The King can be seen wearing both the sash and the Star of the Order of the Norwegian Lion (the star with the eight white enamel arms and a red center medalion with a golden lion placed closest to the sash). The Order is one of the rarest royal orders in the world. It was awarded to 11 recipients in 1904 and was limited to 12 members only. It was never awarded to any Norwegian citizens.
At the January 29th. 1906 revisions of the court rank regulation, the Knights of the Norwegian Lion (Den Norske Løve) were placed in the same ranking order as recipients of the Grand Cross of St. Olav. H.M. King Haakon VII who replaced King Oscar II, never wore the Norwegian Lion (Den Norske Løve) despite that he formally was the Grand Master of the Order until he dissolved the Order at the March 11th, 1952 Court Resolution.
The dissolution was not made public at the time and was not announced until recently. The Statutes of the Order were listed in the annual Norwegian State Calender until 1951 and was the only indication that the Order had ceased to exist since the Statutes were no longer reported in subsequent editions.
The Norwegian Lion Order - Den Norske Løve Orden
One of the rarest Orders in the world - The Norwegian Lion - Only 11 awarded in 1904. The Collar in silver gilt and enamel. Size: 101 cm/ 40 inches, weight 16 oz. (From a private collection)
The Badge of the Order in 18 carat gold and hallmarked by J. Tostrup, Kristiania. Size: 42mm x 85 mm, weight 2 oz.
Reverse with motto: "Over the Deep towards the Height"
The Collar of the Order of the Norwegian Lion "Den norske Løve", 1904
Den Norske Løve
Norway's equivalent to the Swedish Order of the Seraphim
The Order of the Norwegian Lion was established on January 21st, 1904 by H.M. King Oscar II. The Order had only one Class and was intended awarded to all crown princes of the Royal Family. Other Norwegian Knights were limited to no more than twelve and had to be recipients of the Order of St. Olav Grand Cross class. The Order could also be awarded to foreign Heads of State.
The Order is one of the rarest in the world and only 11 awarded in 1904 and no awards since 01/12/1904.
(Click on thumbnail images below for more detail)
The Insignia of the Order
The Star
The Star is in silver with rays extending to 8 points and with a red center globe with the Coat of Arms surrounded by a golden ring, which again is surrounded by 4 golden lions and 4 golden and crowned monograms of King Oscar II. The Star is 90 mm and weights 3 oz and is made in 18 karat gold and hallmarked by J. Tostrup of Kristiania.
The Sash
The Sash is in Navy blue with wide red edges separated by two narrow white stripes. When the Sash is worn instead of the Collar, the Medallion Badge is attached to the Sash.
The Medallion Badge
The medallion badge is in enamel with an oval shape, framed by a golden ring with a golden Royal Crown in the center. The globe is red and on the reverse in golden letters the King's personal motto "Over Dybet mot Hoiden" Over the Deep towards the Hill. The Badge is 42x85 mm and weights 2 oz. It is made in 18 karat gold and is hallmarked by J. Tostrup of Kristiania.
The Collar
The golden Collar consists of 9 crowned royal monograms and 8 lions.The medallion is attached when the collar is worn. The Collar weights 16 oz (450 grams) and hasd a length of 40 inches (101,5 cm).
The Case of Issue
Reportedly in blue color.
The insignia of the Order is made of silver gilt and consists of 18 links; 9 "O"s with a crown in white enamel work symbolizing King Oscar II's monogram and 9 Lions representing the Norwegian lion holding the combat ax with a silver blade (Click on the thumbnail images below for more detail)
The Badge (private Norway collection)
The reverse with the the motto
A closeup of a section piece of the Collar
The Star (private Norway collection)
The reverse with hallmark
The reverse of a section of the Collar
The Collar (Private Norway collection)
The reverse
Close-up of a section piece
The Star (Private Norway collection
Close-up of the Star and the Sash
The Collar and the badge.
The breast Star of the Order in 18 carat gold and enamel and hallmarked by J. Tostrup, Kristiania. Size: 90 mm x 90 mm, weight 3 oz.
A rare section of the Sash in silk moire in Norway's national colors red, white and blue (Size: 12 cm wide, red stripes 2 cm wide each, blue center stripe 6 cm, white border stripes 1 cm each)
The Order of the Norwegian Lion has not been conferred to anyone since the Union between Norway and Sweden dissolved in 1905. Until then the Order had not been conferred to any Norwegians. The short lived Order was only awarded to 11 persons. King Oscar II formally abdicated the Norwegian throne on October, 26th 1905. The other dynasts mentioned above thus ceased to be Princes of Norway.
The Royal Proclamation of January, 21st 1904 was not formally abolished until 1952 by H.M. King Haakon VII, but since the Order was not conferred on anyone since the dissolution of the Union, it has been regarded that the proclamation was practically abolished.
