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{{Short description|Chivalric order in Luxembourg and Netherlands}}
{{About|the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau||Order of the Lion (disambiguation){{!}}Order of the Lion}}
{{About|the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau||Order of the Lion (disambiguation){{!}}Order of the Lion}}


{{Infobox order
{{Infobox order
|title = Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau<br>''Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau''<br>''Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau''
|title = Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau<br>{{small|''Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau''}}<br>{{small|''Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau''}}
|image = [[Image:De Ordevan de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau.jpg|250px|]]
|image = [[Image:De Ordevan de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau.jpg|250px|]]
|caption = Plaque, badge and ribbon of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
|caption = Plaque, badge and ribbon of the order
|awarded_by = [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]<br> [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]]
|awarded_by = [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]<br> [[Monarchy of the Netherlands|King of the Netherlands]]
|type =Luxembourg: [[Order (decoration)|National Order]]<br>Netherlands: [[House Order]]
|type = Luxembourg: [[Order (decoration)|National Order]]<br>Netherlands: [[House Order]]
|ribbon = Orange moiré edged in blue<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />
|motto = ''JE MAINTIENDRAI''
|motto = ''Je maintiendrai'' ("I will maintain")
|day =
|day =
|eligibility =
|eligibility =
|for =<u>Luxembourg</u>: for foreign sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses, and heads of state that displayed meritous service to Luxembourg and the Grand Duke<br><u>Netherlands</u>: for people who have rendered special service to the Royal House
|for =<u>Luxembourg</u>: sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses and heads of state for meritorious service to the Grand Duke and country<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /><br><u>Netherlands</u>: for people who have rendered special service to the Royal House
|status = Currently constituted
|status = Currently constituted
|head_title = Grand Master
|head_title = Grand Masters
|head = [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]]<br> [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg]]
|head = [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg]]<br>[[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]]
|chancellor = Henri Ahlborn
|head2_title=Chancellor | head2= Henri Ahlborn
|commander =
|commander =
|grades = Knight
|grades = Knight
|former_grades = Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Officer, Knight, Commander
|former_grades = Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer
|date = 31 March 1858
|established = 31 March 1858
|first_induction =
|first_induction =
|last_induction = Queen Letizia of Spain (2024)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaken |first1=Ministerie van Algemene |title=Woensdag 17 april - Staatsbezoeken - Het Koninklijk Huis |url=https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/staatsbezoeken/inkomende-staatsbezoeken/staatsbezoek-koning-en-koningin-van-spanje/woensdag-17-april-2024 |website=www.koninklijkhuis.nl |language=nl-NL |date=4 April 2024}}</ref>
|last_induction =
|total =
|total =
|recipients =
|recipients =
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|higher = Luxembourg: ''None (highest)''<br>Netherlands: [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]
|higher = Luxembourg: ''None (highest)''<br>Netherlands: [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]
|lower = Luxembourg: [[Order of Adolphe of Nassau]]<br>Netherlands: [[Order of the House of Orange]]
|lower = Luxembourg: [[Order of Adolphe of Nassau]]<br>Netherlands: [[Order of the House of Orange]]
|image2 = [[File:Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau Ribbon.gif|85px]]
|image2 = [[File:Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau ribbon.svg|85px]]
|caption2 = Ribbon bar of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
|caption2 = Ribbon bar of the order
}}
}}
The '''Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau''' ({{lang-fr|Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau}}, {{lang-nl|(Huis)orde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau}}) is a [[chivalric order]] shared by the two branches (the Ottonian and Walram lines) of the [[House of Nassau]].
The '''Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau''' ({{lang-fr|Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau}}, {{lang-nl|Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau}}) is a [[chivalric order]] shared by the two branches of the [[House of Nassau]] (the Ottonian and Walramian lines).<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />


