On December 7, 1769, a year after the start of the Russian-Turkish War, Empress Catherine II established the highest military award of the Russian Empire - the “Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George” - and placed on herself the insignia of the first Order of St. George, 1st degree. Before the revolution, the highest category "George", which was abolished by the Bolsheviks in 1917, was awarded only 25 times.
The Order of St. George allowed one to become a nobleman
The statute of the order determined that it was awarded only for personal merit. " Neither high breed, nor wounds received in front of the enemy give the right to be awarded this order: but it is given to those who not only have corrected their position in everything according to their oath, honor and duty, but in addition have distinguished themselves by a special courageous act, or the wise gave useful advice for Our military service... This order should never be removed: for it is acquired by merit", states the 1769 statute.
Officers who came from non-noble backgrounds, having received the Order of St. George, were given the opportunity to acquire hereditary nobility. In addition, it was forbidden to apply corporal punishment to holders of the cross.
In 1807, the “Insignia of the Military Order” was established for lower ranks assigned to the Order of St. George, which was unofficially called “Soldier’s George.” The number of awards given to one person with this badge was not limited. Officer ranks were not awarded the “soldier’s George”, but could wear it on their uniform if they received it before they were promoted to officer rank.
The Order of St. George is the rarest military order of Russia
The Order of St. George had four degrees. The first and second were awarded by decision of the Sovereign Emperor only to admirals and generals, the third and fourth were intended for awarding officer ranks on the recommendation of the Duma of the Knights of St. George.
It is enough to note that if the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the highest order of Russia, from 1698 (the time of its establishment) to 1917, was awarded to more than 1000 people, then the Order of St. George, 1st degree, was awarded to only 25 people, 8 of whom were foreigners. There is only one sailor on this list - Admiral Vasily Yakovlevich Chichagov, who received the highest Russian military award for the victory over the Swedish fleet in 1790.
The first holder of the order is Count P.A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, who was awarded for the victory over the enemy on July 21, 1770 near Cahul (Russian-Turkish war). The last time the Order of St. George, first degree, was awarded was in 1877. His last gentleman was Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder, who captured the army of Osman Pasha and captured the “strongholds of Plevna” on November 28, 1877. Full holders of Russia's most prestigious military order were Field Marshal General Mikhail Kutuzov and Field Marshal General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly.
For receptions on the occasion of awarding the Order of St. George, a special service was used
Ceremonial receptions in the Winter Palace on the occasion of the Order's holiday were held annually on November 26. Each time at the receptions, a porcelain service was used, which was created in 1778 by the craftsmen of the Gardner factory by order of Catherine II. The last such reception took place on November 26, 1916.The creators of the order made a mistake
The artists, when creating the order, made a clear mistake. In the central medallion, which is located in the middle of the cross, one can see the image of a horseman striking a dragon with a spear. But according to legend, St. George defeated the serpent, and the dragon in the heraldry of those times symbolized Good.For Muslims, a special design of the Order of St. George
In the period from 1844 to 1913, on the St. George crosses, which were complained to Muslims, instead of the image of a Christian saint, the coat of arms of the Russian Empire was depicted - a black double-headed eagle. The model of the order for non-Christians was approved by Nicholas I on August 29, 1844 during the Caucasian War. The first to receive this award was Major Dzhamov-bek Kaytakhsky.
In the memoirs of those times one can find memories that some people from the Caucasus were perplexed why they were awarded “ cross with a bird, not a horseman».
Cavaliers of the Order of St. George and the St. George's Cross also received cash payments under Lenin
Knights of the Order of St. George and the Cross of St. George received regular cash payments. Thus, officers awarded the Order of the first degree received 700 rubles of an annual pension, and lower ranks awarded the St. George Cross received 36 rubles of an annual pension. The widow of a holder of this order received the order's payments for a year after her husband's death.
On December 16, 1917, after V.I. Lenin signed the decree “On the equal rights of all military personnel,” which abolished orders and other insignia, including the St. George Cross. But even before April 1918, holders of St. George medals and crosses received the so-called “surplus salary.” Only after the liquidation of the Chapter were payments for these awards stopped.
Many Soviet military leaders who had to serve in the army before the revolution were at one time awarded the Cross of St. George.Junior non-commissioned officer Konstantin Rokossovsky and private tsarist army Rodion Malinovsky each had two St. George Crosses.
For distinction in military operations and the capture of a German officer, non-commissioned officer of the tsarist army and later Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was twice awarded the St. George Cross.
Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev, who was called up for military service in 1914, was awarded three St. George Crosses and the St. George Medal for courage in the battles of the First War.
