Honours system in the Republic of Austria
Encyclopedia
The honours system in the Republic of Austria is a means of rewarding individuals' personal achievement, or service to Austria
by state decoration
s and medals.
The system consists of several types of award which were established by the National Council of Austria
and are conferred by the President of Austria
in accordance with the respective laws.
has enacted a series of laws establishing the various decorations and medals which now make up the Austrian honours system. Among these were
The order of precedence
of the decorations and medals in the current Austrian honours system is:
The "Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria" may also be conferred as "Gold Medal with Red Riband" when awarded for bravery during an act of lifesaving.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
by state decoration
State decoration
State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....
s and medals.
The system consists of several types of award which were established by the National Council of Austria
National Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
and are conferred by the President of Austria
President of Austria
The President of Austria is the federal head of state of Austria. Though theoretically entrusted with great power by the constitution, in practice the President acts, for the most part, merely as a ceremonial figurehead...
in accordance with the respective laws.
History
Over time, the National Council of AustriaNational Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
has enacted a series of laws establishing the various decorations and medals which now make up the Austrian honours system. Among these were
- in 1952, the "Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) -- awarded in 15 classes. - in 1955, the "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" (Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst) -- awarded in 3 classes.
- in 1976, the "Decoration for Services to the Liberation of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Liberation of AustriaThe Decoration for Services to the Liberation of Austria was created by federal law on 27 January 1976. It is a special distinction for men and women who actively resisted the Nazi regime contributing to Austria’s liberation from Nazi rule...
" (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Befreiung Österreichs) -- awarded in 1 class. - in 1989, the "Military Merit DecorationMilitary Merit DecorationThe Austrian Military Merit Decoration was established 13 November 1989 to honor the Military of Austria. The badge is a silver-gilt breast star which is worn on the left chest. The cross is 60 mm wide and high and in white enamel, with a red border. In the center is a gold medallion with the...
" (Militärverdienstzeichen) -- awarded in 1 class.
Precedence
Note: this list is not completeThe order of precedence
Order of precedence
An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of items. Most often it is used in the context of people by many organizations and governments...
of the decorations and medals in the current Austrian honours system is:
- "Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Groß-Stern des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Gold with Sash" (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Silver with Sash" (Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich ). - "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Gold with Star" (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich ). - "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Silver with Star" (Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" (Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst).
- "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Gold" (Grosses Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
in Silver" (Grosses Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Austrian Decoration for Military MeritMilitary Merit DecorationThe Austrian Military Merit Decoration was established 13 November 1989 to honor the Military of Austria. The badge is a silver-gilt breast star which is worn on the left chest. The cross is 60 mm wide and high and in white enamel, with a red border. In the center is a gold medallion with the...
" (Österreichisches Militärverdienstzeichen). - "Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class" (Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Erste Klasse).
- "Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Großes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art" (Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst).
- "Gold Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Silver Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Decoration for Services to Austria's Liberation" (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Befreiung Österreichs).
- "Gold Merit Badge of the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Goldenes Verdienstzeichen der Republik Österreich). - "Silver Merit Badge of the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Silbernes Verdienstzeichen der Republik Österreich). - "Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Goldene Medaille für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Silver Medal for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Silberne Medaille für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich). - "Bronze Medal for Services to the Republic of AustriaDecoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaThe Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria is a state decoration of the Republic of Austria...
" (Bronzene Medaille für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich), which is no longer awarded.
The "Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria" may also be conferred as "Gold Medal with Red Riband" when awarded for bravery during an act of lifesaving.