In the capacity of the ''Walram line'' the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau is the highest [[Luxembourg]]ian [[Order (decoration)|national order]], bestowed by the [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]].<ref name="Honorary distinctions">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/1828180/Distinctions_honorifiques-EN.pdf |title=Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |publisher=Service Information et Presse |access-date=2007-09-21}}</ref> It may be awarded on foreign sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses, and [[Head of state|heads of state]] for meritous service to Luxembourg and the Grand Duke.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />
In the context of the elder ''Walramian line'', this order is the highest [[Luxembourg]]ian [[Order (decoration)|national order]] and is bestowed by the [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]].<ref name="Honorary distinctions">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/1828180/Distinctions_honorifiques-EN.pdf |title=Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |publisher=Service Information et Presse |access-date=2007-09-21 }}{{dead link|date=August 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It may be awarded to sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses and heads of state for meritorious service to Luxembourg and the Grand Duke.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />


In the capacity of the ''Ottonian line'' the order is a house order or [[dynastic Orders of Knighthood|dynastic order]] of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Royal [[House of Orange-Nassau]], awarded as a personal gift by the [[King of the Netherlands]]. In this case the honour is conferred on a person who have rendered special service to the Royal House.<ref name="koninklijkhuis">[http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/encyclopedie/monarchie/onderscheidingen/huisorden/#il-de-huisorde-van-de-gouden-leeuw-van-nassau Orders for services to the Royal House] - description at the website of the Dutch Royal House (''[[Dutch language]]'')</ref>
In the context of the younger ''Ottonian line'', this order is a house order ([[dynastic order]]) of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Royal [[House of Orange-Nassau]] and is awarded as a personal gift by the [[King of the Netherlands]]. In this case, the honour is conferred on a person who has rendered special service to the Royal House.<ref name="koninklijkhuis">[http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/encyclopedie/monarchie/onderscheidingen/huisorden/#il-de-huisorde-van-de-gouden-leeuw-van-nassau Orders for services to the Royal House] - description at the website of the Dutch Royal House (''[[Dutch language]]'')</ref>


==History==
==History==
===1858&ndash;1892===
===1858&ndash;1892===


The order was founded by [[Grand Ducal decree]] on 31 March 1858 by [[King-Grand Duke]] [[William III of the Netherlands|William III]]. The sovereignty of the order was to be shared between both branches of the [[House of Nassau]], under agreement between William, [[King of the Netherlands]] and [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]], and [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolphe]], [[Duke of Nassau]] and future Grand Duke of Luxembourg.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> The order originally included only one grade, but this was increased to four by William III in 1873:
The order was founded with royal grand-ducal decree on 31 March 1858 by [[King-Grand Duke]] [[William III of the Netherlands|William III]]. The sovereignty of the order was to be shared between both branches of the [[House of Nassau]], by virtue of an agreement between William III, [[King of the Netherlands]] and [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]], and [[Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Adolphe]], [[Duke of Nassau]] and future Grand Duke of Luxembourg.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> The order originally included only one grade (i.e. ''Knight''), but was increased to four by William III in 1873:
# Grand Cross
# ''Grand Cross''
# Grand Officer
# ''Grand Officer''
# Officer
# ''Officer''
# Knight
# ''Knight''
The further (lower) rank of Commander ( in between 2 & 3) was introduced in 1882.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />
The further rank of ''Commander'' (in between Grand Officer and Officer) was introduced in 1882.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />

None of the changes made by William III were confirmed by Adolphe, with whom the order was supposed to be shared, and Adolphe refused to award any of the new grades.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> When William III died without a male heir, the grand duchy of Luxembourg passed to Adolphe, as dictated by the [[Nassau Family Pact]].


