Order of Vytautas the Great
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The Order of Vytautas the Great is the Lithuanian Presidential Award [1] which may be conferred on the heads of Lithuania and foreign states, as well as their citizens for distinguished services to the State of Lithuania.
The Order was instituted in 1930 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great. The badge of the Order struck in pre-war Lithuania was designed by a Lithuanian artist, Jonas Burba. The insignia of the Order issued today are of the same design.
The Order of Vytautas the Great has five classes:
| 1. Grand Cross |  |
| 2. Commander's Grand Cross |  |
| 3. Commander's Cross |  |
| 4. Officer's Cross |  |
| 5. Knight's Cross |  |
| Special class of this insignia - the Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain. |  |
This special class of Order is the highest award of the State of Lithuania [2].
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[edit] Grand Cross
Grand Cross consists of: Grand Cross, Star and sash. Grand Cross is made from gold and covered with white 50 mm size enamel. In front of the Cross seen rider in the red shield background. The same shield only with V form (from name Vytautas) in the middle could bee seen in reverse of the Cross. Above the shield is Grand Crown of Duke. On the edges of the Cross there is Vytautas the Great date of rule (1392-1430). The Cross backs golden Royal Crown with three crystal stones.
85 mm size Star is made from gold and with nine edges. In it’s middle on the blue enamel is smaller version of Vytautas the Great Cross with golden Crown above.
Order's sash is made from white moiré and is 100mm width (65 mm for females) with two smaller orange strips in edges. The Swedish Carl XVI Gustaf and the Queen Silvia were the first foreigners to receive the Order in 1995 during the official visit of the President of Lithuania to the Kingdom of Sweden.
[edit] Commander’s Grand Cross
Commander’s Grand Cross consists of: Grand Cross, Star and Ribbon. Grand Cross has most of the Grand Cross futures. Order's ribbon is made from white moiré and is 40 mm (same for females) width with two orange strips in edges. Order's Star is 85 mm size and made from gold with nine edges also. In its middle on the black enamel smaller version of Vytautas the Great Cross with golden Crown above.
[edit] Commander's Cross
Commander's Cross consists of: Cross and Ribbon. Cross has most of the Grand Cross futures.
[edit] Officer's Cross
Officer's Cross consists of: Cross and small Ribbon. Cross has most of the Grand Cross futures except size which are 42 mm. Ribbon width is 32 mm and made from white moiré.
[edit] Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross consists of: Cross and small Ribbon. Cross and Ribbon has most of the Officer's Cross futures.
[edit] Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain
Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain is the highest state award of Lithuania and consists of: Golden Chain, Cross, Star and sash. Parts of Golden Chain form double (six angle) cross and graced with stylized V form. Both edges of Chain are linked with central part, which form and ornaments are contemporary and taken form the Vyrautas the Great seal. These ornaments of central part of chain represents – bear of Smolensk, rider Vytis, warrior of Trakai and cross of Lutsk.
Oder's Cross is made from gold and covered with white 50 mm size enamel. In front of the Cross seen rider in the red shield background. The same shield, only V form, in the middle could bee seen in reverse of the Cross. Above the shield is Grand Crown of Duke. On the edges of the Cross there is Vytautas the Great date of rule (1392-1430). The Cross backs golden Royal Crown with three crystal stones.
Oder's Star size is 85 mm, has nine edges and made from gold. In it’s middle, on the red enamel, is smaller version of Vytautas the Great Cross with golden Crown above. Order's sash is made from white moiré and is 100mm width (65 mm for females) with two smaller orange strips in edges.
Persons awarded with Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain:
- President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus decorated in 2003-02-26
- President of Lithuania Algirdas Brazauskas decorated in 2003-02-03
- President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas decorated in 2003-02-25
- Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania Vytautas Landsbergis decorated in 2003-02-03
- President of Estonia Arnold Rüütel decorated in 2004-09-30
- President of Germany Horst Köhler decorated in 2005-10-19
- President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski decorated in 2005-11-02
- President of Hungary László Sólyom decorated in 2006-09-07
- King of Spain Juan Carlos I decorated in 2005-06-01
- King of Belgium Albert II decorated in 2006-03-16
- Queen of United Kingdom Elizabeth II decorated in 2006-10-17
[edit] See also
- Order of the Cross of Vytis
- Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
- Order for Merits to Lithuania
[edit] References
-
- In-line:
- ^ Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija. 84 straipsnis. Priimta 1992
- ^ Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas. Valstybės apdovanojimų įstatymas. Antras skyrius-Vytauto Didžiojo Ordino statusas. 2002