During the First World War, four St. George's Crosses were received by dragoon Ivan Tyulenev, who later became a general in the Soviet army and commanded the Southern Front during the Great Patriotic War. It is known that during the civil war his crosses were lost, but on one of the anniversaries Ivan Vladimirovich was given four crosses with numbers that were stamped on the lost awards.
Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny is officially considered a full Knight of St. George. True, recently many historians have questioned this fact.
Today the St. George's ribbon has become a symbol of Victory and patriotism
In 1944, a draft resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR was prepared, which equated the Knights of St. George during the First World War with the status of the Order of Glory, but this resolution never came into force. However, the Soviet Order of Glory and the most memorable Soviet medal, “For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945,” also have the St. George’s ribbon.
The tradition of wearing the St. George Ribbon, which is popular today, was born before the revolution in families of lower ranks: after the death of the St. George Knight, the eldest son could wear the ribbon on his chest. It was believed that a person who put the ribbon of his father or grandfather on his chest was filled with the meaning of the feat and would take on special responsibility. The largest St. George ribbon was unfurled on May 9, 2010 in Sevastopol.
It is worth noting that jewelers of the 18th century created items that adequately reflected the merits of the awarded gentlemen and ladies. Such awards are worthy specimens of any museum collection.
History of the Order of St. George
The Order of St. George was established by Empress Catherine II in 1969 with the purpose of awarding exclusively for military feats, as well as for the service of officers of at least 25 years.
During the Soviet period, this order was abolished. Its restoration in the Russian Federation was difficult. At first they were going to restore it for subsequent presentation to the defenders of the White House in the ninety-first year, then its restoration was entrusted to a special commission already in the ninety-second year, and only by the millennium the order was restored again and the final approved statute was adopted.
This order is Russia's highest award for military merit. It is received exclusively by officers of senior and highest ranks who have distinguished themselves during combat operations with any external enemy, and after additions to the statute of the order in the eighth year of the 2000s - and for special distinctions during Russia’s “peacekeeping operations” outside its borders.
Description of the order
The reward can be of four degrees, which occurs sequentially, starting with the fourth degree and ending with the first highest degree.
The ribbon of the order (popularly “St. George’s”) is moiré, silk, which has three stripes of a dark color and two of yellowish-orange.
1. Order 1st class
Star of the Order
Four limbs - strala (gilded silver). The orientation of the star is up-down, right-left. In the very center, attention is given to a medallion in the shape of a bordered gilded circle. In the very center is the cursive inscription “SG”, along the outer edge is engraved “FOR SERVICE AND BRAVERY”. On top of the medallion, between the words “BRAVE” and “FOR” is a crown.
The star is attached to clothing with a gold-plated pin.
On the bar there is a small display of a star in gold.
2. Order of the 2nd degree
Material - gilded silver. The dimensions of the sign and star are fully consistent with the first degree.
3. Order of the III degree
The badge of the order is made of silver. The difference is its smaller size.
On the bar there is a display of the star of the order in white.
4. Order IV degree
The badge of the order is even smaller.
There is no tape.
The badge is worn attached to a block with five corners, wrapped with a St. George ribbon.
The materials from which the order is made are gold and silver.
The shape of the sign is a rectangular cross.
For the sign: I degree – 60 millimeters;
II – 50 millimeters;
III – 50 millimeters;
IV – 40 millimeters
The size of the star is 82 millimeters.
Width – 100 millimeters (I class), 45 millimeters (II class), 24 millimeters (III class)
Plank: vertical dimension – 12 millimeters, horizontal dimension – 32 millimeters.
The Order of St. George should not be confused with the “St. George Cross”, which is awarded only to junior officer ranks and can even be awarded to ordinary soldiers and sailors.
In the last half century, the St. George ribbon has become a symbol of the victory of the Russian people over the fascist invaders. The public event “St. George’s Ribbon” has been held annually since 2005 in almost all countries of the former USSR.
On December 7, 1769, Catherine II established the Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, which became the highest military award of the Russian Empire. Let us remember the 7 gentlemen of this glorious order.
