View source for Order of the Elephant

{{Short description|Danish order of chivalry}}
{{For|the Thai order|Order of the White Elephant}}
{{expand Danish|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox order
| title            = Order of the Elephant<br />''Elefantordenen''
| image            = [[File:Badge of the Order of the Elephant (heraldry).svg|200px]]
| caption          = [[Badge]] of the Order of the Elephant.
| awarded_by       = <br />[[File:Royal coat of arms of Denmark (2024).svg|35px]]<br />[[Monarchy of Denmark|Sovereign of Denmark]]
| type             = [[Chivalric order]] in one class
| motto            = ''Magnanimi Pretium''<br /> ([[Latin]]: The prize of greatness)
| day              = 
| eligibility      = 
| for              = At the Monarch's pleasure
| status           = Currently constituted
| head_title       = Sovereign
| head             = [[Frederik X]]
| chancellor       = 
| commander        = 
| grades           = Knight<br/>({{langx|da|Ridder}}, abbr.: ''R.E.'')
| former_grades    = 
| date             = 1693
| first_induction  = 1693 {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Christian V of Denmark]]
| last_induction   = 2025 {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Alexander Stubb]]
| total            = 
| recipients       = 
| individual       = 
| higher           = None (Highest)
| lower            = [[Order of the Dannebrog]]
| image2           = [[File:Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg|100px]]
| caption2         = Order of the Elephant ribbon
}}
[[File:Order of the Elephant (heraldry).svg|thumb|Collar of the Order of the Elephant.]]
[[File:Heiligenstedten, Grabmale Blome, Elefantenorden NIK 3270.JPG|thumb|The {{ill|Blome (Adelsgeschlecht)|lt=Blome|da|Blome|de}} family coat of arms with the Order's collar on gravestone in [[Heiligenstedten]].]]

The '''Order of the Elephant''' ({{langx|da|Elefantordenen}}) is a [[Denmark|Danish]] [[order of chivalry]] and is Denmark's highest-ranked honour. It has origins in the 15th century, but has officially existed since 1693, and since the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1849, is now almost exclusively used to honour royalty and heads of state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Royal Orders of Chivalry |work=The Danish Monarchy |date=14 January 2011 |url=http://kongehuset.dk/publish.php?dogtag=k_en_his_ord |access-date=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309034918/http://kongehuset.dk/publish.php?dogtag=k_en_his_ord |archive-date=9 March 2011}}</ref>

== History ==
A Danish religious [[confraternity]] called the Fellowship of the Mother of God, limited to about fifty members of the Danish aristocracy, was founded during the reign of [[Christian I]] during the 15th century. The badge of the confraternity showed the Virgin Mary holding her [[Jesus Christ|Son]] within a crescent moon and surrounded with the rays of the sun, and was hung from a collar of links in the form of elephants much like the present collar of the Order. After the Reformation in 1536 the confraternity died out, but a badge in the form of an elephant with his profile on its right side was still awarded by [[Frederick II of Denmark and Norway|Frederick II]].<ref>[http://www.rosenborgslot.dk/asp/genstande/bigpicPage.asp?GenstandID=191&countryID=2 Rosenborg Slot – Objects]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=Cyberbot II |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This latter badge may have been inspired by the badge of office of the chaplain of the confraternity which is known to have been in the form of an elephant. The order was instituted in its current form on 1 December 1693 by [[King Christian V]] as having only one class consisting of only 30 noble knights in addition to the Grand Master (i.e., the king) and his sons.<ref>The knights of the Order were often called the ''Blue Knights'' (in reference to the color of their ribbon), as opposed to the ''White Knights'' (again, in reference to the color of their ribbon) of the junior Danish [[order of chivalry]], the [[Order of the Dannebrog]], also instituted by Christian V.</ref> The statutes of the order were amended in 1958 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the order.

The elephant and castle design derives from the [[howdah]], a carriage that is mounted in the back of an [[elephant]]. This type of carriage was mostly utilized in the [[Indian subcontinent]], and the Danish knew about and thus had the ability to adopt this design since they ruled certain parts of India as part of their [[Danish overseas colonies|small colonial empire]]. The unfamiliar Indian howdah has been replaced in this instance by a familiar European castle, although the [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Mahout|rider]] has been kept on the elephant.

