The Order of the Falcon () is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowadays, appointments are made on the nomination of the President of Iceland and that of a "five-member council".
History and appointments Christian X, the King of Denmark, ruled Iceland until 17 June 1944. During his royal visit to Iceland in 1921, King Christian X issued the royal decree founding the Icelandic Order of the Falcon. When Iceland became a republic, new statutes were incorporated for the Order on 11 July 1944. The Republic of Iceland replaced the King by an elected President of Iceland who is the designated Grand Master of this Order. It may be awarded to both Icelanders and citizens of other countries for achievements in Iceland or internationally. A five-member council makes recommendations on awards to the Grand Master, who then grants the award. However, the Grand Master may award the Order without recommendations from the Order Council. The Grand Master and the Chairman of the Order Council then sign the Letters Patent, which are presented to the awards's recipients.
Classes
The Order has five classes:The Fellowship of the Order of the Falcon - website of The Reykjavík Grapevine
Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star (), only for heads of state Grand Cross () Grand Knight's Cross with Star () Grand Knight's Cross () Knight's Cross ()
Insignia
The collar is gilded metal; it consists of links bearing the Icelandic coat-of-arms and blue-enamelled discs bearing the white falcon.
The badge consists of a gilt cross, enamelled in white, with a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.
The star is a silver, eight-pointed star. For the Grand Cross class it has the badge of the Order superimposed upon it. For the Grand Knight with Star class it has a blue-enamelled central disc bearing the white falcon.
The ribbon is blue with white-red-white border stripes. It is worn on the left shoulder.
Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star; wears the badge on a collar plus a star on the left chest; Grand Cross; wears the badge on a sash on the left shoulder, plus a star on the left chest; Grand Knight's Cross with Star; wears the badge on a necklet, plus a star on the left chest; Grand Knight's Cross; wears the badge on a necklet; Knight's Cross; wears the badge on a chest ribbon.
If a holder is promoted to a higher rank, the lower rank's insignia must be returned. The insignia are retained during the recipient's lifetime, but they must be returned to the Icelandic Government upon the recipient's death.
Ribbon barsCollar with Grand CrossGrand CrossGrand Knight's Cross with StarGrand Knight's CrossKnight's Cross
Notable recipients
Politicians and heads of state Albert II, former King of Belgium Janis Johnson, Canadian Senator, Manitoba Margrethe II, former Queen of Denmark Frederik X, King of Denmark Mary, Queen of Denmark Prince Joachim of Denmark Princess Marie of Denmark Princess Benedikte of Denmark Lennart Meri, former President of Estonia Alexander Stubb, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, former President of Finland Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland Mauno Koivisto, former President of Finland Urho Kekkonen, former President of Finland Juho Kusti Paasikivi, former President of Finland Kyösti Kallio, former President of Finland Frank-Walter Steinmeier, current President of Germany Halla Tómasdóttir, current President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, former President of Iceland Guðni Ágústsson, former Minister of Agriculture Jóhannes Jóhannesson, first Chairman of the Order of the Falcon Committee Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former president of Iceland and first popularly elected female president in the world Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President of Lithuania Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands Harald V, King of Norway Sonja, Queen of Norway Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway Princess Märtha Louise of Norway Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner Juan Carlos I of Spain, former King of Spain Sofía, former Queen of Spain Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Cristina of Spain Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden Silvia, Queen of Sweden Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland Christopher O'Neill Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of Elizabeth II Elizabeth II, former Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms Lisa Murkowski, United States Senator, Alaska
Artists and entertainers Björk Guðmundsdóttir, singer/songwriter Brad Leithauser, writer, poet, and scholar Edda Björgvinsdóttir, actress Erling Bløndal Bengtsson, cellist Helga Bachmann, actress Jónas Jónasson, composer and radio host Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir, singer/songwriter Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir, actress Ólöf Pálsdóttir, sculptor Páll Ísólfsson, organist, composer, and radio host Árni Heimir Ingólfsson, "Ísólfsson, Páll", In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press; https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.13946, (accessed 19 November 2023). Ragga Gísla, singer, composer, and actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson, actor and singer Steinunn Thorarinsdottir, sculptor Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, pianist and conductor Victor Borge, concert pianist and entertainer
Scholars A. R. Taylor, Professor of Medieval English, Old Norse and Modern Icelandic Studies at the University of Leeds Anders Grubb, Professor of Clinical Chemistry at the University of Lund, for research on Icelandic hereditary diseases Andrew Wawn, philologist Carol J. Clover, Professor of Medieval Studies (Early Northern Europe) and American Film at the University of California, Berkeley. George P. L. Walker, volcanologist John T. Casteen III, educator, for his contribution to cultural exchange and support for students in Iceland and the United States John Lindow, Professor Emeritus of Old Norse and Folklore at the University of California, Berkeley, for scholarly contributions in the area of Icelandic medieval literature Lee M. Hollander, academic and translator of Kierkegaard Margrét Bjarnadóttir, for her research and "transformative approach to pay equity" Mark Watson, archaeologist, dog breeder and benefactor Rory McTurk, Professor of Icelandic Studies at the University of Leeds Sigrún Árnadóttir, for the translation of several books to Icelandic including Alfie Atkins, and for her contributions to Icelandic children's culture Thorbergur Thorvaldson, cement chemist Unnur Anna Valdimarsdóttir, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Iceland William Paton Cleland, surgeon
Other Anna Kisselgoff, reporter, for coverage of Icelandic ballet Antti Tuuri, writer, translated Icelandic sagas Arthur Young, police officer Beverly Arason-Gaudet, President of the Icelandic National League of North America David Architzel, Vice Admiral of the US Navy Friðrik Skúlason, computer scientist) Guðmundur Kjærnested, Commander of the Icelandic Coast Guard Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, chief goði of the Ásatrúarfélagið Iceland men's national handball team, silver medalists in handball at the 2008 Summer Olympics) James L. Kauffman, Vice Admiral of the US Navy during World War II John W. White USAF General, Commander of the Iceland Defense Force Koča Popović, Colonel General of the YPA) Leonor Beleza, lawyer, former Minister of Health and 1st President of the Champalimaud Foundation
Monika Helgadóttir, farmer Orri Vigfússon, Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund Pike Ward, fisherman who started and developed the Icelandic fishing industry Signy Stefansson Eaton, socialite and philanthropist of Icelandic descent Sunna Olafson Furstenau, Founder/President of Icelandic Roots, Þjóðræknisfélag Ísland William S. Key, Major General during World War II
References
External links The Collection of Henrik Revens – a website featuring orders and medals of Iceland as well as other Nordic countries