The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

The Royal Romanian Order of the Star (Ordmul Steaua Romaniei)

Charles H. Pankey, OMSA No. 6275

Tl~.e Order oft_he Star was the first Order instituted by _l_ the country of after it became an independent state during the first part of 1877. It was created by Carol I of Romania as a reward for civil and military service to the nation. The statutes of the order were originally provided by High Decree No. 1108 of 10 May 1877.1

The design of the order was closely pattemed after the Unification Order (Ordinul Unirii) established in 1864 by Ion Alexandru Cuza, who was Prince of the United Principalities of and during the period from 1859 to 1866. After the abdication of Prince Cuza, Carol, the second son of Prince Charles Anthony of Hohenzollem-Sigrnaringen (1848-1855) was offered and subsequently accepted the title of Prince of Romania. During 1881, Prince Carol I became Carol I, .

Type I Grand Cross Badge - Reverse

As instituted by High Degree No. 1108, the Order of the Star had a civil and a military division and five levels of classes. In descending order of rank, these classes and the insignia distinctive to each class were as follows:

Grand Cross - An eight-pointed breast star plus the badge of the order that is suspended from a large rosette at the bottom of a broad sash.

Grand Officer - The badge of the order suspended from neck ribbon plus a smaller version of the eight- pointed Grand Cross breast star.

Commander - The badge of the order suspended from neck ribbon.

Officer - Gilt badge of the order suspended from a Type I Grand Cross Badge - Obverse length of ribbon with a rosette, 25-27mm in diameter, in the middle of the ribbon.

1 Knight - Silver badge of the order suspended from a length of unadorned ribbon. The Danubian used the Julian calendar until 31 March 1919 at which time they adopted the Gregorian calendar and moved forward to 14 April 1919.

17 Volume 50 Number 1

center medallion with the green enamel wreath of oak leaves was extended to the reverse; however, the dark blue enamel band was omitted, and the gilt was replaced with the crowned cypher of Carol I in gilt. The color pattem of the ribbon of the order generally followed the pattern for the earlier Unification Order, which was red moir6 with a blue edge stripe and a second narrow blue stripe near the edge stripe.

In accordance with a 10 August 1885 amendment to High Decree No. 1108, crossed swords that intersect behind the center of the cross were added to badges and breast stars to distinguish insignia conferred for military merit. Military merit recognized during both peacetime and war was indicated by crossed swords behind the cross and crossed swords at the top of the upper arm of the cross.

The order was headed by the King, who in his capacity as sovereign was the Master of the Order. The Master of the Order was assisted by a Chancellor and an Honor Council usually composed of four members of the order appointed by the King. The Chancellor was responsible for the Chancery of the Order, which usually resolved any controversies pertaining to the order and maintained the order’s register and issued the order’s diplomas.

The Chancery also processed proposals for new appointments to the order and promotions within the order. Specific criteria for civil and military merit had to be met before an individual could be conferred a particular class of the order or be promoted from a lower to a higher ranking class. In addition, a limit was placed on the number of persons who could enter each class in the civil and military divisions of the order, with the classes becoming more restrictive in ascending order of Top - Type 2 Officers’ badge obverse with crossed swords. rank and fewer in number in the military division than in Suspension ribbon has a rosette and an oak-leaf device. the civil division. However, these ceilings did not apply Bottom - Reverse of the same badge. to foreigners or to individuals appointed to the order directly by the King. Other exceptions to the maximum The badge and breast star of the order were basically a number of persons allowed in each class were cross crosslet made of dark blue enamel edged in either posthumous appointments and male members of the royal gilt or silver with rays of irregular length between the family who were normally conferred the class of Grand arms of the cross. The badges of the order were also Cross upon reaching the age of eighteen. surmounted by a Royal Crown. In the center of the obverse is a circular medallion surrounded by a green Members could be expelled from the order for cause and enamel wreath of oak leaves. The medallion is composed be required to return the insignia. Grounds for expulsion of an outer dark blue enamel band with the order’s motto included a breach of the law, disloyalty by civil servant IN FIDE SALUS (Salvation Lies in Loyalty) in gilt at members, and an offense by a civilian tried by the Honor the top and three gilt stars at the bottom, and within the Council. Insignia conferred for military merit were center of the medallion is a gilt eagle grasping a lighming returnable only in cases of high treason or desertion. rod in its talons on a background of dark red enamel. The Beginning in 1932, the insignia were to be returned to the

