The Order of the Dannebrog (or Dannebrogordenen in Danish) is a Danish order of chivalry established by Christian V in 1671. Originally, membership was limited to fifty noble or royal individuals, who were known as White Knights, distinguishing them from the Blue Knights of the Order of the Elephant.
In 1808, the Order was reorganized into four classes. A Royal Ordinance in 1951 amended the Order’s statute to allow both men and women to become members. Today, the Order of the Dannebrog honors and rewards individuals for meritorious civil or military service, significant contributions to the arts, sciences, or business, and efforts in promoting Danish interests.
The Order is divided into six grades grouped into four classes:
- Special class
Grand Commander (Storkommandør; S.Kmd.)
- First Order class
Grand Cross (Storkors; S.K.)
- Second Order class
Commander 1st Class (Kommandør af 1. grad; K.1) 
Commander (Kommandør; K.)
- Third Order class
Knight 1st Class (Ridder af 1. grad; R.1) 
Knight (Ridder; R.)
The Order of the Dannebrog Design
The badge of the Order of the Dannebrog is a white enameled Dannebrog cross, characterized by a longer lower arm and red enameled borders. For Knights, the badge is in silver, while for higher ranks it is in gold or silver gilt. At the top of the cross is the royal cypher of the reigning monarch, crowned with the distinctive Danish royal crown. The obverse of the cross features Christian V’s royal cypher at the center, along with the Order’s motto, “Gud og Kongen” (God and the King), on its arms. The reverse side displays the crowned royal cyphers of Valdemar II Sejr, Christian V, and Frederik VI, alongside the years 1219, 1671, and 1808, marking their respective ascensions to the Danish throne. Each of the four angles of the cross contains a small Danish royal crown.
The star of the Order is an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays, featuring an enamelled Dannebrog cross at the center, similar to the badge but without the royal cypher and crowns. The breast cross resembles the star’s cross but is larger, with faceted silver instead of white enamel, and lacks the silver rays.
The ribbon of the Order is made of white silk moiré with red borders, reflecting Denmark’s national colors.
