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 | 28 November 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 (Spanish: Real y Militar Orden de San Hermenegildo) is a special military award in Spain. It was created by King Ferdinand VII on November 28, 1814.
This award is given to military members who show great dedication and excellent behavior. It was first created after the Spanish War of Independence ended in 1814.
King Ferdinand VII wanted to create a very important award. He chose Saint Hermenegild as the patron saint for the Order. Saint Hermenegild was a Visigoth king from the 6th century. He is also the patron saint of the Spanish Armed Forces.
The rules for the Order were first set in 1815. They have been updated several times since then, most recently in 2000.
Contents
What the Order Is For
The Order is meant to honor and reward military leaders and officers. This includes those from the Spanish Army, Spanish Navy, Spanish Air Force, and the Civil Guard.
The Civil Guard is a special police force in Spain. They handle many duties like crime investigation, border control, and public safety. The Order recognizes their constant and perfect behavior while serving Spain.
The King or Queen of Spain is the main leader of the Order. The Order has three main groups that help run it: the Chapter, the Permanent Assembly, and the Chancellery.
The Awards and What They Look Like
The awards of the Order are called insignia. They are special badges and stars that people wear.
The Cross Badge
The main badge is a gold cross with white enamel. It has a royal crown on top. In the middle of the cross, there is a picture of Saint Hermenegild on a horse. Around the picture, a blue ring says "PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR." This means "reward for military constancy." On the back of the badge, you can see the royal symbol of King Ferdinand VII.
The Star Badge
The star badge looks like a gold Maltese cross. It has silver rays between its arms. In the center, it also has a picture of Saint Hermenegild. This picture is surrounded by a white ring with the Order's motto. There is also a green wreath around it. The star for the highest award, the Grand Cross, has a royal crown above its central picture.
Ribbon Bars
People also wear smaller ribbon bars on their uniforms. These ribbons show which level of the Order they have received.
 Grand Cross |
 Commander with Star |
 Commander |
 Cross |
See also
In Spanish: Orden de San Hermenegildo para niños