Nadezhda Durova
Defense of the Fatherland is usually associated only with the masculine gender. However, in Russian history there were also women defenders who fought for Russia with no less courage. As a young girl in 1806, Nadezhda ran away from her noble nest to fight Napoleon. Dressed in a Cossack uniform and introducing herself as Alexander Durov, she managed to join the Uhlan regiment. The girl took part in the battles of Friedlan and in the battle of Heilsberg, and in the battle with the French near the city of Gutstadt, Durova showed fantastic courage, and slept from the death of officer Panin. For her feat, Nadezhda was awarded the St. George Cross. True, at the same time, Nadezhda’s main secret was revealed, and soon Emperor Alexander I himself learned about the soldier. Nadezhda Andreevna was taken to the capital of the Russian Empire. Alexander I wished to meet the courageous woman in person. Durova's meeting with the emperor took place in December 1807. The Emperor presented Durova with the St. George Cross, and everyone was amazed at the bravery and courage of her interlocutor. Alexander I intended to send Nadezhda to her parents’ home, but she snapped: “I want to be a warrior!” The emperor was amazed and left Nadezhda Durova in the Russian army, allowing her to introduce herself by her last name - Alexandrova, in honor of the emperor.
Nadezhda Durova began the War of 1812 with the rank of second lieutenant of the Uhlan regiment. Durova took part in many battles of that war. There was Nadezhda near Smolensk, Mir, Dashkovka, and she was also on the Borodino field. During the Battle of Borodino, Durova was on the front line, was wounded, but remained in service.
Fyodor Tolstoy-American
Count Fyodor Tolstoy the American is perhaps the most original of all the holders of the St. George Cross in this material. A famous raider and adventurer, he shot more than a dozen people in duels, was a participant in the first trip around the world, was thrown off the ship for repeated violations of discipline, lived on an island with the aborigines...
St. Petersburg did not wait for Tolstoy with open arms. Immediately from the city outpost, Tolstoy was sent to serve in the Neishlot fortress. The staff service was not to the count's liking. “The American,” as Tolstoy was nicknamed, wrote requests for transfer more than once, but not a single commander wanted to take the unpredictable tattooed adventurer. As a result, Prince Dolgoruky himself, the commander of the Serdob detachment, appointed Tolstoy as his adjutant. The “American” did not sit out at headquarters; he actively participated in the hostilities and earned the fame of a hero. Following the Swedish War, Tolstoy was rehabilitated and returned to the Preobrazhensky Regiment. But this time his guard service was short-lived. Duels, demotion to the rank and file, imprisonment in the Vyborg fortress, resignation and exile to a village near Kaluga - less than four years from Tolstoy’s biography of that time.
Fyodor Tolstoy stayed on the Kaluga estate until the Patriotic War. Volunteering to the front with the rank of private, he heroically marched with the Russian army from Borodino Field to Paris, ended the war as a lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Order of George, 4th degree.
Alexander Kazarsky
Hero of the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-1829. Commander of the 18-gun brig Mercury. On May 14, 1829, a brig under the command of Alexander Kazarsky, who was on patrol near the Bosphorus, was overtaken by two Turkish battleships: the 100-gun Selemie under the flag of the commander of the Turkish fleet and the 74-gun Real Bay. The Mercury could only counter them with eighteen small-caliber guns. The enemy's superiority was more than thirtyfold! Seeing that the slow-moving brig would not be able to escape from the Turkish ships, the commander of the Mercury gathered officers for a military council. Everyone was unanimous in favor of the fight. Shouting “Hurray!” The sailors also welcomed this decision. Kazarsky placed a loaded pistol in front of the crew chamber. The last surviving crew member had to blow up the ship to avoid being captured by the enemy. The Russian brig fought for 3 hours with two huge ships of the Turkish fleet that overtook it. When Russian ships appeared on the horizon, Kazarsky discharged a pistol lying near the cruise chamber into the air. Soon, the wounded but not defeated brig entered Sevastopol Bay.
The Mercury's victory was so fantastic that some experts in naval art refused to believe it. The English historian F. Jane, having learned about the battle, declared publicly: “It is absolutely impossible to allow such a small ship as the Mercury to put two battleships out of action.”
Nikolay Gumilyov
Nikolai Gumilyov was not only a wonderful poet and a great adventurer, but also a brave hussar. The poet was enlisted as a volunteer in Her Majesty's Uhlan Life Guards Regiment. In September and October 1914, exercises and training took place. Already in November the regiment was transferred to Southern Poland. On November 19, the first battle took place. For night reconnaissance before the battle, by Order No. 30 of the Guards Cavalry Corps of December 24, 1914, he was awarded the insignia of the Military Order (St. George Cross) of the 4th degree.
It must be admitted that Anna Akhmatov reacted to her husband’s award with skepticism:
News rarely arrives
To our porch.
Gave me a white cross
To your father.
