View source for Order of St. Olav

{{Short description|Norwegian chivalric order}}
{{Infobox order
|title           = {{ubl|Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav|''Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden''}}
|image           = [[File:St.Olavsordens kraschan - Livrustkammaren - 30274.tif|St.Olavsordens kraschan - Livrustkammaren - 30274|225px]]
|caption=Grand Cross set of the Order (1st type)
|awarded_by      = <br /> [[Image:Greater royal coat of arms of Norway.svg|35px]] <br /> [[King of Norway]]
|type            = [[Chivalric order]] with five degrees
|motto           = ''RET OG SANDHED''<br />(Justice and Truth)
|day             = 22 August 1961
|eligibility     =
|criteria        = Remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity
|status          = Currently constituted
|head_title      = Grand Master
|head            = [[King Harald V]]
|commander       =
|grades          = {{Plainlist|
* Grand Cross with Collar
* Grand Cross
* Commander with Star
* Commander
* Knight 1st Class
* Knight
}}
|former_grades   =
|established     = {{start date and age|1847|08|21|df=yes}}
|first_induction =
|last_induction  =
|total           =
|recipients      =
|higher          = [[Medal for Outstanding Civic Service]]
|lower           = [[Royal Norwegian Order of Merit]]
|image2          = [[File:St. Olavs Orden stripe.svg|90px]]
|caption2        = Riband of the Order of St. Olav
}}

The '''Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav''' ({{langx|no|Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden}}; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian [[order of chivalry]] instituted by [[King Oscar I]] on 21 August 1847. It is named after [[Olaf II of Norway|King Olav II]], known to posterity as St. Olav.{{sfn|Hieronymussen|Lundø|1968|p=102}}

Just before the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the [[Order of the Norwegian Lion]] was instituted in 1904 by [[King Oscar II]], but no appointments were awarded by his successor, [[King Haakon VII]]. The Order of St. Olav thus became the kingdom's only order of chivalry for the next 80 years. The Grand Master of the order is the reigning monarch of Norway. It is used to reward individuals for remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity. Since 1985, appointments to the order has only been conferred upon Norwegian citizens, though foreign heads of state and royalty may be appointed as a matter of courtesy.

==Grades and classes==
The reigning monarch of Norway is the order's Grand Master.<ref>Statutes, §2</ref> The order consists of three grades, of which two are divided into two classes,{{sfn|Hieronymussen|Lundø|1968|p=102}} and may be awarded for either civilian or military contributions, in descending order of distinction. The collar is awarded as a separate distinction of the Grand Cross to those recipients deemed exceptionally worthy.

* [[Grand Cross]] (''Storkors'') {{spaced ndash}} awarded to heads of state as a courtesy and in rare cases to individuals for merit; wears the badge on a [[Livery collar|collar]] (chain), plus the star on the left chest. If the collar is not worn the badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder;
* [[Commander (order)|Commander]], which is divided into two classes:
** Commander with Star (''Kommandør med stjerne'') {{spaced ndash}} wears the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;
** Commander (''Kommandør'') {{spaced ndash}} wears the badge on a necklet;
* [[Knight]], which is divided into two classes:
** Knight 1st Class (''Ridder av 1. klasse'') {{spaced ndash}} wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
** Knight (''Ridder'') {{spaced ndash}} wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

{|align=center class=wikitable width=60% style="margin:auto;"
!colspan=6|'''Ribbon bars'''
|-
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Grand Cross with Collar</small>
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Grand Cross</small>
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St Olavs Orden kommandør med stjerne stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Commander with Star</small>
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St Olavs Orden kommandør stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Commander</small>
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St Olavs Orden ridder 1 klasse stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Knight 1st Class</small>
|width=20% valign=top align=center|[[File:St. Olavs Orden stripe.svg|80px]]<br> <small>Knight</small>
|-
|}

==Insignia==
[[File:Star Norwegian Order of St. Olav.JPG|220px|thumb|The Star of The Order of Saint Olav]]
[[File:Collier Ordre de Saint Olaf type 1906.svg|220px|thumb|right|Design of the [[livery collar|collar]] of the Order of St. Olav since 1906.]]

