Order of the White Eagle (Poland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Order of the White Eagle Order Orła Białego
Awarded by the President of Poland (previously King of Poland)
Type	Single grade order
Established	1 November 1705
Country	Poland
Motto	PRO FIDE, LEGE ET REGE (For Faith, Law and King) ZA OJCZYZNĘ I NARÓD (For Fatherland and Nation)
Eligibility	All
Status	Currently awarded
Grand Master	President of Poland Andrzej Duda
Statistics
Total inductees	355 (since 1921)
Precedence
Next (higher)	none - highest award
Next (lower)	Order Virtuti Militari
The ribbon bar of the Order

The Order of the White Eagle (Polish: Order Orła Białego) is the highest award given in Poland. It is one of the oldest honors still used in the world today. This special award was officially started on November 1, 1705, by Augustus II the Strong. He was the King of Poland and also a ruler in Germany.

King Augustus II first gave this award to eight of his closest helpers and friends. Since then, it has been given to important Poles who have done great things for their country. It is also given to top leaders from other countries. The Order of the White Eagle is worn with a purple ribbon that goes over the left shoulder to the right side. A special star, which used to be sewn on, is worn on the left side of the chest.

History of the White Eagle Order

Augustus the Strong wearing the original Order of the White Eagle. This portrait is from around 1718.

The first badge of the Order of the White Eagle was a red, oval-shaped gold medal. It had a picture of the Polish white eagle on the front. On the back, it showed the special symbol of King Augustus II the Strong. This badge was worn on a light blue ribbon.

In 1709, the white eagle badge was changed to a different shape, called a Maltese cross. By 1713, people wore it around their neck with a blue sash and a star. King Augustus II wanted to limit the number of people who received the award to 72. However, he only gave it out 40 times before he died in 1733. His son, Augustus III, gave the award more than 300 times!

King Augustus II might have been inspired to create this Order by other famous awards. For example, Peter the Great had recently started the Russian Order of Saint Andrew. The French Order of the Holy Spirit also had a light blue ribbon and a star with a bird, which looked similar.

Changes to the Order's Rules

When the Order was first created, many Polish nobles did not like it. They believed that everyone in the nobility should be equal. Having a special award like this seemed to go against that idea.

At first, King Augustus II made August 2 the special day for the Order. But his son, Augustus III, later changed the special day to August 3.

The Coat of Arms of Stanisław II Augustus with the collar of the Order of the White Eagle.

In 1795, Poland was divided by other countries, and the Order was stopped. But it was brought back in 1807 by Napoleon Bonaparte. At that time, it became the highest award in the Duchy of Warsaw, a state created by Napoleon. From 1815 to 1831, it was given out in the Congress Kingdom of Poland.

The Order Under Russian Rule

After Russian troops stopped a Polish uprising in 1830-31, the Order of the White Eagle was taken over by Nicholas I. On November 17, 1831, it became part of the Russian Empire's awards. The look of this new Imperial Russian Order of the White Eagle was changed to be more like other Russian awards. It stayed this way until the Russian Revolution of 1917, when the Russian Empire ended.

The Order Returns to Poland

The Order of the White Eagle officially became Poland's highest award again on February 4, 1921. Its design was changed once more. Between 1921 and 1939, the Order was given to 24 Polish citizens and 87 foreigners. These foreigners included 33 kings and heads of state, 10 prime ministers, and 15 other government ministers.

After 1948, when the Polish People's Republic was formed, the Order of the White Eagle was no longer given out. However, it was never officially stopped. The Polish Government in Exile, which was a Polish government operating outside of Poland, continued to use it.

After Communism ended in Poland, the Order was brought back on October 26, 1992. The Polish Government-in-Exile gave the official items and records of the Order to Lech Wałęsa, who was the President of Poland at the time. The first person to receive the White Eagle after it was brought back was Pope John Paul II. Today, the President of Poland is the main leader of the Order.

What the Order Looks Like

The Royal Star of the Order of the White Eagle, from the time of Augustus II the Strong.

The Order of the White Eagle has changed its look over the years. Here's what it looked like at different times:

The 1713 Design

The badge from 1713 was a red Maltese cross with white edges. It had diamonds on each of its eight points and diamond rays between the points. In the middle of the cross was a white eagle with its wings spread, facing left. It had a diamond crown on its head. This badge hung from a light-blue ribbon.

The star of the Order was an eight-pointed gold star with straight rays. It had a red-edged white cross in the center with the motto "Pro Fide, Lege et Rege" (For Faith, Law and the King) written on it.

The Design After 1921

The Star of the modern Order.

The modern badge of the Order is a gold Maltese cross with red enamel and white edges. It has golden rays between its arms. A white enamel crowned eagle with spread wings, facing left, is placed on the cross. This is the coat-of-arms of Poland. It is worn on a plain light blue sash. This design is very similar to the 1713 badge, but it does not have diamonds.

The star or plaque of the Order is an eight-pointed silver star with straight rays. On top of it is a gold Maltese cross, also red with white edges and golden rays. The motto of the Order, "Za Ojczyznę i Naród" ("For Fatherland and Nation"), is written on the arms of the cross. The center has the letters "RP" (Rzeczpospolita Polska), which stands for the Republic of Poland.

Who Has Received the Order?

The Order of the White Eagle is given to people who have done important things for Poland. Here are some of the famous people who have received this high honor:

Polish Recipients

Foreign Recipients

More Information

In Spanish: Orden del Águila Blanca (Polonia) para niños

• Polish military eagle
• 2019 Dresden heist
• Orders, decorations, and medals of Poland
• Order of the Pahonia