== Composition ==
The Danish monarch is the head of the order. The members of the royal family are members of the order, and foreign heads of state are also inducted. In very exceptional circumstances a commoner may also be admitted. The most recent member of the order who was neither a current nor former head of state nor royal was [[Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller]], a leading industrialist and philanthropist.

The order of the Elephant has one class: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (''Ridder af Elefantordenen'', usually abbreviated as ''R.E.'' in letters et cetera). Knights of the order are granted a place in the 1st Class of the [[Danish order of precedence]].

== Insignia and habits ==
[[File:Royal Arms of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway.svg|thumb|200px|Coat of arms of [[Frederick IV of Denmark]] and Norway surrounded by the collars of the Order of the Elephant and the [[Order of the Dannebrog]]]]

* The ''collar'' of the order is of gold. It consists of alternating elephants and towers. On the cover of the elephants there is a D which stands for ''Dania'', mediaeval [[Latin]] for Denmark. According to the statutes of the order, the collar is usually worn on New Year's Day (during the Danish monarch's New Year's Court) and on major occasions (coronations or jubilees) only.
* The ''badge'' of the order is an elephant made of white-enamelled gold with blue housings.  It is about 5&nbsp;cm high. On its back the elephant is bearing a watch tower of pink enameled masonry encircled by a row of small table cut diamonds at the bottom with another row just below the crenellation at the top.  In front of the tower and behind the elephant's head (which has a diamond set in its forehead and smaller diamonds for its eyes) a colorfully attired and turbaned [[Moors|Moor]] [[mahout]] is sitting, holding a golden rod; on the right side of the elephant there is a cross of five large table cut diamonds and on the left side the elephant bears the crowned monogram of the monarch reigning when it was made.  At the top of the tower is a large enameled gold ring from which the badge can be hung from the collar or tied to the sash of the Order. There are about 72 elephants at the chancery of the Order or in circulation.  It is estimated that together with an unknown number of elephants in museums around the world, the total number of the elephants is about a hundred.<ref>In an article entitled "Has anyone seen our elephant?"  The 1 July 2004 issue of the Copenhagen Post reported that the original mold for the elephant badge had been stolen from the court jeweler, Georg Jensen.</ref>
* The ''star'' of the order is an eight-pointed silver star with smooth rays. At its center there is a red enameled disc with a white cross,<ref>Originally this cross was formed of six brilliant cut diamonds, but at present it is formed of six small hemispherical silver beads.</ref> surrounded by a laurel wreath in silver. It is worn on the left side of the chest.
* The ''sash'' of the order is of light-blue silk [[moiré]] and 10&nbsp;cm wide for men 6&nbsp;cm wide for women. It is placed on the left shoulder with the elephant resting against the right hip. The collar is not worn when the sash is used.
* The order originally had a distinctive habit worn by the knights on very solemn occasions<ref>i.e., at [[Coronations#Denmark|Danish coronations.]]</ref> consisting of a white [[doublet (clothing)|doublet]], white [[rhinegraves|breeches]], white stockings and white shoes, over which was worn a red [[mantle (clothing)|mantle]] with a white lining and with the star of the order embroidered in silver on left side. Over this red mantle was worn a short white shoulder cape with a standing collar, embroidered with scattering of numerous gold flames, upon which was worn the collar of the order (the habit was always worn with the collar of the order, never its ribbon). The habit also had a black hat with a [[plume (feather)|plume]] of white and red [[ostrich]] feathers. This habit was almost identical to that worn by the knights of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]].

Upon the death of a Knight of the Order of the Elephant, the insignia of the order must be returned. There are a few exceptions known.

* Paris, Chancellery museum – collar on display
* Sash and badge of [[Dwight Eisenhower]], on display at his [[Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home|presidential library]] in the US.

