Orders, decorations, and medals of Bulgaria

Orders, decorations and medals of Bulgaria are regulated by the law on the Orders and Medals of the Republic of Bulgaria of 29 May 2003.

The National Military History Museum of Bulgaria in Sofia currently has over 150 Bulgarian Orders in the collection, which it has acquired over 85 years in co-operation with the Bulgarian State Mint, which are in the main part imperial, including Orders awarded to Knjaz Alexander, Ferdinand and Tsar Boris III along with other high-ranking military leaders of the Royal Bulgarian Army. Note: Awards shown without ribbons are/were worn in full at all times. Also, like most items which are created by the minting process, mint errors of awards do exist, some which were still issued despite the error (such as off-centred artwork) and some which were discarded (such as incorrect reverses). These mint errors add dimensions to the art of collecting such items. Main error types will also be listed here also. Numbers of Orders/Medals that were in use in both The Tsardom of Bulgaria and The People's Republic of Bulgaria show the number awarded during both regimes and not just under the single regime.

Principality of Bulgaria/Third Bulgarian Tsardom (29 April 1879 – 15 September 1946) The decorations of the Principality of Bulgaria (29 April 1879 – 5 October 1908) and the Third Bulgarian Tsardom (5 October 1908 – 15 September 1946) were divided into orders, medals and honorary insignia. Orders were awarded to civilians and military personnel for particularly great merits in service of the state (For example, commanding an army to a victory). Honorary insignia (Badges) were awarded for a specific merit or achievement or due to a specific event (For example, being wounded in action) and medals were presented on the occasion of a political or historic event or for merit (For example, on the anniversary of independence). Most of the Imperial commemorative medals were only issued once, to participants at the commemorated event and only the highest level personnel could be expected to be at all these events during their term in high status society. No-one was issued every commemorative medal, as during the turbulence of coups, counter-coups and change of monarchs, the high level society was in near constant change.

The Principality of Bulgaria's first order was created with Article 59 of the Tarnovo Constitution, The Order of Bravery, which came into force on 1 January 1880 (The order itself shows the date 1879 on the reverse). The highest Tsardom of Bulgaria award was the Order of Saint Cyril And Saint Methodius awarded to those who brought outstanding excellence to the culture of the Tsardom of Bulgaria (The People's Republic of Bulgaria also created an Order of the same title in three classes but that was a far lower level award for merit in education and science and is not to be confused).

Orders Badge And Ribbon Name (English/Bulgarian/Transliterated)Creation Date - Cessation Date Award CountThe Order "For Bravery" / Ордена „За Храброст“ / Ordena "Za Hrabrost"Grand Cross of TheOrder "For Bravery"/Велик Кръст НаОрдена „За Храброст“/Velik Krast NaOrdena "Za Hrabrost"1 January 1880 – 15 September 1946 Awarded only to the ruler of the state who is the order's Grand Master as well. 3Order "For Bravery"1st Class 1st Grade.Орден „За Храброст“I Степен 1 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"parva Stepen parvi Klas.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946 The highest rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. Order "For Bravery"1st Class 2nd Grade.Орден „За Храброст“I Степен 2 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"I Stepen 2 Klas.1886 /15 September 1946 The highest rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded to high rank military officers for leadership qualities in the face of remarkable danger. Order "For Bravery"2nd Class.Орден „За Храброст“II Степен. Orden "Za Hrabrost"II Stepen.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946 The second rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. Order "For Bravery"3rd Class 1st Grade.Орден „За Храброст“III Степен 1 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"III Stepen 1 Klas.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946 The third rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. Order "For Bravery"3rd Class 2nd Grade.Орден „За Храброст“III Степен 2 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"III Stepen 2 Klas.1915 /15 September 1946 The third rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded to low rank military officers for leadership qualities in the face of remarkable danger.Order "For Bravery"4th Class 1st Grade.Орден „За Храброст“IV Степен 1 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"IV Stepen 1 Klas.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946The fourth rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. There are 6 variations of this Order: Four from the first world war, firstly dated 1915, then 1915–1916, then 1915–1917 and finally 1915–1918. During the second world war two additional variations were issued: one dated 1941 (whilst Bulgaria was part of the Axis), and one undated which was issued in 1945.Order "For Bravery"4th Class 2nd Grade.Орден „За Храброст“IV Степен 2 Клас. Orden "Za Hrabrost"IV Stepen 2 Klas.1915 /15 September 1946 The fourth rank of the order "For Bravery" awarded to high rank soldiers for leadership qualities in the face of remarkable danger. Soldier Cross "For Bravery"/Войнишки кръст „За Храброст“/ Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"Soldier Cross "For Bravery"1st Class.Войнишки Кръст „За Храброст“I Степен.Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"I Stepen.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946Awarded to low rank soldiers for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. There are 5 variations of this award: The first was issued until 1915 and is dated 1879 on the reverse (as are all variations) and undated on the front with 7 symbols; The second variation, which was issued from 1915 to 1918 is dated 1915 on the obverse and has Bulgaria written in Cyrillic; The third variation is also dated 1915 on the obverse and has Bulgaria written in Cyrillic, with the exception of the letter I which is in Latin; The fourth variation is dated 1941; The fifth variation which was created in 1945 is undated, but has a star and two lines on the obverse.

