The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (or Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or Sanct Olafs Orden, the old Norwegian name) is a prestigious order of chivalry established by King Oscar I on August 21, 1847. Named after King Olav II, who is venerated as St. Olav, this order honors remarkable achievements for the benefit of Norway and humanity.
In 1904, shortly before the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, King Oscar II instituted the Order of the Norwegian Lion. However, no appointments were made by his successor, King Haakon VII, making the Order of St. Olav the sole order of chivalry in Norway for the next 80 years. The reigning monarch of Norway serves as the Grand Master of the order, which has been used to recognize outstanding contributions.
Since 1985, the order has been primarily awarded to Norwegian citizens, though foreign heads of state and royalty may still be honored as a courtesy.
Grades and Classes
The Order of Saint Olav consists of three main grades, with some grades further divided into classes. It recognizes both civilian and military contributions, with the Grand Cross being the highest distinction. The collar is a separate honor awarded to recipients of the Grand Cross who are deemed exceptionally worthy.
Grand Cross (Storkors): Awarded to heads of state as a courtesy and, in rare cases, to individuals for merit. Recipients wear the badge on a collar (chain) along with a star on the left chest. If the collar is not worn, the badge may be worn on a sash over the right shoulder.
Commander: This grade is divided into two classes:- Commander with Star (Kommandør med stjerne): Recipients wear the badge on a necklet and a star on the left chest.
- Commander (Kommandør): Recipients wear the badge on a necklet.
Knight: This grade is also divided into two classes:- Knight 1st Class (Ridder av 1. klasse): Recipients wear the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
- Knight (Ridder): Recipients wear the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
The Order of St. Olav Design
The collar of the Order is made of gold and features a series of decorative elements: five enamelled and crowned “O” monograms, five enamelled and crowned Norwegian coat-of-arms, and ten gold crosses bottony, each flanked by two battle axes with silver blades and golden shafts, a design also seen in the coat of arms of the Church of Norway.
The badge of the Order is a white enamelled Maltese Cross. For the knight class, the cross is silver, while for higher classes it is gilt. Between the arms of the cross are crowned “O” monograms. The central disc on the obverse side is red, showcasing a golden Norwegian lion holding a battle-axe. The reverse disc bears King Oscar’s motto, “Ret og Sandhed” (“Justice and Truth”), and both discs are surrounded by a white-blue-white ring. The cross is topped with a crown, and military awards include crossed swords between the crown and the cross.
The star of the Order for the Grand Cross is an eight-pointed silver star with faceted rays, featuring the badge of the Order minus the crown. The star for the Commander with Star is a silver faceted Maltese Cross with gilt crowned “O” monograms between the arms. The central disc is red with a golden Norwegian lion bearing a battle-axe, surrounded by a white-blue-white ring.
The ribbon of the Order is red with white-blue-white edge stripes.
