Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild |
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Arms of the Order
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| Awarded by Spain | |
| Type | Order of merit |
| Established | November 28, 1814 |
| Motto | PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR (Award to Military Constancy) |
| Eligibility | Military personnel and Guardia Civil |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | Monarch of Spain |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Mention in Dispatches (Without Insignia) Distinguished Service Award (Without Insignia) Cross of Military Merit (Army) Cross of Naval Merit (Navy) Cross of Aeronautical Merit (Air Force) |
| Next (lower) | Long Military Service Cross |
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild (in Spanish: Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo) is a special honor for members of the Spanish military. It was created by King Ferdinand VII of Spain on November 28, 1814.
This award is given to members of the Spanish Army, Spanish Navy, Spanish Air Force, and the Guardia Civil (a type of national police force in Spain). It recognizes their long years of service and their excellent behavior. The King or Queen of Spain is the head of the order.
Contents
History of the Order
Why Was It Created?
King Ferdinand VII created the Order of Saint Hermenegild right after the Spanish War of Independence ended in 1814. The King wanted a special way to reward soldiers who had shown amazing bravery and dedication.
The goal was to honor those who went above and beyond their normal duties. These soldiers served as inspiring examples of courage for all of Spain's armies.
Who Was Saint Hermenegild?
To make the order very important, the King named it after Saint Hermenegild. He was a Visigoth prince and later king in Spain during the sixth century. He is remembered for defending his Christian beliefs. Today, Saint Hermenegild is considered a patron saint of the Spanish Armed Forces.
The rules for the order were first published in 1815. They have been updated several times since then, most recently in the year 2000.
What the Medals Look Like
The medals and decorations for the Order of Saint Hermenegild are called insignia. They have a special design to show what the award represents.
The main badge is a gold cross with white enamel. It has a royal crown on top. In the center, there is a small picture of Saint Hermenegild on a horse. This is surrounded by a blue circle with the words "PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR," which means "Award for Military Constancy."
There are different levels, or ranks, of the order. Each rank has a slightly different insignia to show its importance.
 Grand Cross (Gran Cruz) |
 Commander with Star (Placa) |
 Commander (Encomienda) |
 Cross (Cruz) |
Ribbon Bars
 Grand Cross |
 Commander with Star |
 Commander |
 Cross |
See also
In Spanish: Orden de San Hermenegildo para niños