The ''collar'' of the Order is in gold, with five enamelled and crowned monograms "O", five enamelled and crowned coat-of-arms of Norway, and 10 gold ''crosses [[bottony]]'' each flanked by two battle axes with silver blades and golden shafts (The latter element is also featured in the coat of arms of the [[Church of Norway]]).

The ''badge'' of the Order is a white enamelled [[Maltese Cross]], in silver for the knight class and in [[Gilding|gilt]] of the higher classes; crowned monograms "O" appear between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is red with the golden Norwegian lion rampart bearing a battle-axe; the reverse disc bears the King Oscar's motto «Ret og Sandhed» {{spaced ndash}} "Justice and Truth" in Norwegian; both discs are surrounded by a white-blue-white ring. The cross is topped by a crown;{{sfn|Hieronymussen|Lundø|1968|loc=fig. 8, p. 102}} military awards have crossed swords between the crown and the cross.

The ''star'' of the Order for the Grand Cross is an eight-pointed silver star with faceted rays, bearing the obverse of the badge of the Order (minus the crown on the top).

The ''star'' for Commander with Star is a silver faceted Maltese Cross, with gilt crowned monograms "O" between the arms of the cross. The central disc is red with the golden Norwegian lion rampart bearing a battle axe, surrounded by a white-blue-white ring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c26939/nyhet/vis.html?tid=77657|title=Utnevnelse til St. Olavs Orden|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref>

The ''ribbon'' of the Order is red with white-blue-white edge stripes.{{sfn|Hieronymussen|Lundø|1968|p=102}}

In very exceptional circumstances the Order may be awarded "with diamonds", in which case a ring of diamonds replaces the white-blue-white enamel ring surrounding the central disc on the front of the badge as well as in the crown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1071-1072 (Norges statskalender / 1940) |url=https://runeberg.org/norkal/1940/0604.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=runeberg.org |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1011-1012 (Norges statskalender / 1947) |url=https://runeberg.org/norkal/1947/0545.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=runeberg.org |language=no}}</ref> 

The insignia are expected to be returned either upon the receiver's advancement to a higher level of the order or upon his or her death. The insignia are produced in Norway by craftsmen.

==Eligibility and appointment==

The King makes appointments upon the recommendation of a six-member commission, none of whom may be a member of the government, consisting of a chancellor, vice chancellor, the [[Lord Chamberlain (Norway)|Lord Chamberlain]] (acting as treasurer), and three other representatives. The Lord Chamberlain nominates the members of the commission, and the monarch approves them.<ref>section 5, Statues of the Order of St. Olav</ref> Nominations to the order are directed at the commission through the [[Counties of Norway|county]] governor.

Princes and Princesses with succession rights to the throne are appointed to the highest degree upon reaching their [[age of majority]].<ref>section 3, Statues of the Order of St. Olav</ref>

==Ranking==

The Order of St. Olav is the highest civilian honour currently conferred by Norway and only ranks after the military [[War Cross (Norway)|War Cross]] among all Norwegian decorations still awarded in the general ranking.

In the [[Norwegian order of precedence|order of precedence]] used at the royal court of Norway, bearers of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav with collar are ranked 15th in the order of precedence, directly after the Mistress of the Robes and generals and directly before recipients of the [[War Cross (Norway)|War Cross with Sword]]. Bearers of the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav are ranked 16th.

==Current holders of the Grand Cross==
This list contains holders of the Grand Cross, some of whom have also been awarded the Collar and gives the year of their appointment. The list is [[Collation|collated]] alphabetically by the last name; those recipients not possessing the last name, such as royalty and most [[Iceland]]ers are collated by the first name. Six of the listed are not heads of states or royals; these are marked by names in bold. Before the [[Royal Norwegian Order of Merit]] was created in 1985, appointments to the Order of St Olav was awarded to members of a foreign delegation during state visits. Many holders of the Grand Cross who are not heads of state are not listed here.

