Grand Cross

For the astrological term, see astrological aspect.
Josef Graf Radetzky wearing the Grand Cross's star and the sash of the Military Order of Maria Theresa

Grand Cross is the highest class in many chivalric orders. Sometimes a holder of the highest class or grade are referred to as "Commander Grand Cross"[A 1], "Knight Grand Cross" or just "Grand Cross"; in other cases the actual insignia is called the "grand cross".

Alternatively, in some other orders, the highest class may be called the "Grand Cordon", "Grand Collar", etc. In those cases, the rank of Grand Cross may come after another rank (e.g. the Portuguese Order of Saint James of the Sword).

In the United Kingdom, the rank entails admission to knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' (male) or 'Dame' (female) before his or her name. This stands in contrast to the typical practice in other countries where knighthood is conferred at the initial, lowest rank of the order. The grand crosses of the various British orders are usually styled "Knight Grand Cross" or "Dame Grand Cross".

Denomination "Grand Cordons"

The orders in which the highest rank (or second after "Collar") is named "Grand Cordons" include the following orders:

or was the highest :

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ The designation (Swedish: Kommendör med stora korset) is used in the Swedish Orders of the Sword, Polar Star and Vasa and in the Finnish Orders of the White Rose and Lion.[1]

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑

See also


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