The Order of the Falcon - "Hin Islenzka Falkaroda"
Iceland's Highest Award
The President of Iceland
Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
The President is the fifth in the 59-year history of the Republic of Iceland since 1944. The President is the Grand Master of the Order of the Falcon, Iceland's highest decoration.
The President can be seen wearing the Collar of the Falcon with the Grand Cross breast star.
Instituted on July 3, 1921 by HM King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland. The statutes were revised on July 11, 1944 when Iceland became an independent republic.
Awarded for services to Iceland or to mankind.
Four Classes of the Order: Grand Cross, Grand Knight with Star, Grand Knight, and Knight.
Ribbon is in the national colors of Iceland.
Blue with white-edged red border stripes.
Falcon Commander. The current style since 1944.
Falcon Commander Star. The current style since 1944.
The National Coat of Arms of Iceland
When Iceland's independence was restored in 1918, a new coat of arms was designed by Rikardur Jonsson for the kingdom of Iceland. It shows the crowned flag of Iceland surrounded by the four guardian spirits of the land: A bull, a giant, a vulture, and a dragon.
When the Republic of Iceland was founded in 1944, a new version was introduced, this time designed by Tryggvi Magnusson. It is basically the same as the 1918 version but with the shield resting on a slab of basalt, and the crown removed, as nearly 700 years of foreign rule was over. The Icelandic coat of arms is a shield with a silvery cross in a sky-blue field with a fiery red cross in the middle of the silvery cross. The arms of the crosses extend entirely to the edges of the shield in all four directions. The blue and the red colours are the same as in the national flag.
There are four supporters on the national arms: Bull, Eagle, Dragon (or a griffin) and Giant. The bull and giant are standing on a basement of basalt representing Iceland. Above them are the eagle and dragon. The supporters refer to the guardians of Iceland that are mentioned in a passage in the "Heimskringla" . The story is from the Saga of Olav Tryggvason (chapter 33):
"Then the King of Denmark had the intention to sail with his fleet to Iceland to avenge the insult which all the Icelanders had heaped on him. It had been put into the laws in Iceland that a lampooning verse about the Danish king be composed for every head in the land. The reason for this was that when a vessel owned by Icelanders was shipwrecked in Denmark, the Danes appropriated all the cargo, calling it goods drifted ashore."
"King Harald bade a warlock to journey to Iceland and find out what he could tell him. He went in a whale's-shape. And when he came to Iceland he proceeded west and north around it. He saw that all the mountains and hills were full of land-wights, some big and some small. And when he came to the Vapnafjord he swam into the fjord, intending to go ashore there. Then a big dragon came down the valley, followed by many serpents, toads, and adders that blew poison at him. Then he swam away, heading west along the land, all the way to the Eyjafjord, and he entered into that fjord. Then there flew against him a bird so large that its wings touched the mountains on either side of the fjord, and a multitude of other birds besides, both large and small. Away he backed from there, swimming west around the land and then south to the Breithafjord and entered that fjord. Then came against him a big bull, wading out into the water and bellowing fearfully. A multitude of land-wrights followed him. Away he backed from there, swimming around Reykjaness, and intended to come ashore at Vikarsskeith. Then came against him a mountain giant with an iron bar in his hand, and his head was higher than the mountains, and many other giants were with him."
"Thereupon the King of Denmark sailed his fleet south along the land, and then to Denmark. But Earl Hakon had all the land cultivated again and paid no more tribute to the king of Denmark afterwards."
The Icelandic Gyr Falcon
The Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon. Instituted on July 3, 1921 by HM King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland. The statutes were revised on July 11, 1944 when Iceland became an independent republic.
Awarded for services to Iceland or to mankind. Four Classes of the Order: Grand Cross, Grand Knight with Star, Grand Knight, and Knight. Ribbon is in the national colors of Iceland. Blue with white-edged red border stripes.
The Order of the Falcon was established in 1921. It is the only Icelandic order. It may be conferred upon Icelanders and non-nationals for achievements in the interest of Iceland or in the international arena. The President of Iceland is the Grand Master of the Order. A council of five members controls the affairs of the Order and makes recommendations on awards to the Grand Master. On festive occasions, however, the Grand Master may award the Order without recommendations of the Order Council.
