History of Russian Imperial Orders

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The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (Russian: Орден святого апостола Андрея Первозванного)

Was the first and the highest order of chivalry of the Russian Empire. The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in
honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. It had only one class, and was only awarded for the
most eminent civilian or military merit.

Until its abolition after the Russian Revolution of 1917, just over one thousand awards were made. During the monarchy, recipients
of the Order of St. Andrew also automatically received the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the White Eagle, the Order
of St. Anne, first degree, and the Order St. Stanislaus, first degree. Moreover, recipients of lower ranks were automatically promoted
to the rank of lieutenant-general or vice admiral.

The eight-pointed silver star bears a miniature of the badge on a golden background at the centre, surrounded by the motto
"For Faithfulness and Loyalty" on a blue ring. It was worn on the left chest. St. Andrew's Cathedral in St. Petersburg was the
chapter church of this chivalric order.

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The Order of St Catherine Russian: Императорский Орден Святой Екатерины



was an award of Imperial Russia Instituted on November 24, 1714 by Peter the Great on the occasion of his marriage to Catherine I of Russia. For the majority of the time of Imperial Russia, it was the only award bestowed exclusively to ladies. The Badge (or Jewel) of the Order consisted of a cross with a large medallion set in the center of it. On the medallion was depicted the order's patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria, holding a large white cross, the symbol of her martyrdom. In the four quadrants formed by the cross are written the initials, "D.S.F.R." (Domine Salvum Fac Regem, God Save the Tsar). Every Russian Grand Duchess was conferred the Grand Cross of the Order at her christening (or marriage into the Romanov family), and Princesses of the Imperial Blood were invested upon attaining their majority at 18. In addition to the royal members, a fixed number (106) of other members were permitted by the statutes: 12 Dames Grand Cross and 94 Dames Small Cross. The twelve Dames Grand Cross were typically female members of foreign Ruling Houses. Queen Alexandra of Great Britain was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Catherine by Alexander II, Princess Alice of Greece (Prince Phillip's mother) was also a member of the Order. The Order of Saint Catherine's annual function (compare Garter service in England) was held on November 24 (December 7 on the Gregorian Calendar), the feast day of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The Order met for a celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Then, wearing the robes and the insignia of the Order, the women of the Imperial Family, followed by the 106 Dames Grand and Small Cross would go in procession from the Imperial Chapel to a banqueting hall specially prepared for the occasion. The Hall of Saint Catherine in the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow was used for these Occasions. The coloring and decoration of the Hall incorporate those of the Order. The Hall also served as the throne room for the Empress Consort.

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The introduction of the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was planned by Emperor Peter I of Russia. It was established by Empress Catherine I of Russia on May 21, 1725 in memory of the deeds of Saint Alexander Nevsky in defending Russia against foreign invaders.

The order was originally awarded to distinguished Russian citizens who had served their country with honor, mostly through political or military service. Among the most prominent recipients of the order were Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov, Alexander Suvorov, Nikolay Adlerberg, Mikhail Kutuzov, Fyodor Ushakov, and Count Peter de Lacy.

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Order of St Anne The Russian Empire 


The Order of St. Anna (also "Order of Saint Ann" or "Order of Saint Anne") Russian: Орден Святой Анны) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia. The motto of the Order was "Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem" ("To those who love justice, piety, and fidelity"). Its festival day is 3 February (16 February by New Style). This Order originally is a Dynastic order of knighthood, but from 1797 to 1917 is has dual status as an dynastic order and as an State Order. The Head of Imperial House of Russia always hold a position of the Head of Imperial Order of St.Anna.[1]

Membership of the Order awarded for a distinguished career in civil service or for valour and distinguished service in the military. The Order of Saint Anne entitled first class recipients to hereditary nobility while other recipients to personal nobility. For military recipients, it awarded with swords




At first, the order had but one class and was named the "Order of Anna". The statutes of the Order promulgated in 1735 established as the principal insignia a red-enameled gold cross, with an image of Saint Ann imposed upon the centre of the cross; the reverse bore the initials "A.I.P.F." (for "Anna Imperatoris Petri Filia": "Anna, Emperor Peter's daughter" in Latin). The same letters also abbreviate the Latin motto (as the letter "J" did not exist in Latin, "Iustitiam" was the original spelling of the word now rendered "Justitiam").

In 1742, Karl Peter Ulrich, Duke Karl Friedrich's son, was declared the Russian heir apparent. After arriving in Russia, he presented the Order to several courtiers. On 15 April 1797, his own son, Emperor Paul I of Russia, established the Order as part of the Imperial Russian system of honours and divided it into three classes, renaming it the "Order of Saint Anna". Emperor Alexander I added are fourth class in 1815.

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