===1892&ndash;present===
===1892&ndash;present===
Two years later, in 1892, Adolphe abolished the grades that William III had created unilaterally and, to this day, the order has maintained just one grade, i.e. that of ''Knight''.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> In 1905, Adolphe agreed with [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands]] to once again share sovereignty of the order between both ruling branches of the House of Nassau.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />


At the present time, [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] and [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg]] are joint Grand Masters of the Order of the Gold Lion of Nassau.
None of the changes made by William III were confirmed by Adolphe, with whom the order was supposed to be shared, and Adolphe refused to award any of the new grades.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> When William died without a male heir, the grand duchy of Luxembourg passed to Adolphe, as dictated by the [[Nassau Family Pact]]. Two years later, he abolished the grades that William had created unilaterally, and, to this day, the order has maintained just one grade, i.e. that of Knight.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> In 1905, Adolphe agreed with [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]] of the Netherlands to once again share sovereignty of the order between both ruling branches of the House of Nassau.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />


The order is conferred only on rare occasions in the Netherlands or Luxembourg. For example, the former Dutch Foreign Secretaries [[Max van der Stoel]] and [[Pieter Kooijmans]] were made knights of this order by the Queen of the Netherlands. In 1999, the two Grand Masters made the South African President [[Nelson Mandela]] a knight during his state visit to the Netherlands (see [[List of Nelson Mandela awards and honours#1999|Nelson Mandela awards]]).
At the present King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] as well [[Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg]] are joint Grand Masters of the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau.

The order is conferred only on rare occasions in the Netherlands or Luxembourg. For example, the former Dutch Foreign Secretaries [[Max van der Stoel]] and [[Pieter Kooijmans]] have been made a knight of this order by the Queen of the Netherlands. The two Grand Masters made the South African President [[Nelson Mandela]] a knight during his state visit in 1999 to the Netherlands (see [[List of Nelson Mandela awards and honours#1999|Nelson Mandela awards]]).


==Insignia==
==Insignia==
The knight wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, and the star of the order on the left chest.
A knight wears the order's badge on a sash on the right shoulder, and the plaque (breast star) of the order on the left chest.


*The ''badge'' of the order is a white-enamelled golden [[Maltese Cross]], with the golden monogram "N" between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is in blue enamel, bearing the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. The reverse central disc is also blue enamelled, with the motto "Je maintiendrai" (I will maintain) in gold.
*The ''badge'' of the order is a white-enamelled golden [[Maltese Cross]], with the golden monogram "N" between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is in blue enamel, bearing the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. The reverse central disc is also blue enamelled, with the motto ''Je maintiendrai'' ("I will maintain") in gold.
*The ''plaque'' is an 8-pointed star with straight silver rays; the same obverse of the badge of the order appears at its centre, surrounded by the motto "Je maintiendrai (I will maintain) in gold letters on white enamel.
*The ''plaque'' is an 8-pointed star with straight silver rays; the same obverse of the badge of the order appears at its centre, surrounded by the motto ''Je maintiendrai'' in gold letters on white enamel.
*The ''ribbon'' of the sash of the order is yellow-orange [[Moire (fabric)|moiré]] with a small blue stripe at each edge.
*The ''ribbon'' of the sash of the order is yellow-orange [[Moire (fabric)|moiré]] with a small blue stripe at each edge.


Line 63: Line 66:


== Award criteria ==
== Award criteria ==
[[Image:GrandDuc epouse heritier.jpg|thumb|right|280px|[[Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] and [[Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg|The Grand Duke]] both wearing the insignia of the order. They are accompanied by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg]]
[[Image:GrandDuc epouse heritier.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The [[Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] and [[Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg|The Grand Duke]] both wearing the insignia of the order. They are accompanied by [[Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg]].]]
See also : [[:Category:Knights of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]]


"Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg":<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />
"Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg":<ref name="Honorary distinctions" />
Line 72: Line 74:
=== Princes and Princesses of the House of Nassau ===
=== Princes and Princesses of the House of Nassau ===


