Nichan Iftikhar
Encyclopedia
Nichan Iftikhar or Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar or Nişan-i İftihar (English: Order of Glory, 1831-1918), was an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n honorary order founded in 1835 by Al-Mustafa ibn Mahmud (Bey of Tunisia). The order was awarded until the constitutional role of the Bey was abolished following 1957.
Background information
The order essentially existed in two different models: the first awarded from its creation in 1835 and the second following 1859. Initially awarded in a single class, the order was reorganized and awarded in five classes following 1843 and expanded to six classes in 1882:-
- Grand Cross
- Grand-officer
- Commander
- Officer
- Knight of 1st class
- Knight of 2nd class
This order could be awarded to people of French nationality, cities (like Verdun), and other notable foreigners with some connection to Tunisia. It was given by the bey of Tunis on a proposal from the chief vizier for Tunisian subjects and, in all the other cases, on a proposal from the resident general of France (which occupies de facto the post of Foreign Minister of Tunisia). Although the resident general has a quota, this last remains about it always the large Master. Each bey having put his monogram on the center of the decoration, it is possible to determine the approximate award date of each order.
Examples of the decoration
The typical decoration is manufactured from solid silver with green and red enameled rays for some classes. The reverse of the decoration as well as the bow and suspension ring may have jeweler, date, and acceptance markings. These particular decorations (second model) were awarded by Ali Muddat ibn al-Husayn BeyAli Muddat ibn al-Husayn
Ali III Bey ibn al-Husayn was the ruler of Tunisia from 1882 until 1902. He was the first ruler under the French protectorate....
(1882–1902).
These particular decorations were awarded by Muhammad III as-Sadiq Bey
Muhammad III as-Sadiq
Muhammad III as-Sadiq, GCB was the ruler of Tunisia from 23 September 1859 to 28 October 1881, when he abdicated. He signed the Treaty of Bardo with France on 12 May 1881 signifying Tunisia as a French Protectorate.-References:...
(1859–1882) and illustrate the differences that can exist between French and local Tunisian manufactured decorations:
Text of the diploma
Awardees were given a diploma which in general had the following text (translated):Praises with God alone! On behalf of the Servant of God glorifié, of that which puts as a God his confidence and the care of its destinies leaves him, [name of the bey], Possesseur of the Kingdom of Tunis with [name of the decorated person] on the proposal of Our Foreign Minister, which made known to us your noble qualities, We conferred this decoration to you. Our name is engraved there and it is [number of the class] class of Our Kind of Nichan Iftikhar. Carry it with joy and happiness! Writing it [date of decoration].
These two diplomas awarded to the same person in 1927, commander class, illustrate the order's typical diplomas:
Notable Recipients
- Samuel Morse, American inventor
- Albert BessonAlbert BessonAlbert Besson was a French hygienist, physician and member of the French Academy of Medicine.-Biography:In 1916, as officer cadet, he was seriously injured at the fort Vaux, during the battle of Verdun, after saving wounded soldiers, and at first, was considered as dead *.On the way to recovery,...
, doctor, hygienist and bacteriologist French - Pierre BillottePierre BillottePierre Armand Gaston Billotte was a French Army officer and politician. He was the son of General Gaston Billotte, who commanded parts of the French Army at the start of World War II...
, general and politician French - Gustave DaladierGustave DaladierCapitaine Gustave Victorin Daladier was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.-Early military service:Daladier volunteered for a three year enlistment on 3 December 1907. He began his military career in the 4eme Regiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique as an enlisted soldier. On 5...
, French flying aceFlying aceA flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
and professional soldier - A. Peter DeweyA. Peter DeweyAlbert Peter Dewey , shot by accident by Viet Minh troops on September 26, 1945. Dewey was the first American fatality in French Indochina, killed in the early aftermath of World War II. ....
, American army officer - Bernard Dupérier, aviator and politician French
- Dwight David Eisenhower, general and American president
- Louis Leon César Faidherbe, soldier and colonial administrator French
- Henri Gadeau de KervilleHenri Gadeau de KervilleHenri Gadeau de Kerville was a French zoologist, entomologist , botanist and archeologist best known for his photographs of these subjects and especially for his work Les Insectes phosphorescents : notes complémentaires et bibliographie générale : avec quatre planches chromolithographiées, Rouen, L...
, French scientist - Leon Gregoire, French general
- René Negresco, of the historical hotel in Nice
- Benjamin JaurèsBenjamin JaurèsConstant Louis Jean Benjamin Jaurès was a 19th-century French Admiral and Senator, who was active in Japan during the Bombardment of Shimonoseki and the Boshin war ....
, French naval officer - Louis Loyzeau de GrandmaisonLouis Loyzeau de GrandmaisonLouis Loyzeau de Grandmaison was a French General during World War I, he was Chief of Operations for the General Staff, where he promoted attaque à outrance....
, French general - Pierre Messmer, French politician
- Young Perez, French boxer
- Ali Riahi, Tunisian singer
- Bernard Saint-HillierBernard Saint-HillierBernard Saint-Hillier was a French general.Saint-Hillier graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1933 and was affected to the 11th Chasseurs alpins Battalion. In 1938, he joined the French Foreign Legion with the rank of captain...
, French general - Admiral of the FleetAdmiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
Lord CunninghamAndrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of HyndhopeAdmiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC".... - J.M.Abdul Aziz His Respectful, (1905–1958), received both the Commandeur and Chevalier of Nichan Iftikhar. Also recipient of Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
of France, Ordre du Nichan El-AnouarOrdre du Nichan El-AnouarThe Ordre du Nichan El-Anouar was established in 1887 as a colonial order of merit of the Tajurah sultanate in French Somaliland.-Notable Recipients:...
of French Somaliland, Royal Order of SahametreiRoyal Order of SahametreiThe Royal Order of Sahametrei is a medal presented by the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia by Royal Decree of the King of Cambodia. It is conferred primarily on foreigners who have rendered distinguished services to the King and to the people of Cambodia, particularly in the field of external...
of Cambodia, National Order of VietnamNational Order of VietnamThe National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government....
and Extreme Orient.