{{Expand list|date=August 2008}} 

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-size:98%;"
!Country
!Name
!Charge
!Grand Cross<br />with Collar
!Grand Cross
!Year
|-
|{{ARG}} ||[[Mauricio Macri]]|| rowspan="2" |Former President|| || rowspan="2" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2018
|-
|{{AUT}} ||[[Heinz Fischer]]||  || align="center" |2007
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{BEL}} ||[[Albert II of Belgium|Albert II]]||Former King||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1964
|-
|[[Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant|Mathilde]]||Queen|| || rowspan="10" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2003
|-
|[[Queen Paola of Belgium|Paola]]||Former Queen|| || align="center" |1997
|-
|[[Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant|Philippe]]||King|| || rowspan="2" align="center" |2003
|-
|{{BRA}} ||[[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]]|| rowspan="1" |President|| 
|-
|{{BUL}} ||[[Georgi Parvanov]]|| rowspan="2" |Former President|| || align="center" |2006
|-
|{{CRO}} ||[[Ivo Josipović]]|| || align="center" |2011
|-
| rowspan="7" |{{DEN}} ||[[Princess Benedikte of Denmark|Benedikte]]||Princess|| || align="center" |1974
|-
|[[Frederik X]]||King (when Crown Prince)|| align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |2024, 1990
|-
|[[Prince Joachim of Denmark|Joachim]]||Prince|| || align="center" |1991
|-
|[[Margrethe II]]||Former Queen (when Princess)|| align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |1958
|-
|[[Princess Marie of Denmark|Marie]]|| Princess|| || rowspan="15" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2014
|-
|[[Queen Mary of Denmark|Mary]]||Queen (when Crown Princess)|| || align="center" |2005
|-
|[[Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark|Christian]]||Crown Prince (when Prince)|| || align="center" |2023
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{EST}} || [[Arnold Rüütel]]||  rowspan="2"|Former President|| || align="center" |2002
|-
|[[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]]|| || align="center" |2014
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{FIN}} ||[[Alexander Stubb]]||President|| || align="center" |2024
|-
|[[Sauli Niinistö]]|| rowspan="2" |Former President|| || align="center" |2012
|-
|[[Tarja Halonen]]|| || align="center" |2000
|-
|[[Tellervo Koivisto]]
|Former President's wife|| || align="center" |1983
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{GER}} ||[[Joachim Gauck]]
| rowspan="2" |Former President|| || align="center" |2014
|-
|[[Horst Köhler]]
| || align="center" |2007
|-
|[[Marianne von Weizsäcker]]||Former first lady|| || align="center" |1986
|-
|{{IRN}} ||[[Farah Pahlavi]]||Former Empress|| || align="center" |1965
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{ISL}} || [[Halla Tómasdóttir]]||President|| || align="center" |2025
|-
|[[Guðni Th. Jóhannesson]] || rowspan="3" | Former President|| || align="center" |2017
|-
|[[Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson]]||
| rowspan="2" |1982
|-
|[[Vigdís Finnbogadóttir]]|| align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || 
|-
|{{ITA}} ||[[Sergio Mattarella]]||President|| || rowspan="15" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2016
|-
| rowspan="5" |{{JPN}} ||[[Akihito]]||Emperor Emeritus||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |2001, 1953
|-
|[[Empress Masako|Masako]]||Empress (when Crown Princess)|| || rowspan="4" align="center" |2001
|-
|[[Empress Michiko of Japan|Michiko]]||Empress Emerita|| 
|-
|[[Naruhito]]||Emperor (when Crown Prince)|| 
|-
|[[Princess Tomohito of Mikasa|Nobuko]]||Princess|| 
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{JOR}} ||[[Abdullah II of Jordan|Abdullah II]]||King|| || align="center" |2000
|-
|[[Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan|Hussein]]||Crown Prince|| || align="center" |2020
|-
|[[Prince Hassan bin Al Talal|Hassan]]||Prince (when Crown Prince)|| || align="center" |1980
|-
|[[Queen Rania of Jordan|Rania]]||Queen|| || align="center" |2000
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{LAT}} ||[[Guntis Ulmanis]]|| rowspan="5" |Former President|| || align="center" |1998
|-
|[[Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga]]||  || align="center" |2000
|-
|[[Andris Bērziņš (Latvian President)|Andris Bērziņš]]||  || align="center" |2015
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{LTU}}||[[Valdas Adamkus]]||  || align="center" |1998
|-
|[[Dalia Grybauskaitė]]||  || rowspan="2" align="center" |2011