Princes being a son or brother of the heads of the two lines of the House of Nassau are born knights of the order.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> In 1984, Queen Beatrix and Grand Duke Jean made an agreement that princesses (daughters of the heads of the House of Nassau) receive the order at majority age (18).<ref name="koninklijkhuis" /> [[Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg]] received hers on her 18th birthday on 16 February 2009. And now that King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] is the head of the Dutch branch, his daughters [[Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange]], [[Princess Alexia of the Netherlands]] and [[Princess Ariane of the Netherlands]] are also entitled to receive it on their 18th birthday.
Princes who are sons or brothers of the heads of the two lines of the House of Nassau are born knights of the order.<ref name="Honorary distinctions" /> In 1984, Queen Beatrix and Grand Duke Jean made an agreement that princesses (daughters of the heads of the two lines of the House of Nassau) may be admitted when they reach the age of majority (18).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/onderscheidingen/inhoud/huisorden |title=Huisorden |website=www.koninklijkhuis.nl |date=September 2015 |language=nl-NL |access-date=12 June 2017 |quote=De Prinsen, zoons en broers van de Hoofden der beide linies zijn vanaf hun geboorte al ridder in deze Huisorde. In 1984 sloot Koningin Beatrix een overeenkomst met de Groothertog van Luxemburg, waarin werd vastgelegd dat prinsessen, dochters van de hoofden van één van beide takken, ook de graad van Ridder krijgen als zij meerderjarig worden. }}</ref>

On 16 February 2009, [[Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg]] received the order on her 18th birthday. Now that King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] is the head of the Dutch branch, his daughter [[Princess Ariane of the Netherlands]] is entitled to receive the order on her 18th birthday. His eldest daughter, [[Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange]] received the order upon her 18th birthday on 7 December 2021. Followed by his middle daughter [[Princess Alexia of the Netherlands]] on her 18th birthday on 26 June 2023.

== Recipients ==
;Grand Masters
* [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]] (Current)
* [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]] (Current)
* [[William III of the Netherlands]] (Founder)

;Grand Crosses
{{Div col|colwidth=15em|rules=|gap=4em}}
* [[Charles Augustus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1844–1894)]]
* [[Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
* [[Walthère Frère-Orban]]
{{Div col end}}