The Order of the Norwegian Lion "Den norske Løve" has been bestowed to:
HM Oscar II, King of Sweden and Norway (1829 - 1907), January21st, 1904
HRH Gustaf, Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway (1858 - 1950), January 21st, 1904
HRH Prince Carl of Sweden and Norway (1861 - 1951), January21st, 1904
HRH Prince Eugen of Sweden and Norway (1865 - 1947), January21st, 1904
HRH Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Norway (1882 - 1973), January 21st, 1904
HRH Prince Wilhelm of Sweden and Norway (1884 - 1965), January 21st, 1904
HRH Prince Erik of Sweden and Norway (1889 - 1918) January 21st, 1904
HIM Wilhelm II, German Emperor (1859 - 1941), January 27th, 1904
HIM Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary (1830 - 1916), April 5th, 1904
HM Christian IX, King of Denmark (1818 - 1906), September 10th,1904
HE Mr. Émile Loubet, President of the French Republic (1838 - 1929), December 1st, 1904.
King Oscar II formally abdicated the Norwegian throne on October, 26 1905. The other dynasts mentioned above thus ceased to be Princes of Norway.
At the time of the dissolution of the Union, not Norwegians had been bestowed the Order of the Lion. This fact is probably the resaon HM King Haaakon VII in 1905 decided that the independent Norway would only maintain the Order of St. Olav who had been bestowed to many Norwegians since 1847.
The regulations was published in the Order Chapter on August 22, 1904, "Norsk Statskalender 1905" (the Norwegian State Calendar 1905). King Oscar II was not listed as Knight of the Order of the Lion in the calendar, but since he was the Grand Master until the dissolution of the Union, one would expect that he was still a Knight after the break-up.
Crown Prince Gustaf succeeded his father as King of Sweden in 1907. Prince Gustaf Adolf succeeded his father, King Gustaf V, in 1950. King Gustaf VI Adolf was the last person to have the Order of the Lion when he died in 1973.
Mr. Émile Loubet was President of the French Republic from February 18th, 1899 until February, 18th 1906. He was the first President, since the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1871, to finish his full term.
100 years after the Order ceased to exist the following of the original Orders are accounted for
Official Collection Sweden: The Royal Castle and/or Treasury Department in Stockholm, Sweden: 5 complete sets with Collar with Star, Badge and Sash. One set on public display at the Royal Castle.
Official Collection Norway: The Royal Coin Cabinet, Oslo: 1 complete set with Collar, Star, Badge and Sash. A gift from the Royal House of Sweden to Norway.
Official Collection Denmark: Amalienborg Castle, Copenhagen: 1 Collar (Badge and Star missing).
Private Collection # 1 in Oslo, Norway: 1 Badge and Star with new Sash but 100% correct. Reportedly awarded to Prince Wilhelm of Sweden. (Condition: Nice but with an enamel chip to one cross arm tip at the 4 o' clock position of the Star)
Private Collection # 2 in Oslo, Norway: 1 complete set with Collar, Star, Badge and Sash. (The Badge and Star was awarded to King Christian IX of Denmark. The Collar awarded to Prince Wilhelm of Sweden. (Condition: Nice condition. The Star with an enamel chip to one cross arm tip at the 4 o'clock position, the Collar with a broken link behind one of the Lions). In addition a rare privately made miniature of the badge with ribbon. Condition: Nice.
German Collection - The Order awarded to Kaiser Wilhelm II
French Collection - The Order awarded to President Émile Loubet
Austrian Collection - The Order awarded to Kaiser Franz Joseph I
The Norwegian Lion in Private Collections - Provenance
Two of the eleven Orders bestowed are in private ownership today. One set limited to the Badge and Star which were awarded to HM Christian IX, King of Denmark, were reportedly "removed" by a court servant at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen in the late 1960's and sold to a Danish jeweler and collector. The Collar reportedly remains safe at Amalienborg Castle. The other set was sold by the heirs of a Swedish Prince as mentioned above.
Part of the set of King Christian IX consisting of the Badge, Star and the Sash but not the Collar, were last reportedly sold for $42,350 on January 8, 2000 by the German Auction Company; Antiquitäten & Historica Auctionen, by Carsten Zeige in Hamburg. The set was in 18 K (750) gold and hallmarked by J. Tostrup - Kristiania. The set was in perfect condition, except for the Star which had two small enamel chips. The set is currently in a private Norwegian collection after many years in a California collection..
One set of Swedish origin has been in a Norwegian private collection for more than 10 years. The set consist of the Badge, the Star and the Sash, but not the Collar. Reportedly purchased for $30,000 from a seller in the USA.
One Collar in private ownership. The Collar was reported sold by an auction firm in Germany in 1974 and again in 1990. The Collar is today in a private Norwegian collection together with the Badge and Star of King Christian IX as mentioned above.
A Miniature of the Badge is in a private Norwegian collection. The miniature is privately made.