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{LUX}} ||[[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Henri]]||Grand Duke||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || 
|-
|[[Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Maria Teresa]]||Grand Duchess|| ||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|1996
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{NLD}} ||[[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Beatrix]]||Former Queen (when Princess)||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || rowspan="2" align="center" |1964
|-
|[[Princess Margriet of the Netherlands|Margriet]]||Princess|| || rowspan="3" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} 
|-
|[[Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange|Willem-Alexander]]||King|| align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |2021, 1996
|-
|[[Maxima of the Netherlands|Máxima]]||Queen|| || align="center" |2013
|-
| rowspan="18" |{{NOR}} ||[[Princess Astrid of Norway|Astrid]]||Princess||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1956
|-
|[[Kjell Magne Bondevik]]||Former Prime Minister|| || rowspan="3" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || rowspan="2" align="center" |2004
|-
|[[Lars Petter Forberg]]|| rowspan="2" |Former Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household|| 
|-
|[[Åge Bernhard Grutle]]||  || align="center" |2015
|-
|[[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway|Haakon]]||Crown Prince||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1991
|-
|[[Magne Hagen]]||Former Cabinet Secretary to the King|| ||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2000
|-
|[[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]]||King||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}}<br>Grand Master|| || align="center"|1955, 1991
|-
|[[Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway|Ingrid Alexandra]]|| rowspan="2" |Princess|| ||align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |2022
|-
|[[Princess Märtha Louise of Norway|Märtha Louise]]|| rowspan="2" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1989
|-
|[[Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway|Mette-Marit]]||Crown Princess|| rowspan="6" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}}|| align="center" |2016, 2001
|-
|[[Edvard Moser]]|| rowspan="2" | Professor, [[psychologist]] and [[neuroscientist]], [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureat]]|| || rowspan="2" align="center" |2018
|-
|[[May-Britt Moser]]||
|-
|[[Gry Mølleskog]]||Former Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household|| || align="center" |2022
|-
|[[Arne Omholt]]||Former Marshal of the Court|| || align="center" |2016
|-
|[[Carsten Smith]]||Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway|| || align="center" |2003
|-
|[[Queen Sonja of Norway|Sonja]]||Queen||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1972
|-
|[[Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway|Sverre Magnus]]||Prince||  || rowspan="6" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2023
|-
|[[Berit Tversland]]||Former Cabinet Secretary to the King|| || align="center"|2012
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{POL}} ||[[Andrzej Duda]]||President|| || align="center" |2016
|-
|[[Bronislaw Komorowski]]|| rowspan="11" | Former President|| || align="center" |2012
|-
|[[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]]|| || align="center" |1996
|-
|[[Lech Wałęsa]]|| || align="center" |1995
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{POR}}||[[António Ramalho Eanes]]|| align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1978
|-
|[[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]] || || rowspan="10" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center"|2008
|-
|{{ROM}} ||[[Emil Constantinescu]]|| || align="center" |1999
|-
|{{Flag|South Korea}}  ||[[Moon Jae-in]]|| || align="center" |2019
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{SVK}} ||[[Andrej Kiska]]|| || align="center" |2018
|-
|[[Ivan Gašparovič]]||  || align="center" |2010
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{SLO}} ||[[Borut Pahor]]|| || align="center" |2019
|-
|[[Danilo Türk]]|| || align="center" |2011
|-
| rowspan="5" |{{ESP}} ||[[Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca|Cristina]]|| rowspan="2" |Princess|| || rowspan="3" align="center" |1995
|-
|[[Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo|Elena]]||  
|-
|[[Felipe VI of Spain|Felipe]]||King|| 