;Knights
{{Div col|colwidth=15em|rules=|gap=4em}}
* [[Akihito]]
* [[Albert I of Belgium]]
* [[Albert II of Belgium]]
* [[Albert, King of Saxony|Albert of Saxony]]
* [[Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen]]
* [[Alexander II of Russia]]
* [[Alexander of Battenberg]]
* [[Princess Alexia of the Netherlands]]
* [[Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine]]
* [[Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg]]
* [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]]
* [[Prince Arnulf of Bavaria]]
* [[Prince August, Duke of Dalarna]]
* [[Prince August of Württemberg]]
* [[Baudouin of Belgium]]
* [[Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld]]
* [[Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1792–1862)]]
* [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
* [[Birendra of Nepal]]
* [[Carl XVI Gustaf]]
* [[Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland]]
* [[Carol I of Romania]]
* [[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]]
* [[Charles XV]]
* [[Prince Charles, Count of Flanders]]
* [[Prince Charles of Luxembourg (born 2020)]]
* [[Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg]]
* [[Christian IX of Denmark]]
* [[Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands]]
* [[Constantine II of Greece]]
* [[Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld]]
* [[Edward VII]]
* [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium]]
* [[List of titles and honours of Elizabeth II|Elizabeth II of Great Britain]]
* [[Prince Ernest Augustus, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale]]
* [[Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg]]
* [[Prince Eugen, Duke of Närke]]
* [[Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma]]
* [[Prince Félix of Luxembourg]]
* [[Heinz Fischer]]
* [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]]
* [[Frederick VIII of Denmark]]
* [[Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt]]
* [[Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden]]
* [[Frederick III, German Emperor]]
* [[Prince Frederick of Württemberg]]
* [[Frederick William IV of Prussia]]
* [[Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]]
* [[Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen]]
* [[Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau]]
* [[Prince George, Duke of Cambridge]]
* [[George, King of Saxony]]
* [[George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont]]
* [[Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]
* [[Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg]]
* [[Abdullah Gül]]
* [[Haile Selassie]]
* [[Tarja Halonen]]
* [[Harald V of Norway]]
* [[Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark]]
* [[Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
* [[Prince Hermann of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1825–1901)]]
* [[Prince Jean of Luxembourg]]
* [[Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]
* [[Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]]
* [[John, King of Saxony|John of Saxony]]
* [[Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria]]
* [[Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium]]
* [[Juliana of the Netherlands]]
* [[Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria]]
* [[Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria]]
* [[Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst]]
* [[Pieter Kooijmans]]
* [[Leopold III of Belgium]]
* [[Leopold IV, Duke of Anhalt]]
* [[Leopold III, Prince of Lippe]]
* [[Prince Leopold of Bavaria]]
* [[Walter von Loë]]
* [[Émile Loubet]]
* [[Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse]]
* [[Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse]]
* [[Prince Louis of Luxembourg]]
* [[Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria]]
* [[Margrethe II of Denmark]]
* [[Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg]]
* [[Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal]]
* [[Queen Máxima of the Netherlands]]
* [[Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia]]
* [[Empress Michiko]]
* [[Napoleon III]]
* [[Prince Nikolaus Wilhelm of Nassau]]
* [[Olav V of Norway]]
* [[Oscar I of Sweden]]
* [[Oscar II]]
* [[Otto von Habsburg]]
* [[Queen Paola of Belgium]]
* [[Duke Peter of Oldenburg]]
* [[List of titles and honours of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]
* [[Philippe of Belgium]]
* [[Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders]]
* [[Prince Frederick William of Hesse-Kassel]]
* [[Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria]]
* [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco]]
* [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]
* [[Jan Jacob Rochussen]]
* [[Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria]]
* [[Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria]]
* [[Prince William of Schaumburg-Lippe]]
* [[Walter Scheel]]
* [[Rudolf Schuster]]
* [[Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg]]
* [[Queen Letizia of Spain]]
* [[Queen Silvia of Sweden]]
* [[List of titles and honours of Queen Sofía of Spain|Queen Sofía of Spain]]
* [[Queen Sonja of Norway]]
* [[Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange]]
* [[Konstantinos Stephanopoulos]]
* [[Archduke Stephen of Austria (Palatine of Hungary)]]
* [[Max van der Stoel]]
* [[Princess Tenagnework]]
* [[Josip Broz Tito]]
* [[Prince Valdemar of Denmark]]
* [[Karl von Wedel]]
* [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands]]
* [[William I, German Emperor]]
* [[William II of Württemberg]]
* [[William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg]]
* [[Prince William of Baden (1829–1897)]]
* [[William, Duke of Brunswick]]
* [[William, Prince of Wied]]
* [[Zog I of Albania]]
{{Div col end}}


==References==
==References==
Line 79: Line 231:
** Constitution, Art. 45. "The dispositions taken by the Grand-Duc must be counter-signed by a responsible member of the Government."
** Constitution, Art. 45. "The dispositions taken by the Grand-Duc must be counter-signed by a responsible member of the Government."
** Mémorial A n° 48 of 27.11.1857, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1857/0048/a048.pdf#page=2 Ordonnance royale grand-ducale du 25 novembre 1857 concernant les ordres civils et militaires] (General provision about orders in Luxembourg)
** Mémorial A n° 48 of 27.11.1857, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1857/0048/a048.pdf#page=2 Ordonnance royale grand-ducale du 25 novembre 1857 concernant les ordres civils et militaires] (General provision about orders in Luxembourg)
** Mémorial A n° 13 of 05.05.1858, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1858/0013/a013.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 31 mars 1858 concernant l'institution d'un Ordre commun aux deux branches de la Maison de Nassau, sous le nom de: «Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau»] (Foundation of the Order)
** Mémorial A n° 13 of 05.05.1858, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112939/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1858/0013/a013.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 31 mars 1858 concernant l'institution d'un Ordre commun aux deux branches de la Maison de Nassau, sous le nom de: «Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau»] (Foundation of the Order)
** Mémorial A n° 10 of 28.03.1873, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1873/0010/a010.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 13 mars 1873 concernant l'ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Creation of new classes in 1873)
** Mémorial A n° 10 of 28.03.1873, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222094627/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1873/0010/a010.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 13 mars 1873 concernant l'ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Creation of new classes in 1873)
** Mémorial A n° 24 du 07.04.1882, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1882/0024/a024.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 29 mars 1882 portant modification des statuts de l'Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Modification of statutes )
** Mémorial A n° 24 du 07.04.1882, [https://web.archive.org/web/20081207112509/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1882/0024/a024.pdf#page=1 Arrêté royal grand-ducal du 29 mars 1882 portant modification des statuts de l'Ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Modification of statutes )
** Mémorial A n° 10 of 05.03.1892, [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1892/0010/a010.pdf#page=2 Arrêté grand-ducal du 22 février 1892 modifiant les statuts de l'ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Statutes)
** Mémorial A n° 10 of 05.03.1892, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092642/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1892/0010/a010.pdf#page=2 Arrêté grand-ducal du 22 février 1892 modifiant les statuts de l'ordre du Lion d'or de la Maison de Nassau] (Statutes)
** Mémorial A n° 48 of 07.09.1905 [http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1905/0048/a048.pdf#page=1 Arrêté grand-ducal du 27 août 1905 concernant l'Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau]
** Mémorial A n° 48 of 07.09.1905 [https://web.archive.org/web/20140424160409/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1905/0048/a048.pdf#page=1 Arrêté grand-ducal du 27 août 1905 concernant l'Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau]


