:en:Orders, decorations, and medals of Sweden
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The Orders, decorations, and medals of Sweden have a historical basis, reaching back to the 1561 founding of the extinct Order of the Savior. The Royal Order of Knights of Sweden were only truly codified in the 18th century, with their formal foundation in 1748 by Frederick I of Sweden. Significant reforms in 1974 changed the conditions and criteria under which many orders and decorations could be awarded.[http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/monarchy/orders.4.396160511584257f2180005150.html Orders], [http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html Swedish Royal Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722063753/http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html |date=2010-07-22 }}, date accessed 2011-04-22.
In 2019, a parliamentary committee was instructed to establish guidelines on how to re-introduce the Swedish orders, including the Order of the Sword and the Order of Vasa, into the Swedish honours system, and how Swedish citizens again can be appointed to Swedish orders.{{cite web|title=Dir. 2019:76 Kommittédirektiv Det offentliga belöningssystemet, de allmänna flaggdagarna och utformningen av anslaget till hovet|url=https://www.regeringen.se/4adb15/contentassets/8592634f24954076a046e836ac6e3d40/det-offentliga-beloningssystemet-de-allmanna-flaggdagarna-och-utformningen-av-anslaget-till-hovet-dir-2019-76.pdf|publisher=Government of Sweden|date=7 November 2019|access-date=13 April 2021|language=Swedish}} The committee presented its findings in September 2021 and the Government declared that a bill on the subject would be presented to the Riksdag on 19 April 2022. The bill passed the Riksdag by a large majority on 19 June 2022.
On 20 December 2022, the Swedish Government published a new ordinance that repealed the 1974 regulation, and once again opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens and reactivated the Order of the Sword, Order of the Polar Star and Order of Vasa, which came into effect from 1 February 2023.{{cite news |title=Ett offentligt belöningssystem för Sveriges främsta utmärkelser |url=https://www-regeringen-se.translate.goog/pressmeddelanden/2022/12/ett-offentligt-beloningssystem-for-sveriges-framsta-utmarkelser/?_x_tr_sl=sv&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc |access-date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Justitiedepartementet, Regeringskansliet |date=21 December 2022 |language=Swedish |format=Media Release}}{{cite web |title=Förordning om Sveriges främsta utmärkelser |url=https://svenskforfattningssamling.se/sites/default/files/sfs/2022-12/SFS2022-1800.pdf |website=Svensk författningssamling (SFS 2022:1800) |publisher=Regeringskansliet |access-date=22 December 2022 |language=Swedish |date=20 December 2022}} 14 days later, new statutes of the Royal Orders of Knighthood was decided by an extra ordinary Chapter of the Royal Orders of Knighthood, as well as the members for the new Council of the Royal Orders of Knighthood. {{cite web |title=https://kungligmajestatsorden.se/nyhetsarkiv/nyheter/2023-02-15-extraordinarie-ordenskapitel-faststallde-ordensstadgar-samt-utnamnde-ledamoter-till-det-nya-ordensradet |url=https://kungligmajestatsorden.se/nyhetsarkiv/nyheter/2023-02-15-extraordinarie-ordenskapitel-faststallde-ordensstadgar-samt-utnamnde-ledamoter-till-det-nya-ordensradet |website=Kungl. Maj:ts Orden |publisher=Kungl. Maj:ts Orden |access-date=14 March 2025}}
Orders
=Royal orders of knighthood=
- Royal Order of the Seraphim (Serafimerorden){{cite web|url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders/theorderoftheseraphim.4.396160511584257f2180001362.html|title=The Order of the Seraphim - Sveriges Kungahus}}
- Royal Order of the Sword (Svärdsorden){{cite web|url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders/theorderofthesword.4.396160511584257f2180005299.html|title=The Order of the Sword - Sveriges Kungahus}}
- Royal Order of the Polar Star (Nordstjärneorden){{cite web|url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders/theorderofthepolarstar.4.396160511584257f2180005711.html|title=The Order of the Polar Star - Sveriges Kungahus}}
- Royal Order of Vasa (Vasaorden){{cite web|url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders/theorderofvasa.4.396160511584257f2180004671.html|title=The Order of Vasa - Sveriges Kungahus}}
- Royal Order of Charles XIII (Carl XIII:s orden){{cite web|url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders.4.396160511584257f2180005150.html|title=Orders - Sveriges Kungahus}}
=Orders of knighthood under royal patronage=
=Fraternal orders under royal patronage=
- Swedish Order of Freemasons (Svenska Frimurare Orden)
- Order of Coldin (Coldinuorden)
- Par Bricole (Par Bricole)
- Order of Svea (Svea Orden)
- Geatish Society (Götiska Förbundet)
- Order of Neptune (Neptuniorden)
- Order of Amarante (Stora Amaranterorden)
- Order of Innocence (Innocenceorden)
Decorations and medals of the Royal Orders
- Seraphim Medal
- Medal of the Sword
- Royal Order of Vasa - Silvercross (Vasasign)
- Medal of the Royal Order of the Polar Star - 8th size
- Medal of the Royal Order of Vasa in Gold, 5th size
- Medal of the Royal Order of Vasa in Silver, 5th size
Royal Medals presented by the King
Royal Medals presented by the Government
- Illis Quorum[http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/1477/a/142202 Medals and Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205080152/http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/1477/a/142202 |date=2013-02-05 }}, Government of Sweden, 31 August 2010.
- Medal for Commendable Deeds
- Medal for Civic Virtue
- Medal for Diligent Reindeer Husbandry
War decorations
- Royal Order of the Sword - Grand Cross - Knight 1st Class (dormant - last awarded 1942)
- Royal Order of the Sword - Grand Cross - Knight
- For Valour in the Field, Gold (awarded only in time of war)
- For Valour at Sea, Gold (awarded only in time of war)
- Royal Order of the Sword Military Cross in gold (never awarded)
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit in gold with sword (2008–2023)
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Battle, gold (only awarded posthumously)
- For Valour in the Field, Silver (awarded only in time of war)
- For Valour at Sea, silver (awarded only in time of war)
- Royal Order of the Sword Military Cross in silver (never awarded)
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit in silver with sword (2008–2023)
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Battle, silver
- Royal Order of the Sword Military Cross in bronze (never awarded)
Military medals
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal for Wounded in Battle (2011–)
- gold (only posthumously awarded)
- silver with star (repeated awards)
- silver
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit (1995–2009)
- gold with swords
- silver with swords
- gold
- silver
- Swedish Armed Forces International Service Medal of Reward with Swords (1995–2007)
- gold
- silver
- Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit (2008–2023)
- gold
- silver
- Swedish Armed Forces Conscript Medal (2002–2010)
- Swedish Armed Forces Reserve Officer Medal (2003/2008–)
- gold
- silver
- Swedish Armed Forces Service Medal for National Defense (2015–)
- gold with Three Crowns ribbon device
- gold
- silver
- bronze
- Swedish Armed Forces International Service Medal (1991/1994/2012–)
- bronze
- with medal clasp (Name of the mission area)
- with medal clasp and laurel wreath (Honorary Award)
- with medal clasp and palm (Field hospital in Saudi Arabia)
- with medal clasp and crossed spears (Somalia)
- with medal clasp and Star (Liberia)
- with medal clasp and a Dromedary (Early missions in Afghanistan)
- with medal clasp and laurel wreath (Georgia OSSE, Former Yugoslavia)