== Current knights and officers ==
{{For|a full historical list|List of knights of the Order of the Elephant}}

=== Sovereign of the Royal Danish Orders of Chivalry ===
* The [[Frederik X|King of Denmark]]

=== Current Knights of the Elephant listed by date of appointment ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Date<br/>appointed !! Notes 
|-
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Margrethe II|Queen Margrethe II of Denmark]]<ref name="borger"/> 
| rowspan="3" | 20 April 1947
| Royal family<br>Then Princess Margrethe of Denmark
|-
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} The [[Princess Benedikte of Denmark|Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg]]<ref name="borger"/> 
| Royal family<br>Then Princess Benedikte of Denmark
|-
| {{flagicon|Denmark}}/{{Flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Queen Anne-Marie of Greece|Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes]]<ref name="borger"/>
| Royal family<br>Then Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark
|-
| {{Flagicon|Japan}} The [[Akihito|Emperor Emeritus of Japan]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 8 August 1953
| rowspan="2" | Then Crown Prince 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Harald V of Norway|King of Norway]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 21 February 1958
|-
| {{Flagicon|Thailand}} The [[Sirikit|Queen Mother of Thailand]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 6 September 1960
| Then Queen consort
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Count Ingolf of Rosenborg]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 17 February 1961
| Royal family<br>Then Prince Ingolf of Denmark
|-
| {{Flagicon|Imperial State of Iran}} [[Farah Pahlavi|Empress Farah of Iran]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 3 May 1963
| Then Empress consort
|-
| {{Flagicon|Kingdom of Greece|state}} [[Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 11 September 1964
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} The [[Carl XVI Gustaf|King of Sweden]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 12 January 1965
| Then Crown Prince
|-
| {{Flagicon|Japan}} The [[Masahito, Prince Hitachi|Prince Hitachi]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 28 September 1965
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Albert II of Belgium|King Albert II of Belgium]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 18 June 1968
| Then Prince of Liège
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Prince Joachim of Denmark]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 14 January 1972
| Royal family
|-
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} [[Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 6 January 1973
| Then Princess Christina of Sweden
|-
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Queen Sonja of Norway|Queen of Norway]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 12 February 1973
| Then Crown Princess
|-
| {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} The [[Charles III|King of the United Kingdom]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 30 April 1974
| Then Prince of Wales
|-
| {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 29 October 1975
| Former Queen
|-
| {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Juan Carlos I|King Juan Carlos I of Spain]]<ref name="borger"/> 
| rowspan="2" | 17 March 1980
| Then King
|-
| {{Flagicon|Kingdom of Greece}}/{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Queen Sofía of Spain]]<ref name="borger"/>
| Then Queen consort<br>Born Princess of Greece and Denmark
|-
| {{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Vigdís Finnbogadóttir]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 25 February 1981
| rowspan="2" | Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Portugal}} [[António Ramalho Eanes]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 25 June 1984
|-
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} The [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Queen of Sweden]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 3 September 1985
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway|Crown Prince of Norway]]<ref name="borger"/> 
| 20 July 1991
|
|- 
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Princess Märtha Louise of Norway]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 13 October 1992
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Lech Wałęsa]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 5 July 1993
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Queen Paola of Belgium]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 16 May 1995
| Then Queen consort
|-
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} The [[Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden|Crown Princess of Sweden]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 14 July 1995
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} The [[Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg|Countess of Frederiksborg]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 17 November 1995
| Formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark
|-
| {{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 18 November 1996
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Kingdom of Greece}} [[Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece|Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 14 January 1997
| Also Prince of Denmark
|- 
| {{Flagicon|Latvia}} [[Guntis Ulmanis]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 18 March 1997
| Former President
|- 
| {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} The [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 31 January 1998
| Then Prince of Orange
|- 
| {{Flagicon|Jordan}} [[Queen Noor of Jordan|Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 27 April 1998
| Then Queen consort
|-
| {{Flagicon|Japan}} The [[Empress Michiko|Empress Emerita of Japan]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 2 June 1998
| Then Empress consort
|-
| {{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 3 May 1999
| rowspan="3" | Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Emil Constantinescu]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 23 May 2000
|-
| {{Flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Petar Stoyanov]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 17 October 2000
|-
| {{Flagicon|Thailand}} The [[Vajiralongkorn|King of Thailand]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 7 February 2001
| Then Crown Prince 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Tarja Halonen]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 3 April 2001
| rowspan="2" | Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Slovenia}} [[Milan Kučan]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 10 October 2001
|-
| {{Flagicon|Belgium}} The [[Philippe of Belgium|King of the Belgians]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 28 May 2002
| Then Duke of Brabant
|-
| {{Flagicon|Luxembourg}} The [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]<ref name="borger"/>
| rowspan="2" | 20 October 2003
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Luxembourg}} The [[Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Grand Duchess of Luxembourg]]<ref name="borger"/>
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Ion Iliescu]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 16 March 2004
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} The [[Queen Mary of Denmark|Queen of Denmark]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 9 May 2004
| Royal family<br>Then Mary Donaldson
|-
| {{Flagicon|Japan}} The [[Naruhito|Emperor of Japan]]<ref name="borger"/> 
| 16 November 2004
| Then Crown Prince
|-
| {{Flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Georgi Parvanov]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 29 March 2006 
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 12 September 2007
| President
|- 
| {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Felipe Calderón|Felipe Calderón Hinojosa]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 18 February 2008
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Princess Marie of Denmark]]<ref name="borger">[https://www.borger.dk/foa/Sider/default.aspx?fk=24&foaid=213 Official list of knights of the Order of the Elephant] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716132419/https://www.borger.dk/foa/Sider/default.aspx?fk=24&foaid=213 |date=16 July 2011 }}. {{in lang|da}}</ref>
| 24 May 2008
| Royal family
|-
| {{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[Lee Myung-bak]]<ref name="borger"/>
| 11 May 2011
| rowspan="3" | Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Ivan Gašparovič]]
| 23 October 2012
|-
| {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Sauli Niinistö]]
| 4 April 2013
|-
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway|Crown Princess of Norway]]
| 17 May 2014
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Croatia}} [[Ivo Josipović]]
| 21 October 2014
| Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} The [[Queen Máxima of the Netherlands|Queen of the Netherlands]] 
| 17 March 2015
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Enrique Peña Nieto]]
| 13 April 2016
| rowspan="2" | Former President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson]]
| 24 January 2017
|-
| {{Flagicon|Belgium}} The [[Queen Mathilde of Belgium|Queen of the Belgians]]
| 28 March 2017
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|France}} [[Emmanuel Macron]]
| 28 August 2018
| rowspan="2" | President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]
| 10 November 2021
|-
| {{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway]]
| 21 January 2022
| 
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} The [[Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark|Crown Prince of Denmark]]
| 15 October 2023
| Royal family<br>Then Prince Christian of Denmark
|-
| {{Flagicon|Spain}} The [[Felipe VI|King of Spain]]
| rowspan="2" | 6 November 2023
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Spain}} The [[Queen Letizia of Spain|Queen of Spain]]
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Princess Isabella of Denmark]]
| rowspan="3" | 14 January 2024
| rowspan="3" | Royal family
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Prince Vincent of Denmark]]
|-
| {{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Princess Josephine of Denmark]]
|-
| {{Flagicon|Sweden}} [[Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/ordensudveksling-ved-statsbesoeg-til-sverige|title=Ordensudveksling ved statsbesøg til Sverige |work=Kongehuset |access-date=6 May 2024}}</ref>
| 6 May 2024
|
|-
| {{Flagicon|Iceland}} [[Halla Tómasdóttir]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/islands-praesident-tildeles-elefantordenen|title=Islands Præsident tildeles Elefantordenen |work=Kongehuset |access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref>
| 8 October 2024
| rowspan="3" | President
|-
| {{Flagicon|Egypt}} [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/h-e-praesidenten-for-den-arabiske-republik-egypten-tildeles-elefantordenen|title=H.E. Præsidenten for Den Arabiske Republik Egypten tildeles Elefantordenen |work=Kongehuset |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
| 6 December 2024
|-
| {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Alexander Stubb]]<ref>https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/ordensudveksling-ved-statsbesoeg-til-finland/</ref>
| 4 March 2025
|}