The Grand Master and the Chairman of the Order Council sign the Letter Patent. The Order has the following classes: Grand Cross, Commander with a Star, Commander, and Knight. Receipts for the insignia of the Order are to be sent to the Secretary of the President of Iceland who is the Secretary of the Order and occupies a seat on the Order Council. On the death of a person upon whom the Order has been conferred, the insignia shall be returned forthwith to the Secretary of the Order. Abroad, the insignia may be handed to Icelandic Embassies or Consulates for further dispatch. A Grand Cross Knight shall upon receiving the award return the Commander's Star if it has previously been awarded to him or her, as also a Commander shall return a Knight's Cross if he or she had it before.
Vigdis Finnbogadóttír was the fourth President of Iceland and the first woman to be elected a constitutional Head of State. "President Vigdis", addressed on a first-name basis according to the Icelandic tradition, was first elected in 1980, going on to hold the Presidency for four terms. During her period in office, President Vigdis devoted herself to the cultivation of Iceland's language, its distinctive culture and its youth. She is a founder and patron of the "Save the Children" Association (Barnaheill) in Iceland. A dedicated spokeswoman for human rights, she was made a lifetime honorary member of the Women's Rights Association of Iceland upon leaving the presidency.
Grand Cross Award Diploma signed by the former President Vigdis Finnbogadóttír.
Grand Cross set with badge, star and sash in case of issue. (From a private Swedish collection)
Grand Cross Star
Grand Cross Badge
Grand Knight Star
Commander Class I
Knight Class
Two section pieces of the Collar prior to 1944
Awards
The "Falkaordan" - Knight's Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon - is traditionally presented by Iceland's president on June 17, the country's Independence Day.
Rear admiral Stanley W. Bryant, Commander Iceland Defense Force, 1996.
Vice Admiral Michael D. Haskins, US Navy. From August 1992 to August 1994 Vice Admiral Haskins served as Commander, Iceland Defense Force; Commander, Fleet Air, Keflavik; Island Commander, Iceland; and Commander, Iceland Anti-Submarine Warfare Group. While serving in Iceland, he was presented with the Order of the Falcon, Commander's Cross, by the President of Iceland.
Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director for the San Francisco Ballet since July 1985. Knight, 197x, Commander, 1990.
Mrs. Sue McCourt Cobb, U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland, Grand Cross Knight.
United Kingdom
George P.L. Walker, Professor of Volcanology. For his contributions to the understanding of the geology of Iceland.
Canada
Magnus Eliason, 2002. For his service to the Icelandic community in Canada.
Iceland
Ossur Kristinsson, ICEROSS inventor and founder of the Ossur company, headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, has been awarded Iceland's greatest honor in recognition of his contribution to innovation and entrepreneurialism.
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Greenland and Iceland
The Crown Prince can be seen wearing the Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon together with the Order of the Elephant. Prior to 1944 Iceland belonged to the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1944 Iceland became a Republic.
(Click on thumbnail for more detail)
The President's Medal. Danish ribbon style.
Medals of the Republic of Iceland
The President's Medal - "Heidurspenningur forseta Islands". Instituted: 1954. Awarded by the President for services rendered. Ribbon: Blue. Grades: 1 class in Silver.
The Medal of the Republic of Iceland for Heroic Achievement -Life Saving Medal "Afreksmerki hins isslenzka lydveldis". Established in 1950. Awarded by the President of the Republic of Iceland to those who endanger their lives or health to save Icelanders from mortal danger. Grades: 2 classes in Gold and Silver. Ribbon: Blue.
The Red Cross Medal of Iceland. Established in 1949. Awarded by the President of Iceland for humanitarian deeds. Grades: 2 classes in Gold and Silver.
The Commemorative Medal for the 1000th Anniversary of the Allthing. Instituted: 1930 by King Christian X of Denmark. Ribbon: Blue with white edges on which there is a narrow red stripe (the national colors).
The Medal of Skaholt. Instituted: 1963
Foreign Medals to Icelandic Citizens
By presidential decree in 1947, Icelandic nationals who are awarded foreign medals must obtain the permission of the President of Iceland before they are accepted and worn.
Gold Medal for Life Saving
The Medal of the Republic of Iceland for Heroic Achievement -Life Saving Medal "Afreksmerki hins isslenzka lydveldis"
Established in 1950. Awarded by the President of the Republic of Iceland to those who endanger their lives or health to save Icelanders from mortal danger. Grades: 2 classes in Gold and Silver. Ribbon: Blue.
Gold Medal
Knight Class before 1944
Reverse side
Commander Class before 1944
Reverse side
Grand Cross after 1944
Commander Class 2 post 1944
Reverse side
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.