On July 6, 1915, a large-scale enemy attack began. The task was set to hold positions until the infantry approached, the operation was carried out successfully, and several machine guns were saved, one of which was carried by Gumilyov. For this, by Order of the Guards Cavalry Corps of December 5, 1915 No. 1486, he was awarded the insignia of the Military Order of the Cross of St. George, 3rd degree.
Peter Koshka
Hero of the Sevastopol Defense of 1854-1855. The fighting for the city did not stop day or night. At night, hundreds of volunteers made forays into enemy trenches, bringing “tongues”, obtaining valuable information, and recapturing weapons and food from the enemy. Sailor Koshka became the most famous “night hunter” of Sevastopol. He took part in 18 night attacks and made solo forays into the enemy camp almost every night. During one of the night campaigns, he brought three captured French officers, whom, armed with one knife (Koshka did not take any other weapons with him on a night hunt), he led straight from the campfire. No one bothered to count how many “languages” Koshka brought for the entire company. Ukrainian economy did not allow Pyotr Markovich to return empty-handed. He brought with him rifled English rifles, which shot further and more accurately than Russian smooth-bore guns, tools, provisions, and once brought a boiled, still hot leg of beef to the battery. The Cat pulled this leg right out of the enemy cauldron. It happened like this: the French were cooking soup and did not notice how the Cat got close to them. There were too many enemies to attack them with a cleaver, but the troublemaker could not resist mocking his enemy. He jumped up and yelled “Hurray!!! Attack!!!". The French fled, and Peter took the meat from the cauldron, turned the cauldron over onto the fire and disappeared into the clouds of steam. There is a well-known case of how Koshka saved the body of his comrade, sapper Stepan Trofimov, from desecration. The French, mockingly, put his half-naked corpse on the parapet of the trench and guarded him day and night. It was not possible to recapture the body of a comrade, but not for Pyotr Koshka. Stealthily creeping up to the dead man, he threw the body on his back and, in front of the amazed eyes of the English, ran back. The enemy opened hurricane fire on the daring sailor, but Koshka safely reached his trenches. Several enemy bullets hit the body he was carrying. For this feat, Rear Admiral Panfilov nominated the sailor of the second class for promotion in rank and the Order of St. George.
Avvakum Nikolaevich Volkov
During the Russo-Japanese War, Avvakum Nikolaevich Volkov became a full Knight of St. George. He received the first St. George Cross, 4th degree, for bravery at the beginning of the war. Just a few weeks later, when it was necessary to find out the location of the Japanese troops, bugler Volkov volunteered to go on reconnaissance. Dressed in Chinese clothes, the young soldier scouted out the location of two large enemy detachments. But soon he came across a Japanese patrol of 20 dragoons led by an officer. The Japanese guessed who this unusual young Chinese was. Snatching a revolver from his bosom, the scout killed three dragoons with point-blank shots. And while the others tried to take him alive, Volkov jumped onto the horse of one of the dead. A long chase, attempts to bypass and shoot were unsuccessful. Volkov broke away from his pursuers and returned safely to his regiment. For this feat Avvakum Volkov was awarded the St. George Cross, 3rd degree. In one of the battles, the wounded Avvakum is captured by the Japanese. After a short trial, he was sentenced to death. However, that night the soldier managed to escape. After ten days of grueling wandering in the remote taiga, Volkov returned to the regiment and received the St. George Cross, 2nd degree. But the war continued. And before the battle of Mukden, Volkov again volunteered for reconnaissance. This time, the experienced scout, having completed the task, removed the guards from the enemy powder magazine and blew it up. For his new feat, he received the 1st degree St. George Cross and became a full Knight of St. George.
Kozma Kryuchkov
During the First World War, the name of Kozma Kryuchkov was known throughout Russia. The brave Don Cossack appeared on posters and leaflets, cigarette packs and postcards. Kryuchkov was the first to be awarded the St. George Cross, receiving the cross of the 4th degree for the destruction of eleven Germans in battle. The regiment in which Kozma Kryuchkov served was stationed in Poland, in the town of Kalvaria. Having received an order from their superiors, Kryuchkov and three of his comrades went on patrol, and suddenly encountered a patrol of 27 German lancers. Despite the inequality of forces, the Don people did not even think of giving up. Kozma Kryuchkov tore the rifle from his shoulder, but in his haste he jerked the bolt too sharply, and the cartridge jammed. At the same moment, the German who approached him slashed the Cossack’s fingers with a saber, and the rifle flew to the ground. The Cossack pulled out a saber and entered into battle with 11 enemies surrounding him. After a minute of battle, Kozma was already covered in blood, while his own blows for the most part turned out to be fatal to his enemies. When the Cossack’s hand was “tired of chopping,” Kryuchkov grabbed the lance of one of the lancers and pierced the last of the attackers one by one with German steel. By that time, his comrades had dealt with the rest of the Germans. 22 corpses lay on the ground, two more Germans were wounded and captured, and three fled. 16 wounds were later counted on Kozma Kryuchkov’s body.