|-
|[[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]]||Former King||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || rowspan="2" align="center" |1982
|-
|[[Queen Sofía of Spain|Sofía]]||Former Queen|| ||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} 
|-
| rowspan="8" |{{SWE}} ||[[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]]||King
|{{Check mark-n}}|| || align="center" |1974
|-
|[[Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland|Carl Philip]]||Prince|| || rowspan="9" align="center" |{{Check mark-n}} || align="center" |2005
|-
|[[Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson|Christina]]|| Princess|| || align="center" |1992
|-
|[[Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland|Daniel]]||Prince|| || align="center"|2022
|-
|[[Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld|Désirée]]|| rowspan="2" |Princess|| || align="center" |1992
|-
|[[Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland|Madeleine]]||  || align="center" |2005
|-
|[[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Silvia]]||Queen|| || align="center" |1982
|-
|[[Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden|Victoria]]||Crown Princess|| || align="center" |1995
|-
|{{THA}} ||[[Sirikit]]||Former Queen|| || align="center" |1965
|-
|{{TUR}} ||[[Abdullah Gül]]|| Former President|| || align="center" |2013
|-
| rowspan="4" | {{GBR}}   ||[[Charles III]]||King||align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || || align="center"|1978
|-
|[[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|Andrew]]||Prince and [[Duke of York]]|| ||rowspan="3" align="center"|{{Check mark-n}} || rowspan="2" align="center" |1988
|-
|[[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent|Edward]]||Prince and [[Duke of Kent]]|| 
|-
|[[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester|Richard]]||Prince and [[Duke of Gloucester]]|| || align="center" |1973
|}
<gallery>
File:Order of Saint Olav grand cross with swords badge sash (Norway before 1905) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of Saint Olav Grand Cross with swords badge 1st Type 
File:Order of Saint Olav grand cross with swords badge sash (Norway 1905-1925) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of Saint Olav Grand Cross with swords badge 2nd Type
File:Order of St Olav - Commander set.png|Order of St Olav - Commander
File:Order of St Olav - Commander.png|Order of St Olav - Commander
File:Order of St Olav - Commander with rosette.png|Order of St Olav - Commander
File:Cross Norwegian Order of St. Olav.JPG|Order of St. Olav Grand Cross badge
File:Grand Cross with Star of the order of st. olav.jpg|Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star
File:Order of St-Olav (Norway).jpg|Order of St. Olav Knights Class
File:Order of Saint Olav grand cross star (Norway 1905-1925) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star - 2nd Type
File:Order of Saint Olav grand cross star (Norway before 1905) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of St. Olav Grand Cross Star - 1st Type
File:Sankt Olavs ordens Kedja och Stjärna till Storkors.jpg|Order of St. Olav Collar and Star
File:Order of Saint Olav commander star (Norway before 1905) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of St. Olav Grand Officer Star - 1st Type
File:Order of Saint Olav commander badge2 (Norway before 1905) - Tallinn Museum of Orders.jpg|Order of St. Olav Grand Officer Badge - 1st Type
File:1890 års modell av Sankt olavs orden.jpg|Order of St. Olav Knight - 1st Type
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway]]
* [[St. Olav's Medal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Hieronymussen|editor-first1=Poul Ohm|editor-last2=Lundø|editor-first2=Jørgen|translator-last=Karnila|translator-first=Christer|title=Eurooppalaiset kunniamerkit värikuvina|trans-title=Europæiske ordner i farver|year=1968|publisher=WSOY|location=Porvoo|language=fi|oclc=466954328}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Order of St. Olav}}
* [http://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28662&sek=28559&scope=27248 The Order of St. Olav] Website of the Royal Court 
* [http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=27784&sek=27047 Statutes of the Order of St. Olav] (in Norwegian) Website of the Royal Court 

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Norwegian Order Of Saint Olav}}
[[Category:Order of Saint Olav| ]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1847]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway]]