=== Officers of the Chapter of the Royal Danish Orders of Chivalry ===
====Chancellor of the Chapter====

* (1808–1818): [[Joachim Godske Moltke]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Privy Councillor of Denmark]], Chamberlain
* (1824–1827): [[Frederik Julius Kaas]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Privy Councillor of Denmark]], Chamberlain
* (1828–1843): [[Johan Sigismund von Møsting]], Minister of Finance
* (1843–1855): [[Poul Christian Stemann]], [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Privy Councillor of Denmark]]
* (1856–1864): [[Adam Wilhelm Moltke]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', [[Prime Minister of Denmark]]
* (1864–1866): Count Carl Moltke, [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Privy Councillor of Denmark]]
* (1874–1889): F.F. Tillisch, Minister of the Interior
* (1889–1894): Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]''
* (1894–1911): [[Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg|Prince Hans of Glücksburg]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.Kmd.]]''
* (1911–1914): Christian Danneskiold-Samsøe, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]''
* (1914–1949): [[Prince Harald of Denmark]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.Kmd.]]''
* (1949–1968): [[Prince Viggo, Count of Rosenborg]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.Kmd.]]''
* (1968–2009): [[Prince Henrik of Denmark|Prince Consort Henrik of Denmark]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.Kmd.]]''
* '''(2009–): [[Prince Joachim of Denmark]], ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.Kmd.]]'''''