Empress Catherine II, confirming November 23, 1769 The statute of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George, indicated that it “should be considered established since 1769, the month of November, from the 26th day, on which day We laid the signs on ourselves, and after a long time bestowed upon us and the fatherland servants with distinction.”
The day for the establishment of the order was not chosen by chance: November 26 (December 9, new style) The Orthodox Church celebrates the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Kyiv, built in 1036. after the victory over the Pechenegs.Desk medal “In memory of the establishment of the Order of St. George the Victorious. November 26, 1769" Medalist Johann Balthasar Gass, obverse copied by Ivan Chukmasov, reverse copied by Pavel Utkin. Copper, 79 mm; 197.65 g
Desk medal “In memory of the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. 1769-1869." Obverse: “Signature of the medalist in the sleeve trim “V. Alekseev R.”.” Reverse: “Signature of the medalist at the bottom “P.M.R. (P. Meshcharikov cut).” Silver, 157.28 gr. Diameter 72 mm.
The establishment of the military order was part of the military reforms carried out at the beginning of Catherine’s reign, which strengthened the Russian army on the eve of wars that stretched in an endless series until the end of the 18th century, allowed it, under the leadership of P.A. Rumyantseva, G.A. Potemkina, A.V. Suvorov to win a number of brilliant victories. The establishment of a military order was supposed to be a moral incentive for the entire officer corps, and not just the generals, as previously established orders. In order to increase the significance of the order, Catherine II accepted upon herself and her successors “this Order of Grand Mastership”, as a sign of which she placed on herself the signs of the 1st degree.
The insignia of the Order of St. George looks more modest than the insignia of all other Russian orders: a white enamel cross with a gold border, in the middle of which on the front side there is an image of St. George slaying a serpent with a spear, and on the back - the monogram of the saint; a gold quadrangular star of senior degrees with the saint's monogram in the center and the order's motto: "For service and courage", a ribbon of two yellow and three black stripes. Cavaliers of the 1st class of the order wore a cross on a wide ribbon worn over the right shoulder and a star on the left side of the chest, 2nd class - the same cross on the same ribbon on the neck and a star on the chest on the left, 3rd class - a smaller cross size on a ribbon of smaller width on the neck, 4th class - the same cross on a ribbon of the same width in the buttonhole of the caftan. Later, the size of the cross and the width of the ribbon became different for each degree.
Badge of the Order of St. George 2-3rd degree. Unknown workshop, France, 1900s. Gold, enamel. Weight 16.73 g. Size 49x55 mm. Marks on the connecting ring: export head of Mercury to the left and the company is illegible.
Badge of the Order of St. George, 4th degree. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917. Gold, enamel. Weight, 10.46 g. Size 35x39 mm.
Badge of the Order of St. George, 3rd-4th degree. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1880-1890s. Gold, enamel. Weight 10.39 g. Size 42x39 mm.
Badge of the Order of St. George the Victorious, 4th degree. Firm "Eduard", Petrograd, 1916-1917. Bronze, gilding, enamel. Weight 12.85 g. Size 41x36 mm.
From 1844 to 1913 on the crosses that complained to Muslims, instead of the image of the saint and his monogram, an imperial eagle was placed. The image of an eagle was also supposed to replace the saint’s monogram on the order star of the highest degrees of the order when awarding them to Muslims, however, a review of the lists of holders of these degrees did not allow us to identify a single recipient who could be considered a Muslim.
Badge of the Order of St. George, 4th degree. Firm "Eduard", St. Petersburg, 1910-1917. Bronze, gilding, enamel. Weight 12.07 g. Size 40x35 mm.