Hopefully a complete set of the Norwegian Lion can be put on a permanent display in a Norwegian museum one day. The Order is of great historic interest to Norway. The Order of the Norwegian Lion does not exist in the Royal Norwegian Collection since no Norwegians were ever awarded the Order. The Order was established as a separate national order for Norway as the equivalent of the Order of the Seraphim for Sweden.
King Oscar II in 1897 wearing the Collars of the Swedish Orders of Wasa, the North Star, the Sword and the Seraphim. The Order of Carl XIII in a neck ribbon.
Kundgjørelse om Oprettelsen af Ridderordenen
«Den norske Løve»
Proclamation of the foundation of the Order of the Norwegian Lion
(In Norwegian but a translation will be updated later on)
Kundgjørelse om Oprettelsen af Ridderordenen «Den norske Løve»
Kongelig Kundgjørelse (udfærdiget i Ordenskapitel) om Oprettelse af Ridderordenen «Den norske Løve».
Vi Oscar, o.s.v. Gjøre vitterligt: Vi har fundet det tjenligt i Henhold til Grundlovens § 23 at oprette en Ridderorden, hvilken Vi, til Hukommelse af de berømmelige Minder, der knytter sig til Norges ældgamle Rigsvaaben, har besluttet at kalde Den norske Løve.
Denne Orden, for hvilken Vi herved erklærer Os som Herre og Stormester, og der skal indehaves af alle arveberettigede Prinser af Vort Hus, bestaar kun af én Klasse, hvis Antal af øvrige norske Riddere ikke skal overstige tolv. Disse kan alene udvælges blandt dem, der allerede forud har erholdt St. Olafs Ordens Storkors og derhos enten har indlagt sig særlige Fortjenester i Statens høieste Stillinger eller iøvrigt har udmærket sig ved en for Fædrelandet ærefuld Daad eller Virksomhed. Ordenen kan ogsaa tildeles andre end Nordmænd, men isaafald kun Statsoverhoveder, Medlemmer af regjerende Huse eller vedkommende Staters øverste Værdighedsbærere.
En Beskrivelse af Ordenens Insignier medfølger.
Den nye Ordens Indstiftelse vil nødvendiggjøre Udarbeidelsen af fælles Statuter for de Kongelige norske Ridderordener, og vil saadanne Statuter i sin Tid blive forelagte Ordenskapitlet.
Beskrivelse af «Den norske Løve's Insignier.
Sølvstjerne med Straaler, udgaaende i 8 Spidse, i dens Midte en høirød, emaljeret Glob, hvorpaa Rigsvaabenets Løve, Globen indfattet af en Guldring, og denne atter omgiven i symmetrisk Gruppering af fire gyldne Løver afverlende med fire gyldne, kronede Begyndelsesbogstaver af den Kongelige Stifters Navn. Denne Stjerne bæres paa det venstre Bryst.
Skulderbaand, vatret, mørkeblaat, med brede høirøde Kanter, der adskilles fra Baandets Midte ved to smalere, hvide Striber. Til dette Baand, som bæres fra høire til venstre, er fæstet
en emaljeret Medaljon af oval Form, indfattet af en Guldring, hvorover en gylden Kongelig Krone. Medaljonens Glob er høirød, og paa dens Bagside er anbragt med gyldne Bogstaver den Kongelige Stifters personlige Valgsprog: «Over Dybet mod Høiden».
Gylden Ordenskjæde, sammensat af 9 kronede Navnechifre og 8 Løver, som de ovenfor beskrevne, skiftevis og forbundne ved slyngede Ornamenter. Under Kjæden, som bæres om Halsen, hænger den under c beskrevne kronede Medaljon. Denne Kjæde anlægges, naar særskilt naadigt Bestemmelse derom gives, istedetfor Skulderbaandet.
Source: Norsk Lovtidende, 2den Afdeling, 1904, pp. 17-18 («The Norwegian Legal Gazette», 2nd Department, 1904, pp. 17-18).
Disclaimer: Please note that this is an informative for non-profit site presenting the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, it's history, insignia and Grand Cross awards of the Order since the 1847 inception. Every effort is made to provide a high quality and accurate presentation, however webmaster is not responsible for any inaccuracies in the information presented or links to other sites. Please contact webmaster with any queries, updates or corrections. Thanks. - Armand Knutsen, Webmaster, 2006
Den Kongelige Norske St. Olavs Orden ble stiftet av Kong Oscar I i 1847, og tildeles som «belønning for utmerkede fortjenster av fedrelandet og menneskeheten». St. Olavs Orden er oppkalt etter Norges helgenkonge, Olav den Hellige, og er inndelt i fem grader: Storkors, Kommandør med Stjerne, Kommandør, Ridder av 1. klasse og Ridder. Til ordenen hører det også et Kjede som H.M. Kongen kan tildele innehavere av Storkorset - in Norwegian.
