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Order of Civil Merit facts for kids

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For other uses, see Order of Civil Merit (disambiguation).
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Royal Order of Civil Merit
Real Orden del Mérito Civil
Spain – Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross
Grand Cross set of insignia of the Order
Awarded by

Coat of Arms of Spanish Monarch.svg

the Spanish Monarch
Type Order of merit, Knighthood
Established 1926; 99 years ago (1926)
Royal house House of Bourbon-Spain
Motto "Al Mérito Civil"
For Civil Merit
Eligibility Spanish and Foreign citizens
Awarded for Extraordinary services for the good of the Nation
Status Currently Constituted
Grand Master King Felipe VI
Grand Chancellor José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Chancellor Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
Grades Collar
Grand-Cross
Commander by Number
Commander
Officer Cross
Cross
Silver Cross
Post-nominals OMC
Former grades Grand-Cross
Commander by Number
Commander
Knight
Silver Cross
Precedence
Next (higher) De facto, there is no higher civil order. De jure, the Order of Charles III is the higher civil honour; however, it is almost exclusively granted to government ministers.
Next (lower) Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise
Equivalent Order of Isabella the Catholic (for diplomatic relations)
ESP Order of Civil Merit - Collar.svg – ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg
The Ribbons of the Order

The Royal Order of Civil Merit (Spanish: Real Orden del Mérito Civil) is a special award given by the Kingdom of Spain. It's one of the three most important "orders of merit" in Spain. An order of merit is like a club of people who have done great things. This award is often called OMC for short.

The Order of Civil Merit was started by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. Its main goal is to honor people who have done amazing things for their country. This includes government workers and regular citizens, both Spanish and foreign. It's given for "extraordinary services" that help the nation.

Today, a law from 1998 guides how the Order works. It says the award is for "civil merits." This means it's for people who work for the government or for others who have helped the country in special ways. This could be through great work, helping others, or showing amazing dedication. People from other countries can also receive it if they have helped Spain or worked well with the nation.

The Order of Civil Merit is highly respected in Spain and around the world. This is because it helps Spain build good relationships with other countries. It's also a very special award that not many people receive. Compared to similar awards in other countries, fewer people get the Order of Civil Merit. People who receive the award also get special honors. These include a special way to be addressed, the right to show the award on their coat of arms, and the right to wear the medal and ribbon.

History of the Order

Rey Alfonso XIII de España, by Kaulak
King Alfonso XIII, who started the Order of Civil Merit. He was its first Grand Master.

King Alfonso XIII created the Royal Order of Civil Merit on June 25, 1926. He did this with the idea from his Prime Minister, General Miguel Primo de Rivera. The first rules for the Order were published in May 1927.

The Order was made to honor good citizens and government workers. It was for those who did amazing things for Spain. It could also be given to people from other countries as a sign of friendship.

From the start, it was a very desired award. Only a select number of people could receive it in each category:

  • Grand Cross: Limited to 250 people.
  • Commander by Number: Limited to 350 people.
  • Commander: Limited to 500 people.
  • Knight: Limited to 1,000 people.
  • Silver Cross: No limit.

The King decided who received the award. For the Grand Cross, the government also had to agree. Each award needed a good reason, and special papers were given to those who received it.

For a short time, in 1931, the government of the Republic stopped this Order. They wanted to create a new one. But in 1942, the Order of Civil Merit was brought back. It kept its old features and honors. New categories were added, like "Officer" and "Ribbon."

Later, in 1957, the highest award, the "Knight of the Collar," was created. This special award is usually only for kings, queens, or leaders of countries. It can also be given to very important people who already have the Grand Cross.

Over the years, Spain changed a lot. So, in 1998, new rules were made for the Order. These new rules brought together all the old ones. They also made some important changes. For example, old names like "Lady's Band" were removed. Now, awards like "Grand Cross" or "Cross" can be given to both men and women. This makes sure there is no unfair treatment based on gender.

The new rules also allow women to wear the awards in a slightly different way. This is for comfort and style, especially with formal clothes. Also, two new types of awards were added for groups or organizations. These are the "Tie" and the "Honor Plaque."