Almost the main role in the fate of the order was played by the choice of the heavenly patron. Saint George has long been revered as the patron saint of not only warriors, but also kings. The latter circumstance was emphasized by assigning to the order a ribbon made up of the colors considered “imperial” in Russia - black and yellow (gold). In addition, the image of a horseman slaying a serpent has been the emblem of the Moscow state since the time of Ivan III, although until the beginning of the 18th century. it was personified not as St. George, but as a tsar (occasionally - the heir to the throne) - the defender of the Russian land. By the time the order was established, this horseman, already under the name of St. George, was considered the coat of arms of Moscow and was an attribute of the state emblem of the Russian Empire. St. George was well known to the Russian common people, he entered their everyday life and was revered by them as a guardian of fertility and abundance, an assistant in hunting, a protector of fields and all the fruits of the earth, a guardian of grazing herds, a patron of beekeeping, a shepherd of snakes and wolves, a protector from thieves and robbers . Very soon the Order of St. George occupied a completely exceptional position in the Russian award system and retained it until the end of its existence. The pre-revolutionary historian E.P. Karnovich wrote that “the appearance in society of a Knight of St. George very often draws the attention of those present to him, which does not happen in relation to gentlemen of other orders, even star bearers,” that is, awarded orders of the highest degrees.
The statute of the order emphasized that it could only be received for personal merit; “neither high breed nor wounds received in front of the enemy” were taken into account. For officers who came from non-noble backgrounds, with the establishment of the Order of St. George, a new opportunity opened up for acquiring hereditary nobility. Peter's "Table of Ranks" established the receipt of hereditary nobility (and the rights and benefits associated with it) only upon reaching the VIII class, that is, the rank of second major; published on April 21, 1785. The “Certificate on the rights of liberty and advantages of the Russian nobility” also called the awarding of the “Russian Cavalry Order” one of the fifteen indisputable proofs of the noble status. Thus, a person from the lower classes, having received the Order of St. George, even the 4th degree, became a hereditary nobleman. In addition, the senior holders were entitled to an annual order pension: for the 1st class - 12 people for 700 rubles, for the 2nd class - 25 people for 400 rubles, for the 3rd class - 50 people for 200 rubles . and in the 4th class - 100 people for 100 rubles. Upon receipt of the senior degree, the payment of the pension for the junior degree ceased. The widow of the deceased gentleman received the order's pension for another year after his death. Subsequently, when it became clear that the number of surviving cavaliers of the highest degrees was significantly inferior to the number of vacancies for receiving order pensions for these degrees, they were reduced with a simultaneous increase in vacancies for the 4th degree.
It was possible to receive the Order of St. George not only for personal courage and military leadership, but also for impeccable service in the officer ranks for twenty-five years, and for naval officers - also for completing eighteen naval campaigns. On the cross of the 4th degree, awarded for these merits, since 1816. a corresponding inscription was placed.
However, the ego cannot be considered some kind of badge of service: in fact, the length of service or the number of campaigns completed did not always correspond to those indicated on the cross. Not every service was counted towards the length of service to receive the order, and not every voyage counted towards naval campaigns, but, at the same time, participation in some battles and a number of voyages shortened the length of service. It was also shortened by receiving the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree with a bow, and later St. Anna, 3rd and 4th degrees, golden weapons, as well as the Highest Favour. According to the statute of 1833 To receive an order for long-term service, participation in at least one battle was required, an exception was made only for naval officers, but the number of campaigns that had to be completed was increased to twenty. February 2, 1855 gentlemen who received the order for impeccable service, and then performed a feat that did not fit the rules of the statute of the Order of St. George of the highest degree, but was sufficient to be awarded the fourth, received the right to wear their cross with a bow from the order ribbon. There were only four such awards. By personal decree on May 15 of the same year, the awarding of the Order of St. George for impeccable service was cancelled.
Initially, proposals for awarding the Order of St. George were made by the Military Colleges, land and sea, and the final decision was made by the Empress. With the establishment of September 22, 1782. The Order of St. Vladimir, the statute of which established an Order Duma to consider submissions to the Order of the 3rd and 4th degrees, consisting of gentlemen located in the capital, the same Cavalry Duma was established for the Order of St. George. She was given a room at the Chesme Church of St. John the Baptist to store a seal, a special treasury and an archive. The insignia of deceased cavaliers were to be transferred to the Duma, and lists of cavaliers were to be kept there. Now the lists of military personnel nominated for the Order of St. George of the 3rd and 4th degrees were submitted by the Military Collegiums for consideration by the Cavalry Duma, and then the lists of those awarded the Order by the Duma were approved by the Empress. The awarding of the Order of the 1st and 2nd degrees remained the prerogative of the supreme authority.