The award is issues in 4 classes: The first class of this award differs only from the second class by the way of the first class having an additional ribbon sewn across the ribbon suspension.Military Cross "For Bravery"2nd Class.Войнишки Кръст „За Храброст“II Степен.Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"II Stepen.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946Awarded to low rank soldiers for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. The second class of this award differs only from the first class by the way of the first class having an additional ribbon sewn across the ribbon suspension.Military Cross "For Bravery"3rd Class.Войнишки Кръст „За Храброст“III Степен.Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"III Stepen.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946Awarded to low rank soldiers for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. The third class of this award differs only from the fourth class by the way of the third class having an additional ribbon sewn across the ribbon suspension, and differs only from the first and second class by the metal the award is made of, (the first and second class being golden, and third and fourth class being silver).Military Cross "For Bravery"4th Class.Войнишки Кръст „За Храброст“IV Степен.Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"IV Stepen.1 January 1880 /15 September 1946Awarded to low rank soldiers for exceptional actions in the face of remarkable danger. The fourth class of this award differs only from the second class by the metal the award is made of, (the second class is golden and the fourth class is silver).Military Cross "For Bravery"4th Class.Войнишки Кръст „За Храброст“IV Степен.Voynishki Krast "Za Hrabrost"IV Stepen.September 1946/ September 1989 Order of Saint AlexanderGrand Cross of TheOrder of Saint Alexander.Орден „Свети Александър“Велик Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"Velik Krast.25 December 1881 /15 September 1946Order of Saint Alexander1st Class.Орден „Свети Александър“I Степен.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"I Stepen.Order of Saint Alexander2nd Class /Grand Officer's Cross.Орден „Свети Александър“II Степен,Голям Офицерски Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"II Stepen,Golyam Ofitserski Krast.Order of Saint Alexander3rd Class /Commander's Cross.Орден „Свети Александър“III Степен, Командирски Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"III Stepen, Komandirski Krast.Order of Saint Alexander4th Class / Officer's Cross.Орден „Свети Александър“IV Степен, Офицерски Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"IV Stepen, Ofitserski Krast.Order of Saint Alexander5th Class / Knight's Cross.Орден „Свети Александър“V Степен, Кавалерски Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"V Stepen, Kavalerski Krast.Order of Saint Alexander6th Class / Silver Cross.Орден „Свети Александър“VI Степен, Сребърен Кръст.Orden "Sveti Aleksandar"VI Stepen, Srebaren Krast. "For Merit"Order "For Merit".Орден „За Заслуга“.Orden "Za Zasluga".24 March 1883 /15 September 1946Awarded to military officers for merits during war time (with Order's "For Bravery" ribbon) or during peace time (with Order's of Saint Alexander ribbon). Order "For Civil Merit"1st Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“I Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"I Stepen.August 1891 /15 September 1946 Order "For Civil Merit"2nd Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“II Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"II Stepen.Order "For Civil Merit"3rd Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“III Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"III Stepen.Order "For Civil Merit"4th Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“IV Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"IV Stepen.Order "For Civil Merit"5th Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“V Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"V Stepen.Order "For Civil Merit"6th Class.Орден „За Гражданска Заслуга“VI Степен.Orden "Za Grazhdanska Zasluga"VI Stepen.Grand Cross of TheOrder "For Military Merit".Орден „За Военна Заслуга“Велик Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"Velik Krast.1933 /15 September 1946 Order "For Military Merit"1st Class.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“I Степен.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"I Stepen.18 May 1900 /15 September 1946Order "For Military Merit"2nd Class /Grand Officer's Cross.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“II Степен,Голям Офицерски Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"II Stepen,Golyam Ofitserski Krast. Order "For Military Merit"3rd Class /Commander's Cross.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“III Степен, Командирски Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"III Stepen, Komandirski Krast. Order "For Military Merit"4th Class / Officer's Cross.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“IV Степен, Офицерски Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"IV Stepen, Ofitserski Krast. Order "For Military Merit"5th Class / Knight's Cross.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“V Степен, Кавалерски Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"V Stepen, Kavalerski Krast. Order "For Military Merit"6th Class / Silver Cross.Орден „За Военна Заслуга“VI Степен, Сребърен Кръст.Orden "Za Voenna Zasluga"VI Stepen, Srebaren Krast.The Order of Saints Cyril and MethodiusGrand Cross of The Order of Saints Cyril and MethodiusОрден „Св. Св. Равноапостоли Кирил и Методий“Orden "Sv. Sv. Ravnoapostoli Kiril i Metodiy".18 May 1909 /15 September 1946

Medals