18 The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

1932 1938 The sash of the order was worn over the right shoulder, Class Civil Military Civil Military and the breast star was worn on the left side of the dress Grand Cross 35 10 45 15 coat or uniform jacket. The badge and suspension ribbon First Class (Not Established) 75 25 of the Officer and Knight classes were worn by civilians Grand Officer 75 25 100 40 Commander 200 75 300 125 on the left lapel of the coat, and military personnel wore Officer 500 150 750 250 the badge and ribbon on the left side of the uniform Knight 1000 350 1500 500 jacket. Miniature badges and ribbon were authorized only for the Knight, Officer, and Commander classes. Maximum membership by division and class as established in 1932 and amended in 1938. Certain Known manufacturers of the Type 1 insignia are Kretley categories of members fell outside of the limits. (Paris), Zimmermann (Pforzheim), Joseph Resch and Son (), and the Romanian National Mint order upon the death of the member; although this (Bucharest). Known manufacturers of the Type 2 are provision was not enforced. The insigne of the lower Rudolf Souval (Vienna), Zimmermann, Resch, Weiss class was also returnable when a member was promoted (Bucharest), and the Romanian National Mint. Most to a higher ranking class. insignia were not marked to identify the manufacturer; but when indicated, the manufacturer’s mark usually On 9 May 1932, new provisions were added to the appears on the ring used for neck ribbon, on the ribbon statutes that altered the design of the order’s insignia. ring of the badge, or on the pin bar of breast stars. Breast The rays were replaced by either a gilt or silver eagle with stars produced by Resch and Weiss often have an oval widely spread wings that reached between the arms of the jeweler’s plaque on the reverse. Also, a few Grand Cross cross, and the eagle in the obverse center medallion was and Grand Officer insignia were made of solid gold and replaced by the gilt cypher of Carol I. On the reverse, the even solid gold ornamented with diamonds. year 1877 in gilt now appeared in the center medallion instead of the gilt cypher of Carol I. The ribbon color ARG, IR, or JRF - Resch pattem was also changed to red moir6 with a silver stripe CFZ - Zimmermann near each edge. In 1938, the ribbon was again changed NM - Romanian National Mint to red moir6 that could be bordered by a gold stripe RS - Souval adjacent to a silver stripe. Insignia with the original HW or BW - Weiss design are referred to as the Type 1 in contrast to the Image of a swan - believed to be Kretley Type 2 which are insignia with the altered design proscribed in 1932. Insignia should be examinedfor one of the above manufacturer’s marks On 12 February 1937, a new class called the First Class was created and placed in ranking between the Grand Besides the rosette ribbon device mentioned earlier, the Cross and Grand Officer. The insignia of the First Class suspension ribbon of the Knight and Officer classes was were the badge of the order suspended from a sash and a adorned with crossed swords to distinguish members who four-pointed breast star. served during the 1877-1878 War of Independence. On 26 June 1943, King Michael instituted a stylized oak-leaf Romania entered WWI in 1916 on the side of the Allied ribbon device for the Knight and Officer class suspension Powers. During WWlI, Romania first associated itself ribbon to recognize members who were wounded in with Germany; but after the coup d’etat by King Michael action on three or more occasions. This device was made in 1944 that ousted Marshal from power, of oxidized metal and is 10mm X 28mm in size. Romania joined with the Allies. British officers were conferred the Order of the Star during W~VI, while The Royal Romanian Order of the Star became obsolete German officers were similarly recognized during WWII. in 1947 following the formation of the Romanian Peoples’ Republic. However, the Peoples’ Republic The Order of the Star could also be conferred as a unit created a communist decoration named after the old citation. In 1944, several ships of the Royal Romanian order; and it continues today as a decoration of the Navy were awarded the Order of the Star as a trait current Romanian Republic. citation for service during WWII.

19