Order of the White Rose

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There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland (Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta) and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board.

Tarja Halonen, President of Finland

The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in his capacity as regent (temporary head of state) on January 28, 1919. The order's rules and regulations were confirmed on May 16, 1919, and its present rules date from June 1, 1940. The revised scale of ranks was confirmed most recently in 1985. The decorations were designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The honour can be granted for military as well as civilian merit. The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine.

The President of Finland wears the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland on a neck chain. The chain is worn four centimetres from either side of the collar and hangs at equal distances at the front and back. The President also has the Star of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.

People to win the Cross

Among others, following people have been awarded the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland with a neck chain: [link]

• Hermann Göring (1941)
• Joachim von Ribbentrop, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany (1942)
• Emperor of Japan Hirohito (1942)
• Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1961)
• President of France, Charles de Gaulle (1962)
• Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito (1963)
• Nicolae Ceauşescu, General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party (1969)
• Lech Walesa (1993)
• Nelson Mandela (1997)
• President of France Jacques Chirac (1999)

Classes

The classes of the Order of the White Rose of Finland are:

1. Commander Grand Cross, with a neck chain, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
2. Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
3. Commander, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
4. Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
5. Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
6. Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
7. Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
8. Medal, First Class, with golden cross, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
9. Medal, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
10. Medal of the Order of the White Rose of Finland

External links

• [Pictures of decorations]
• [The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland (Decorations)]
• [The Collection of Henrik Revens] Website features orders and medals of Finland as well as other Nordic countries.

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