====Historiographer of the Chapter====

* (1808–1821): Abraham Kall, historian
* (1827–1851): Laurids Engelstoft, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', historian
* (1852–1893): C.F. Wegener, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', historian
* (1897–1921): Troels Troels-Lund, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', historian
* (1921–1951): Louis Bobé, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|K.1.]]'', historian
* (1951–1957): Bjørn Kornerup, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|K.1.]]'', historian
* (1958–1976): Albert Fabritius, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|K.]]'', historian
* (1976–1994): Tage Kaarsted, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|K.]]'', historian
* (1994–2018): Knud J.V. Jespersen, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|K.1.]]'', historian
* '''(2018–): Jes Fabricius-Møller, historian'''

====Secretary of the Chapter====

* (1671–1690): [[Bolle Luxdorph]]
* (1690–1742): Vincents Lerche, Master of Ceremonies
* (1742–1748): Niels Gersdorff, Chamberlain
* (1749–1771): Victor Christian von Plessen
* (1771–1778): Volrad August von der Lühe, Chamberlain
* (1778–1784): Engel Schack, Lord Chamberlain
* (1790–1791): Joachim Ulrich von Sperling
* (1792–1793): Johan Bülow, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', Lord Chamberlain
* (1793–1794): Ferdinand Ahlefeldt
* (1794–1808): Adam Wilhelm Hauch, Lord Chamberlain
* (1808–1836): [[Frederik Moltke]], Prime Minister of Denmark
* (1840–1858): [[Carl Emil Moltke]], Chamberlain
* (1860–1871): E.C. Werlauff, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]'', historian
* (1874–1885): J.P. Trap, [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Frederick VII of Denmark|Frederik VII]] and [[Christian IX of Denmark]]
* (1888–1910): F.V.F. Rosenstand, [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Christian IX of Denmark]]
* (1912–1936): Anthonius Krieger, Chamberlain and [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Christian X of Denmark]]
* (1936–1957): Gunnar Bardenfleth, [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Christian X of Denmark|Christian X]] and [[Frederik IX of Denmark]]
* (1957–1972): Morten Olufsen, Chamberlain and [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Frederik IX of Denmark]]
* (1972–1987): Mogens Wahl, Chamberlain and [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Margrethe II of Denmark]]
* (1987–2007): Niels Eilschou Holm, [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Margrethe II of Denmark]]
* (2007–2024): [[Henning Fode]], Chamberlain and [[Private Secretary to the Sovereign|private secretary]] to [[Margrethe II of Denmark]]

====Treasurer of the Chapter====

* (1808–1826): [[Johan Sigismund von Møsting]], Minister of Finance
* (1826–1828): [[Ove Ramel Sehested]], Minister of the Privy Council
* (1828–1831): Frantz Bülow
* (1831–1833): [[Johan Frederik Bardenfleth]]
* (1834–1840): Christian Ove Haxthausen, Chamberlain
* (1840–1852): Frederik Bardenfleth
* (1852–?): Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe, ''[[Order of the Dannebrog|S.K.]]''
* (1876–1888): C.G.W. Johannsen, LL.D.
* (1888–1898): Carl Løvenskiold, Chamberlain
* (1898–1905): Ludvig Castenskiold
* (1905–1909): [[Hugo Egmont Hørring]]
* (1909–1918): Christian Moltke
* (1918–1933): [[Frederik Raben-Levetzau]], Minister of Foreign Affairs
* (1944–1954): Johannes Hørring, LL.D.
* (1955–?): Rudolf Lassen
* (1991–2010): Paul Henning Fischer, LL.D., Ambassador, Chamberlain
* '''(2010–): Per Thornit, Chamberlain'''

== Other notable knights ==
Previous knights have included:<ref name="Pedersen2009">{{cite book |author=Jørgen Pedersen |title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ |year=2009 |publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag |language=da |isbn=978-87-7674-434-2}}</ref>

• [[Pedro II of Brazil|Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil.]]