Finally, the new rules made sure that every award is truly deserved. They set clear reasons for giving the awards. They also explained who can suggest people for the awards and how the process works. This helps make sure the Order remains very special.

Who Leads the Order?

Solemne apertura de la XIV Legislatura 07
King Felipe VI is the current Grand Master of the Order of Civil Merit.

By law, King Felipe VI is the Grand Master of the Order of Civil Merit. This means he is the main leader. All the awards are given in his name.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Grand Chancellor of the Order. This person suggests who should receive the highest awards, like the Collar and Grand Cross. They also give out the lower awards on behalf of the King. This Minister is also in charge of all the official ceremonies for the Order.

The Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Chancellor of the Order. This person helps decide who should get the awards. They check all the suggestions and make sure they are suitable.

How Awards Are Given

Imposicion de la Cruz de Caballero de la Orden del Merito Civil
King Felipe VI giving the Officer's Cross of the Order of Civil Merit to someone.

To receive an award from this Order, people must show certain qualities. Here are some of the things that are considered:

  • Doing great services for the country in a civil way.
  • Completing amazing projects that are clearly valuable.
  • Showing great effort or skill for the good of everyone.
  • Starting big projects that help the whole country.
  • Doing other good deeds that benefit Spain and should be recognized.

To keep the awards special, the Order's office makes sure each award is truly earned. They check carefully to see if the person deserves it.

The Order's office is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They handle all the suggestions for awards. They can ask for information from different groups or officials to decide if an award is right.

They also suggest which level of award a person should get. They look at how important their actions were, their job, age, and any other awards they have. Then, they send their suggestion to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. After approval, they prepare the official papers for the awards.

The King of Spain usually gives the awards in a special ceremony. This happens at the Royal Palace on June 19 each year. This date is the anniversary of his becoming King. Sometimes, other ceremonies are held for people from other countries or Spaniards living abroad.

What the Awards Look Like

Grand Cross and Star of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain)
The symbol of the Order of Civil Merit. It shows a woman leaning on a column, holding a sword. This represents good civic qualities.

The main part of the award is a Cross. It is made of gold and is about 48 by 50 millimeters in size. It has four arms shaped like an "X," colored bright blue with white edges. Between the arms are five shiny gold bursts. In the middle, there is a blue oval with "To Civil Merit" written in gold.

Inside the oval, there is a special symbol of the Order. It shows a woman leaning on a column. She holds a sword in her right hand, which looks like it has been made strong by fire. This symbol stands for good civic qualities. A golden Royal Crown of Spain sits above the Cross. The whole award hangs from a green laurel wreath.

The ribbon for the award is blue with a thin white stripe in the middle. The highest award, the "Collar," has a blue ribbon with two white stripes on the edges. Blue stands for nobility, truth, and fairness. White means purity, peace, and honesty. These colors are also important to the House of Bourbon, the Spanish royal family.

The symbols on the award have special meanings:

  • Matron (Woman): Represents Spain, honor, dignity, wisdom, and caring.
  • Leaning on a Column: Shows stability, support, strength, and how people support society.
  • Sword in Right Hand: Stands for the State, justice, protection, and being ready to defend.
  • Tempered in the Fire of Sacrifice: Means strength gained through hard times, loyalty, and dedication.

Overall, the award's design shows important qualities like justice, strength, stability, and dedication to helping everyone.

Different Levels of the Award

The Order of Civil Merit has seven different levels, each with its own special badge:

  • ESP Order of Civil Merit - Collar.svg Collar (Collar) – This is the highest award. It's usually given only to leaders of countries.
  • ESP Order of Civil Merit GC.svg Grand Cross (Gran Cruz) – This award comes with a sash and a special star badge.
  • ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg Commander by Number (Encomienda de Número) – This award has a silver star badge.
  • ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg Commander (Encomienda) – This award has a golden star badge worn around the neck.
  • ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg Officer's Cross (Cruz de Oficial) – This is a golden cross hanging from a ribbon.
  • ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg Cross (Cruz) – This is a silver cross hanging from a ribbon.
  • Silver Cross (Cruz de Plata) – This is a simpler silver cross hanging from a ribbon.
Insignia
Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
Star of the Collar Grade of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
Grand Cross and Star of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain).svg
Star of the Commander by Number Grade of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
ESP Order of Civil Merit - Collar.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit - Collar.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit GC.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg
Collar Collar Grade Star Grand Cross Star Commander by Number Star
Insignia of the Commander Grade of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
Officer's Cross of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
Cross of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
Silver Cross of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit.svg
ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg ESP Order of Civil Merit Minor Grades.svg
Commander Officer's Cross Cross Silver Cross

Special Rights and Honors

Coat of Arms of Amancio Ortega
The coat of arms of Amancio Ortega, who started Zara. It shows the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.

When someone receives an award from the Order of Civil Merit, they gain special rights and honors. For example, all awards above the Silver Cross make a person a "Knight" (for men) or "Dame" (for women). So, someone with an Officer's Cross is called a Knight Officer or Dame Officer.

One special honor is a unique way to be addressed:

  • Knights or Dames of the Collar or Grand Cross are called "Most Excellent Lord" or "Most Excellent Lady." This is the same way a Duke or Duchess is addressed.
  • Knights or Dames Commander by Number are called "Most Illustrious Lord" or "Most Illustrious Lady." This is like how a Marquess or Count is addressed.
  • All other Knights are called "Lord," and all other Dames are called "Lady."
  • Spanish citizens who are members also get the special title "Don" (for men) or "Doña" (for women) before their name. This is a formal honor, like "Sir" or "Dame" in some other countries.

Members are also expected to wear the Order's badges with formal clothes. They can wear a smaller version, like a rosette or ribbon, with their everyday clothes. Each member also gets an official certificate from the King.

Another honor is the right to add the Order's symbol to their coat of arms. This is a special design that represents their family or achievements. Finally, members often use the letters "OMC" after their name to show they belong to the Order.

Grand Masters of the Order

The Grand Master is the highest leader of the Order. Here are the people who have held this important role:

Famous People Who Received the Award

Further information (in español): List of Members of the Order of Civil Merit [es]

The Collar and Grand Cross are the highest awards. They have been given to kings, queens, country leaders, and other important people.

Country Leaders

Coat of Arms of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Spanish Order of the Civil Merit)
The coat of arms of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, former President of the United Arab Emirates. It shows the Collar of the Order of Civil Merit.

Foreign Royal Family Members

Coat of Arms of Joachim of Denmark (Spanish Order of Civil Merit)
The coat of arms of Prince Joachim of Denmark. It shows the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.

Other Notable People

Coat of Arms of Ignacio Echeverría
The coat of arms of Ignacio Echeverría. It shows his Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit, the Silver Medal of the Order of Police Merit, and the George Medal.

What Happens When a Member Passes Away

If someone who received the Collar award passes away, their family must return the award's badges to the Order's office. If the family lives outside Spain, they can return it through Spanish embassies or consulates. The Order's office will give them a document saying the award was returned. For all other award levels, the family does not have to return the badges. However, they should still tell the Order's office about the death for their records.

Losing the Award

If someone who has received any level of the Order of Civil Merit is found guilty of a serious wrongdoing by a court, they might lose their award. They could also lose the special honors that come with it. The Order's office can start a process to look into this. The person will have a chance to explain their side. The Minister of Foreign Affairs decides if someone loses the lower awards. For the Collar and Grand Cross, the Council of Ministers makes the decision.

Images for kids

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross set

    Grand Cross set with bestowal document

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross Star

    Breast Star of the Grand Cross grade

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross Badge

    Grand Cross badge of the Order

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Grand Cross with awarding document

    Grand Cross set of insignia

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Commander

    Commander grade of the Order

  • Spain - Order of Civil Merit Commander grade set

    Set of the Commander grade

  • Star of the Royal Order of Civil Merit (1926)

    Original design of the Star of the Royal Order of Civil Merit (1926)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Orden del Mérito Civil (España) para niños

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