian, educator, and Liberal politician. He served as President of the Board of Education in David Lloyd George's 1916 to 1922 coalition government....
VR III/1 - Ferdinand FochFerdinand FochFerdinand Foch , GCB, OM, DSO was a French soldier, war hero, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing "the most original and subtle mind in the French army" in the early 20th century. He served as general in the French army during World War I and was made Marshal of France in its...
VR I/1 - Pietro GasparriPietro GasparriPietro Gasparri was a Roman Catholic archbishop, diplomat and politician in the Roman Curia and signatory of the Lateran Pacts.- Biography :...
VR III/1 - George V of the United KingdomGeorge V of the United KingdomGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
VR I/1 - Sir Hubert GoughHubert GoughGeneral Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough GCB, GCMG, KCVO was a senior officer in the British Army, who commanded the British Fifth Army from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War.-Family background:...
VR I/1 - Gustaf V of SwedenGustaf V of SwedenGustaf V was King of Sweden from 1907. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
VR III/1 - Douglas Haig, 1st Earl HaigDouglas Haig, 1st Earl HaigField Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
VR I/1 - Sir John Hanbury-WilliamsJohn Hanbury-WilliamsMajor-General Sir John Hanbury-Williams GCVO, KCB, CMG. John Hanbury-Williams was the youngest son of Ferdinand Hanbury-Williams, of Coldbrook Park, Monmouthshire. After attending Wellington College, he went on to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and in 1878 he was commissioned into the 43rd...
VR III/1 - Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of PenshurstCharles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of PenshurstCharles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, was a British diplomat and statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916.-Background and education:...
VR III/1 - Miklós HorthyMiklós HorthyMiklós Horthy de Nagybánya was the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II, serving from 1 March 1920 to 15 October 1944. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" .Admiral Horthy was an officer of the...
VR III/1 - Esme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of PenrithEsme Howard, 1st Baron Howard of PenrithEsme William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Penrith, GCB, GCMG, CVO was a British diplomat. He served as British Ambassador to the United States between 1924 and 1930....
VR III/1 - Karl Jaanus VR II/3
- Kyösti KallioKyösti KallioKyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...
VR III/1 and I/2 - Julius KuperjanovJulius KuperjanovJulius Kuperjanov VR II/2 and II/3 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and commanding officer of the Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion.-Life:Kuperjanov was a schoolteacher in the village of Kambja...
VR II/2 and II/3 - Johan LaidonerJohan LaidonerJohan Laidoner was a seminal figure of Estonian history between the world wars. His highest position was Commander-in-chief of the Estonian Army in 1918–1920, 1924–1925, and 1934–1940.-Education:Laidoner was born in Viiratsi , Governorate of Livonia, then part of the Russian Empire...
VR I/1 and III/1 - Eduards KalniņšEduards KalniņšEduards Kalniņš was a Latvian general. He participated in the Russo-Japanese War, World War I and in the Latvian War of Independence...
I/2 - Hans LeesmentHans LeesmentHans Leesment was an Estonian General. From 1919 up until 1940, he was the president of the Estonian Red Cross. On February 24, 1933, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.-External links:*...
VR III/2 - David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor VR III/1 - Harri MooraHarri MooraHarri Moora was an Estonian archaeologist. He was a recipient of the national Cross of Liberty.In 1925, he graduated from the University of Tartu. Between 1930-1942, he was a museum director. He worked at Tartu University during World War II but was arrested in 1944; he resumed his post at the...
VR II/3 - Benito MussoliniBenito MussoliniBenito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
VR III/1 - Paul PainlevéPaul PainlevéPaul Painlevé was a French mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of the Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925.-Early life:Painlevé was born in Paris....
VR III/1 - Karl PartsKarl PartsKarl Parts VR I/1, VR II/2, VR II/3 was an Estonia military commander during the Estonian War of Independence....
VR I/1, II/2 and II/3 - Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of PerthEric Drummond, 7th Earl of PerthJames Eric Drummond, 16th Earl of Perth, GCMG, CB was a Scottish representative peer, a British diplomat and the first Secretary General of the League of Nations...
VR III/1 - Philippe PétainPhilippe PétainHenri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
VR I/1 - Józef Piłsudski VR I/1 and III/1
- Johan PitkaJohan PitkaJohan Pitka, VR I/1, KCMG was a famous Estonian military commander from the Estonian War of Independence until World War II.-Early life:...
VR I/1 - Jaan PoskaJaan PoskaJaan Poska VR III/1 was an Estonian barrister and politician....
VR III/1 - Ernst PõdderErnst PõdderErnst Põdder VR I/1 was a famous Estonian military commander in the Estonian War of Independence....
VR I/1 - Konstantin PätsKonstantin PätsKonstantin Päts VR I/1 and III/1 was the most influential politician of interwar Estonia. He was one of the first Estonians to become active in politics and started an almost 40-year political rivalry with Jaan Tõnisson, first through journalism with his newspaper Teataja, later through politics...
VR I/1 and III/1 - August ReiAugust ReiAugust Rei VR III/1 was an Estonian Social Democratic politician. He was born in Pilistvere, Kõo Parish, Viljandi County.- Education :...
VR III/1 - Tõnis Rotberg VR I/2
- Conte Carlo SforzaCarlo SforzaConte Carlo Sforza was an Italian diplomat and anti-Fascist politician.-Biography:Sforza was born at Montignoso ....
VR III/1 - Władysław Sikorski VR III/1
- Otto StrandmanOtto StrandmanOtto August Strandman VR III/1 was an Estonian politician, who served as Prime Minister and State Elder of Estonia . He was one of the leaders of the centre-left Estonian Labour Party, that saw its biggest support after the 1919 and 1920 elections...
VR III/1 - Otto TiefOtto TiefOtto Tief was a lawyer, an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and a politician. He was Acting Prime Minister of the last government of Estonia before Soviet troops occupied Estonia in 1944...
VR II/3 - William George Tyrrell, 1st Baron TyrrellWilliam George Tyrrell, 1st Baron TyrrellWilliam George Tyrrell, 1st Baron Tyrrell GCB, GCMG, KCVO, PC was a British civil servant and diplomat. He was Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1925 and 1928 and British Ambassador to France from 1928 to 1934.-Background and education:Tyrell, a grandson of an Indian...
VR III/1 - Kārlis UlmanisKarlis UlmanisKārlis Augusts Vilhelms Ulmanis was a prominent Latvian politician in pre-World War II Latvia during the Latvian period of independence from 1918 to 1940.- Education and early career :Ulmanis studied agriculture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and...
VR III/1 - Victor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III of ItalyVictor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
VR III/1 - Aleksander WarmaAleksander WarmaAleksander Warma VR I/3 was an Estonian navy officer, diplomat and painter....
VR I/3 - Rosslyn Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester WemyssRosslyn Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester WemyssAdmiral of the Fleet Rosslyn Erskine Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss GCB, CMG, MVO , known as Sir Rosslyn Wemyss between 1916 and 1919, was a British naval commander...
VR I/1 - Maxime WeygandMaxime WeygandMaxime Weygand was a French military commander in World War I and World War II.Weygand initially fought against the Germans during the invasion of France in 1940, but then surrendered to and collaborated with the Germans as part of the Vichy France regime.-Early years:Weygand was born in Brussels...
VR I/1