{{Div col}}
* [[James III of Scotland|James III]], King of Scots and son-in-law of [[Christian I of Denmark]] (1469)<ref>Macdougall, Norman ''James III, A Political Study'' (1982)</ref>
* [[Tycho Brahe]], astronomer (1578)<ref>[https://runeberg.org/dbl/2/0615.html Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon], entry "Tycho Brahe" {{in lang|da}}</ref>
* [[Heinrich Rantzau]], German-Danish humanist, writer, astrologer and statesman (1580)<ref>[https://runeberg.org/dbl/13/0442.html Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon], entry "Heinrich Rantzau" {{in lang|da}}</ref>
* [[Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam]], Dutch lieutenant-admiral (1659)<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of the Royal Armoury |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5gmAQAAMAAJ |year=1970 |publisher=Aktiebolaget Thule |language=da |page=170}}</ref>
* [[Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer]], Dutch vice-admiral (1659)
* [[Cornelis Tromp]], Dutch and Danish admiral-general (1676)
* [[Ernst Albrecht von Eberstein]], military leader (1676)
* [[Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann]], politician and landowner (1790)
* [[Duke William Frederick Philip of Württemberg]], Danish general and Governor of Copenhagen during the ([[Battle of Copenhagen (1801)]])
* [[Albert, Prince Consort]], (10 January 1843)<ref>{{cite book |author=Jørgen Pedersen |title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ |year=2009 |publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag |language=da |isbn=978-87-7674-434-2 |page=470}}</ref>
* [[Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup|J.B.S. Estrup]], Danish landowner, politician and President of the Council of State (1878)
* [[Victor Emmanuel III]], King of Italy (1891)
* [[Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1856–1929)|Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia]] (1909)
* [[Vilhelm Thomsen]], professor, Dr. Phil., Danish linguist (1912)<ref name="birgera.andersen">{{cite web |url=http://www.bt.dk/danmark/nu-vil-margrethe-have-maersks-elefantorden-tilbage |title=Nu vil Margrethe have Mærsks Elefantorden tilbage |author=Birger A. Andersen |date=20 April 2012 |publisher=www.bt.dk}}</ref>
* [[Hans Niels Andersen|H.N. Andersen]], Danish businessman, Consul-General, titular Councilor of State (1919)
* [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C.G.E. Mannerheim]], President of the Republic of Finland, Marshal of Finland (1919)
* [[Umberto II]], King of Italy, then Prince of Piedmont as heir to the throne (1922)
* [[Hirohito]], Emperor of Japan then Crown prince (1923)
* [[Stanisław Wojciechowski]], President of the Republic of Poland (1923)
* [[Tomáš Masaryk]], President of the Czechoslovak Republic (1925)
* [[Reza Shah]] of [[Persia]] (former name of [[Iran]]) (1937)
* [[Miklós Horthy]], Austro-Hungarian vice-admiral, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary (1940)
* [[Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein]], British Field Marshal (1945)<ref name="Steves2013">{{cite book |author=Rick Steves |title=Rick Steves' Snapshot Copenhagen & the Best of Denmark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mEtfukQbM9UC&pg=PT104 |date=25 June 2013 |publisher=Avalon Travel |isbn=978-1-59880-632-8 |pages=104–}}</ref>
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], President of the United States of America, General of the Army (1945)<ref name="IBOH">{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Stephen |title=The Illustrated Book of Heraldry |date=2013 |publisher=Lorenz Books |location=Wigston, Leicestershire |isbn=978-0-7548-2659-0 |page=225}}</ref>
* [[Niels Bohr]], professor, Dr. Phil. & Scient. & Techn., Danish physicist and Nobel laureate, Manifested Copenhagen interpretation ("atom theory") (1947)<ref name="birgera.andersen" />
* [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] (1947)<ref name="Kongehuset 2021">{{cite web |title=H.K.H. Prins Philip, Hertugen af Edinburgh |website=Kongehuset |date=17 April 2021 |url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/hkh-prins-philip-hertugen-af-edinburgh |language=da |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref>
* [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]] (then Princess) (1947)<ref name="Burke">{{cite web|title=Burke's Peerage and Gentry > The Royal Family > HM Queen Elizabeth II|url=http://www.burkespeerage.com/articles/peerage/page62-6a.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201030448/http://www.burkespeerage.com/articles/peerage/page62-6a.aspx|archive-date=1 December 2009|access-date=24 October 2010|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry and The Origins Network}}</ref>
* [[Winston Churchill|Sir Winston Churchill]], British prime minister and Nobel laureate (1950)<ref name="IBOH" />
