The Military Order of Merit of the Companions of Artigas, in Spanish "El Orden Militar al Mérito Tenientes de Artigas", is a military decoration of Uruguay.

Foundation

The order was founded in 1980 by the ruling civilian-military administration, which governed Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

 between 1973 and 1985.

Historical reference

The name "tenientes de Artigas" or "Companions of Artigas" honours the 19th-century freedom-fighter José Gervasio Artigas

José Gervasio Artigas

José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...

.

Classes within the order

The order has the usual five classes of a modern order of merit

Order of Merit

The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...

.

• Grand Cross
  Grand Cross
  The phrase Grand Cross is used to denote the highest grade in many orders of knighthood. Sometimes the holders of the highest grade are referred to "knights grand cross" or just "grand crosses"; in other cases the actual insignia itself is called "the grand cross".Alternatively, in some other...
  
  

The cross is a gilded or silver Cross pattée

Cross pattée

A cross pattée is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper A cross pattée (or "cross patty", known also as "cross formée/formy") is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the...

 with a golden star in the middle. The ribbon is red with a blue and white border.

• Grand Officer
• Commander
  Commander
  Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
  
  
• Officer
• Knight
  Knight
  A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....