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Order of Orange-Nassau}}
* {{Official website|https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/decorations-and-honours/orders-in-the-monarch%E2%80%99s-gift|Orders in the monarch’s gift: The Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau – official website of the Royal House of the Netherlands}}
* {{Official website|https://sip.gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/publications/brochure-livre/minist-etat/sip/brochure/Distinctions_honorifique/Distinctions_honorifiques-EN.pdf|Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: The Order of the Gold Lion of Nassau – official website of the Information and Press Service (SIP) of the Luxembourg Government}}


{{Dutch honours}}
{{Dutch honours}}
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[[Category:Orders of chivalry of the Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1858]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1858]]
[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of the German Empire]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry of Luxembourg]]

Revision as of 08:11, 15 July 2024

This article is about the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. For other uses, see Order of the Lion.
Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau
Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau
Plaque, badge and ribbon of the order
Awarded by Grand Duke of Luxembourg
King of the Netherlands
TypeLuxembourg: National Order
Netherlands: House Order
Established31 March 1858
RibbonOrange moiré edged in blue[1]
MottoJe maintiendrai ("I will maintain")
Awarded forLuxembourg: sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses and heads of state for meritorious service to the Grand Duke and country[1]
Netherlands: for people who have rendered special service to the Royal House
StatusCurrently constituted
Grand MastersGrand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
ChancellorHenri Ahlborn
GradesKnight
Former gradesGrand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer
Statistics
Last inductionQueen Letizia of Spain (2024)[2]
Precedence
Next (higher)Luxembourg: None (highest)
Netherlands: Order of Orange-Nassau
Next (lower)Luxembourg: Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Netherlands: Order of the House of Orange

Ribbon bar of the order

The Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (French: Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau, Dutch: Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau) is a chivalric order shared by the two branches of the House of Nassau (the Ottonian and Walramian lines).[1]

In the context of the elder Walramian line, this order is the highest Luxembourgian national order and is bestowed by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.[1] It may be awarded to sovereigns, princes of sovereign houses and heads of state for meritorious service to Luxembourg and the Grand Duke.[1]

In the context of the younger Ottonian line, this order is a house order (dynastic order) of the Dutch Royal House of Orange-Nassau and is awarded as a personal gift by the King of the Netherlands. In this case, the honour is conferred on a person who has rendered special service to the Royal House.[3]

History

1858–1892

The order was founded with royal grand-ducal decree on 31 March 1858 by King-Grand Duke William III. The sovereignty of the order was to be shared between both branches of the House of Nassau, by virtue of an agreement between William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Adolphe, Duke of Nassau and future Grand Duke of Luxembourg.[1] The order originally included only one grade (i.e. Knight), but was increased to four by William III in 1873:

  1. Grand Cross
  2. Grand Officer
  3. Officer
  4. Knight

The further rank of Commander (in between Grand Officer and Officer) was introduced in 1882.[1]

None of the changes made by William III were confirmed by Adolphe, with whom the order was supposed to be shared, and Adolphe refused to award any of the new grades.[1] When William III died without a male heir, the grand duchy of Luxembourg passed to Adolphe, as dictated by the Nassau Family Pact.