* [[Haile Selassie]], Emperor of Ethiopia (21 November 1954)
* [[Princess Elisabeth of Denmark]], Danish diplomat and cousin of [[Margrethe II of Denmark]] (1962)
* King [[Constantine II of Greece]]<ref name="borger" /> (1962)
* [[Julius Nyerere]], President of the United Republic of Tanzania (1970)
* [[Josip Broz Tito]], President of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (1974)
* [[Richard von Weizsäcker]], President of the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] (1989)
* [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]], President of the Socialist Republic of Romania (Note: Awarded on the November 1980 state visit to Denmark, but revoked by the Queen on 23 December 1989.  The insignia have been returned to Denmark and Ceauşescu's name has been deleted from the official rolls.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/kongelige/danskekongelige/article4117527.ece |title=Folkets fjender... Margrethes venner |author=Jan Körner |date=2 February 2011 |work=ekstrabladet.dk}}</ref>
* [[Oscar Luigi Scalfaro]], President of the Italian Republic (1993)
* [[Nelson Mandela]], President of the [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] (1996)<ref name="Steves2013" />
* [[Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller]], Danish shipping magnate (2000)<ref name="birgera.andersen" />
{{Div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[Howdah#Elephant and castle symbol|Elephant and castle symbol]]
* [[Order of the Dannebrog]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.academia.edu/38920208/%D0%93%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%8B_%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2_%D0%B2_%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B5_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%8B_Elefantordenens_V%C3%A5benbog_%D0%93%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0_-_%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80_%D0%93%D0%AD_24_%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8F_2019_%D0%B3._%D0%A1%D0%9F%D0%B1._2019._34_%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80 Афонасенко И.М. Гербы российских кавалеров в гербовнике датского ордена Слона (Afonasenko, Igor. Coats of Arms of Russian Knights in the "Elefantordenens Våbenbog")] / Геральдика – вспомогательная историческая дисциплина: Семинар ГЭ 24 апреля 2019 г. СПб., 2019. 34 стр. {{ISBN|978-5-93572-852-6}}.
* Boulton, D'Arcy Jonathan Dacre, 1987. ''The Knights of The Crown: The Monarchical Orders of Knighthood in Later Medieval Europe, 1325–1520'', Woodbridge, Suffolk (Boydell Press) (revised edition 2000). History and insignia of the original confraternity of Christian I.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Order of the Elephant}}
* [https://www.omsd.dk/danishorders/docs/Elefantordenens%20Statutter%201693.pdf Statutes of the Order of the Elephant]
* Some of the Elephant badges on exhibit at Rosenborg Castle:
** Order of the Elephant ({{cite web |url=http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-the-elephant/ |title=Order of the Elephant |access-date=17 December 2015}}) and [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-the-elephant-star/ Order of the Elephant Star].
** [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-the-elephant-frederik-ii/ Order of the Elephant of Frederik II].
** [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-the-elephant-christian-iv/ Order of the Elephant of Christian IV].
** [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-the-elephant-miniature/ Order of the Elephant of Christian V, miniature].
** [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/miniature-orders/ Order of the Elephant of Frederik VII, miniature].
** [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-dannebrog/　Order of Dannebrog] and [http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-of-dannebrog-star/ Order of Dannebrog Star].
** [[Ordre de l'Union Parfaite]] ({{cite web |url=http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/order-de-lunion-parafite/ |title=Ordre de l'Union Parfaite |access-date=17 December 2015}})
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100728232615/http://www.skibden.dk/ Database over Danish Medals, including the Order of the Elephant]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:15th-century establishments in Denmark]]
[[Category:1693 establishments in Denmark|Elephant, Order of]]
[[Category:Dynastic orders|Elephant, Order of the]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry awarded to heads of state, consorts and sovereign family members|Elephant, Order of the]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry of Denmark|Elephant, Order of the]]
[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Denmark]]