Upon the accession of Emperor Paul I to the throne, the “Establishment for the Cavalry Russian Orders” was developed, which included the statutes of the orders of St. Andrew the First-Called, St. Catherine, St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Anna. True, during the reading of the “Institution” in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin during the coronation ceremony on April 5, 1797. The Emperor publicly stated that “the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George remains on its previous basis, as does its Statute,” however, the forms of its existence during the reign of Pavel Petrovich may seem rather strange: although the order’s holiday on November 26 was solemnly celebrated with the participation of the Emperor, and holders of the order, established especially for them in December 1797. wearing the order's robes they participated in all the order's holidays; no one else was awarded the order. Only December 12, 1801 By the manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, the Orders of St. George and St. Vladimir were restored “in all their strength and scope.”
It is noteworthy that during the first celebration of the establishment of the Order of St. George during his reign, Alexander I wore the insignia of the first degree of this order. However, only Emperor Alexander II, second after the founder of the order, Empress Catherine II, officially conferred on himself the insignia of the first degree of the Order of St. George. This happened on the day of the centennial anniversary of the order. Such an act cannot be considered some kind of “self-reward”; on the contrary, it meant the acceptance of the order under the personal patronage of the monarch, putting it on a par with the imperial regalia.
The tail badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917. Silver, enamel, 1.69 gr. Size 15x15 mm.
Tailcoat copy of the badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop. Western Europe, 1850-1860s. Sterling silver, gilding, enamel. Weight, 1.88 g. Size 15x17 mm (with eyelet).
Tails badge of the Order of St. George. Unknown workshop, Western Europe, 1890-1910s. Silver, gilding, enamel. Weight 1.81 g. Size 14x17 mm.
Badge of the Order of St. George the Victorious for wearing on the award weapon of St. George. Firm "Eduard", St. Petersburg, 1910-1916. 56-carat gold, unassembled silver, enamel. Weight 4.36 g. Size 17x17 mm.
23 people were awarded the first degree of the Order of St. George, 124 people received the second degree, about 640 people received the third degree, and about 15 thousand received the fourth degree. Human. The statistics of awards of the fourth degree of the order are interesting. For military distinction he received over 6,700 awards, for twenty-five years of service - over 7,300, for completing eighteen campaigns - about 600, and twenty campaigns - only 4. Only M.I. was awarded all degrees of the Order of St. George. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, I.F. Paskevich and I.I. Dibich, however, they cannot be considered full holders of the order. Such a concept in relation to orders that had degrees simply did not exist then. What mattered was not the number of degrees of the order received, but the dignity of the eldest of them. In addition, none of the listed gentlemen could simultaneously have the signs of all degrees of the order: upon receiving the senior degree, the junior surrendered to the Chapter of Orders. This rule was canceled only in 1857, and the last of those awarded all degrees of the Order of St. George was I.F. Paskevich - died a year earlier.
Not quite ordinary, going beyond the framework of the statute, are the awards given to two women: Queen Maria Sophia Amalia of the Two Sicilies in 1861. and sisters of mercy R.M. Ivanova. It is difficult to understand what motives guided Alexander II when he awarded a high military award to the Italian queen for the courage shown during the siege of the Gaeta fortress, because this historical episode had nothing to do with Russia. But the awarding of R.M. Ivanova was well deserved: after the death of the officers, she raised the soldiers to attack, which ended with the capture of the enemy position, but she paid with her life for her heroic impulse. In accordance with the Statute of St. George, introduced in 1913. R.M. Ivanova was awarded posthumously. During the First World War, the only collective award of the Order of St. George also took place; the 4th degree was awarded to the courage of the defenders of the French fortress of Verdun, unless, of course, the inclusion of the St. George ribbon in the coat of arms of the Russian city of Sevastopol is considered such an award.
The Provisional Government introduced the awarding of the Order of St. George of the 4th degree to lower ranks who performed feats provided for by the statute of the Order of St. George while performing the duties of the corresponding commanders. In this case, as evidence that this high award was deserved even before promotion to the rank of officer, a white metal laurel branch should have been placed on the ribbon. Reliable information about the awarding of lower ranks with the Order of St. George is still unknown.
| Order of St. George of the Russian Federation | |
 |
|
| original name | |
| Motto | |
| A country | Russia |
| Type | Order |
| Who is it awarded to? | senior and senior officers |
| Reasons for the award | conducting combat operations during an attack by an external enemy |
| Status | awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Options | |
| Establishment date | August 8, 2000 |
| First award | August 18, 2008 |
| Last award | |
| Number of awards | 8 |
| Sequence | |
| Senior Award | Order of St. Andrew the First-Called |
| Junior Award | Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" |
| Compliant | |
Order of St. George- the highest military award of the Russian Federation since August 8, 2000.