1892–present

Two years later, in 1892, Adolphe abolished the grades that William III had created unilaterally and, to this day, the order has maintained just one grade, i.e. that of Knight.[1] In 1905, Adolphe agreed with Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to once again share sovereignty of the order between both ruling branches of the House of Nassau.[1]

At the present time, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg are joint Grand Masters of the Order of the Gold Lion of Nassau.

The order is conferred only on rare occasions in the Netherlands or Luxembourg. For example, the former Dutch Foreign Secretaries Max van der Stoel and Pieter Kooijmans were made knights of this order by the Queen of the Netherlands. In 1999, the two Grand Masters made the South African President Nelson Mandela a knight during his state visit to the Netherlands (see Nelson Mandela awards).

Insignia

A knight wears the order's badge on a sash on the right shoulder, and the plaque (breast star) of the order on the left chest.

  • The badge of the order is a white-enamelled golden Maltese Cross, with the golden monogram "N" between the arms of the cross. The obverse central disc is in blue enamel, bearing the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. The reverse central disc is also blue enamelled, with the motto Je maintiendrai ("I will maintain") in gold.
  • The plaque is an 8-pointed star with straight silver rays; the same obverse of the badge of the order appears at its centre, surrounded by the motto Je maintiendrai in gold letters on white enamel.
  • The ribbon of the sash of the order is yellow-orange moiré with a small blue stripe at each edge.

Award criteria

The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and The Grand Duke both wearing the insignia of the order. They are accompanied by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.

"Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg":[1]

The Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau can be conferred on sovereigns and on princes of sovereign houses and, nowadays, also on heads of state, for meritorious service to the Grand Duke and country. The bestowal of the insignia is carried out by the Grand Duke or his specially appointed official representative. The brevet is awarded in agreement with the head of the Ottonian branch of the House of Nassau (The Netherlands).

Princes and Princesses of the House of Nassau

Princes who are sons or brothers of the heads of the two lines of the House of Nassau are born knights of the order.[1] In 1984, Queen Beatrix and Grand Duke Jean made an agreement that princesses (daughters of the heads of the two lines of the House of Nassau) may be admitted when they reach the age of majority (18).[4]

On 16 February 2009, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg received the order on her 18th birthday. Now that King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is the head of the Dutch branch, his daughter Princess Ariane of the Netherlands is entitled to receive the order on her 18th birthday. His eldest daughter, Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange received the order upon her 18th birthday on 7 December 2021. Followed by his middle daughter Princess Alexia of the Netherlands on her 18th birthday on 26 June 2023.

Recipients

Grand Masters
Grand Crosses
Knights

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg" (PDF). Service Information et Presse. Retrieved 2007-09-21.[dead link]
  2. ^ Zaken, Ministerie van Algemene (4 April 2024). "Woensdag 17 april - Staatsbezoeken - Het Koninklijk Huis". www.koninklijkhuis.nl (in Dutch).
  3. ^ Orders for services to the Royal House - description at the website of the Dutch Royal House (Dutch language)
  4. ^ "Huisorden". www.koninklijkhuis.nl (in Dutch). September 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017. De Prinsen, zoons en broers van de Hoofden der beide linies zijn vanaf hun geboorte al ridder in deze Huisorde. In 1984 sloot Koningin Beatrix een overeenkomst met de Groothertog van Luxemburg, waarin werd vastgelegd dat prinsessen, dochters van de hoofden van één van beide takken, ook de graad van Ridder krijgen als zij meerderjarig worden.
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