Order of Michael the Brave

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 the First World War, and was again awarded in the Second World War. The Order, which may be bestowed either on an individual or on a whole unit, was named in honor of Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul), the late 16th-century Prince of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia.

Order of Michael the Brave
Ordinul Mihai Viteazul
TypeMilitary Award
Presented byThe King of Romania
(1916 1947)
The President of Romania
(since 2000)
EligibilityMilitary personnel on active service
StatusAwarded only in time of war
Established1916, re-instituted 2000
First awarded1916
Last awarded1944 and disbanded in 1947
Ribbon of the Order of Michael the Brave
Precedence
Next (higher)None (Highest)
Next (lower)Order of the Star of Romania

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)
A 1941 war flag of the Knights of the Military Order "Mihai Viteazu" (Romania)

Recipients

Obverse of the modern (2000) third class order

During the Second World War, at a time when Romania was allied with Germany, the Order was awarded to several members of the military forces of other Axis Powers, many in the Wehrmacht:

See also

References

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