History of the order
Awards
- The first holder of the order of the 4th degree was on August 18, 2008, the commander of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District, Colonel General Sergei Afanasyevich Makarov, for the successful conduct of the operation officially called “forcing Georgia to peace.”
- For the same operation, on October 1, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel of the Airborne Forces Special Forces Anatoly Vyacheslavovich Lebed, who had already been awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, became the second holder of the order of the 4th degree.
For distinction during the peacekeeping operation to force Georgia to peace, the Order of St. George was awarded to 8 generals and officers by December 2008, according to information provided by the head of the 3rd Directorate for Conferring Military Ranks and Awards of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General A. Ilyin . The Ministry of Defense does not disclose information on the names of most of the recipients. In the press, reporting on awards, the Order of St. George, intended for senior officers, is often confused with its insignia, the Cross of St. George, which is awarded to junior officers, sergeants and soldiers.
Statute of the order
Star of the Order of St. George, 1st class
The restored Order of St. George has the same external features as in tsarist times. Unlike the previous order, the order of awarding has been slightly changed: not only the 3rd and 4th degrees, but all degrees are given sequentially. Even the lowest 4th degree can only be awarded to senior and senior officers, in contrast to the tsarist. An annual pension for holders of the order, as under the Tsar, is not provided.
Extracts from the Statute of the Order of St. George. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 8, 2000 No. 1463:
- The Order of St. George is the highest military award of the Russian Federation.
- The Order of St. George is awarded to military personnel from among senior and senior officers for conducting military operations to defend the Fatherland during an attack by an external enemy, which ended in the complete defeat of the enemy, who became an example of military art, whose exploits serve as an example of valor and courage for all generations of defenders of the Fatherland and who were awarded state awards Russian Federation for distinction shown in combat operations.
- The Order of St. George has four degrees.
The Order of St. George I and II degrees has a badge and a star, III and IV degrees have only a badge. The highest degree of the order is I degree.
- The Order of St. George is awarded only sequentially, from lowest to highest degree.
- The badge of the Order of St. George, 1st class, is worn on a shoulder sash that runs over the right shoulder.
- The badge of the Order of St. George II and III degrees is worn on a neck ribbon.
- The badge of the Order of St. George, IV degree, is worn on a block on the left side of the chest and is located in front of other orders and medals.
- Recipients wear the insignia of all degrees of the Order of St. George. At the same time, those awarded the Order of St. George, 1st class, do not wear the star of the Order of St. George, 2nd class. When wearing the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the sign of the Order of St. George, 1st degree, is not worn on the shoulder ribbon.
- The surnames, first names and patronymics of those awarded the Order of St. George are recorded for immortalization on marble plaques in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 13, 2008 “On amendments to some acts of the President of the Russian Federation on state awards of the Russian Federation,” paragraph 2 of the order’s statute is stated in a new edition:
"2. The Order of St. George is awarded to military personnel from among senior and senior officers for conducting combat operations to defend the Fatherland during an attack by an external enemy, which ended in the complete defeat of the enemy, as well as for conducting combat and other operations on the territory of other states while maintaining or restoring international peace and security, which have become a model of military art, whose exploits serve as an example of valor and courage and who were awarded state awards of the Russian Federation for distinction shown in combat operations.”
Description
The Order of St. George I and II degrees has a badge and a star, III and IV degrees have only a badge. The order's ribbon is silk, moire, made of alternating equally wide three black and two orange stripes.
- I degree. The badge of the order, made of gold, is a straight equal-pointed cross with flared ends, covered on both sides with white enamel. Along the edges of the cross there is a narrow convex welt. In the center of the cross there is a round double-sided medallion with a convex gilded border. The front side of the medallion is covered with red enamel with the image of St. George in silver armor, in a cloak and helmet, on a white horse. The rider's cloak and helmet, the horse's saddle and harness are golden in color. The horseman faces to the right and strikes a black serpent with a golden-colored spear. The reverse side of the medallion is covered with white enamel with the image of the order’s monogram made of black intertwined letters “SG”. At the lower end of the cross is the number of the sign. The distance between the ends of the cross is 60 mm. At the upper end of the cross there is an eyelet for attaching to a ribbon. The badge of the order is attached to a ribbon 100 mm wide.
The star of the order is four-pointed, made of silver with gilding. In the center of the star is a round gilded medallion with a convex border and the order’s monogram of black intertwined letters “SG”. Along the circumference of the medallion, on a black enamel field with gilded edging, is the motto of the order: “For service and bravery.” At the top of the circle, between the words, is a gilded crown. The distance between the opposite ends of the star is 82 mm.