Order of Michael the Brave

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Ordinul "Mihai Viteazul"
The Order "Michael the Brave", as it looked like during World War II, during the reign of Mihai I. Notice the M in the Center of the cross, the King's insignia
Awarded by The President of Romania
Type	Military Award
Eligibility	Military in combat
Awarded for
Status	Awarded in time of war (only)
Statistics
Established	1916
Precedence
Next (lower)	Ordinul naţional "Steaua României"

The Order of Michael the Brave (Romanian: Ordinul Mihai Viteazul) is Romania's highest military decoration, instituted by King Ferdinand I during the early stages of the Romanian Campaign of World War I, and was again awarded in World War II. The Order, which may be bestowed as an individual medal or as a unit award, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), a late 16th century Prince of Wallachia.

[edit] Data

Requirements: Awarded to officers only for exceptional deeds on the battlefield. It is the highest ranking Romanian military order.

Classes: 3rd, 2nd and 1st

Date Instituted: September 26, 1916

Number awarded: 2184

During WW1:

1st class: 16

2nd class: 12

3rd class: 336 (of which 43 awarded to military units)

During WW2:

1st class: 15

2nd class: 76 (of which 13 awarded to military units)

3rd class: 1628 (of which 118 awarded to military units)

[edit] Recipients

• Ion Antonescu
• Alexandru Averescu
• Radu Bâldescu
• Nicolae Dabija
• Corneliu Dragalina
• Grigore Gafencu
• Eremia Grigorescu
• Michael I of Romania (as Commander-in-Chief of the Romanian Army in 1941)
• Radu Korne
• Mihail Lascăr
• Leonard Mociulschi
• Ioan Palaghiţă
• Constantin Prezan
• Corneliu Teodorini

During World War II, at a time when Romania was allied with Nazi Germany (see Romania during World War II), the Order was awarded to several members of the Axis military forces:

• Fedor von Bock
• Walther von Brauchitsch
• Karl Dönitz
• Hermann Göring
• Hermann Hoth
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
• Erich von Manstein
• Friedrich Paulus
• Wolfram von Richthofen
• Gerd von Rundstedt
• Walter Warlimont

[edit] See also

• List of military decorations#Romania
• National Decorations System (Romania)

[edit] External links

• (English) Order of Michael the Brave at worldwar2.ro
• (Romanian) History of the Order at the Romanian Presidency site
• (English) Order of Michael the Brave and its recipients at ww2awards.com

v • d • e Romanian National Decorations System National decorations National Orders Order of the Star of Romania • National Order of the Faithfull Service • National Order For Merit National Crosses National Cross Faithful Service National Medals National Medal Faithful Service • National Medal For Merit Commemorative decorations Order Victory of the Romanian Revolution of December 1989 • Commemorative Cross of the Second World War, 1941-1945 • Commemorative Cross of the Anti-communist Resistance • Commemorative Medal "150 Years from the birth of Mihai Eminescu" Military decorations in peacetime Military Orders The Order The Military Virtue • The Order The Aeronautical Virtue • The Order The Matitime Virtue • The Order Manhood and Faith Military Medals The Medal The Military Virtue • The Medal The Aeronautical Virtue • The Medal The Matitime Virtue • The Medal Manhood and Faith Civil decorations on domains of activity Civil Orders The Order "The Agricultural Merit" • The Order "The Cultural Merit" (categories A to I)1 • The Order "The Diplomatic Merit" • The Order "The Industrial and Commercial Merit" • The Order "Merit for the Education" • The Order "The Medical Merit" • The Order "The Sportive Merit" Civil Medals The Medal "The Agricultural Merit" • The Medal "The Cultural Merit" (categories A to I)1 • The Medal "The Diplomatic Merit" • The Medal "The industrial and Commercial Merit" • The Medal "Merit for the Education" • The Medal "The Medical Merit" • The Medal "The Sportive Merit" Military decorations in wartime Order of Michael the Brave • Order of the Star of Romania2 • National Order of the Faithfull Service2 • National Order For Merit2 • The Order The Military Virtue2 • The Order The Aeronautical Virtue2 • The Order The Matitime Virtue2 • The Order Manhood and Faith2 • The Order "The Medical Merit"2 • The Medal The Military Virtue2 • The Medal The Aeronautical Virtue2 • The Medal The Matitime Virtue2 • The Medal Manhood and Faith2 • The Medal "The Medical Merit"2 Honorific signs The Honorific Sign "The Vulture of Romania" • The Honorific Sign "The Reward for the Work in the Public Service" • The Honorific Sign "In the Service of the Country" for officers and special statute public functionaries • The Honorific Sign "In the Service of the Country" for warrant officers and special statute public functionaries 1 the categories are equal in ranking, an differentiate only the cultural field (A - literature; B - music; C - fine arts; D - performing arts; E - national cultural heritage; F - promotion of culture; H - cults; G - scientific research; I - architecture); 2with two crossed swords (tip up) added (the war insignia)