In July 1859 the Swiss physician A. Dunant was present at the battlefield in the village of Solferino in Lombardy. He was a kind and sentimental, and therefore suffering injuries caused in him a burning desire to help the suffering. But as A. Dunant was still a practical man, he decided to found a world organization to provide medical care to the wounded and the victims of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.

The tenth of January 1429, the day of his wedding to Isabella of Portugal, a Burgundian Duke Philip the Good established the Golden Fleece - in honor of the Virgin Mary and St. Andrew and in defense of the faith and the Catholic Church. However, the symbolism of the Order and its motto is caused by some researchers doubt that Philip Good guided only by pious intentions. Some note that the establishment of the Order of the Golden Fleece was a political goal, and one of them - gather in a single fist, a small group of high nobility of the various provinces, which rules the Duke of Burgundy. These provinces were joined to the domain of Philip the Good because of the numerous dynastic marriages and various forms of inheritance, but did not have a unifying tradition of obedience and loyalty to a common suzerain.

Many researchers (in particular, Professor of the University of Perm AV Kolobov) felt that in any army ancient world did not exist a developed system of military awards, like the Romans. In the time of the Roman Republic there were different kinds of rewards for distinguished soldiers in combat arms and ornaments, taken from prostrate enemy, the special signs of military prowess, cash bonuses and more than the other, the amount of available prey. Distributed wreaths were also different advantages, boxes, necklaces, bracelets, medals and special spears that have not been used in combat.

From ancient times to the present day one of the symbols of valor and courage is a weapon, so among the prizes for feats of arms premium weapons is one of the most honorable places. In Russia, the award for his service weapon and the king of the Fatherland means only since 1807, but have distinguished themselves in battle Russian soldiers expensive and beautiful weapon bestowed back in the old days. And it happened so long ago that the military scientists and even difficult to answer, but when it happened the first time. Among the first awards are usually called sword V. Shuisky saber DM Pozharsky and saber BM Khitrovo. The bar at the last sword is now housed in the Tsar′s museum, gold pointed remark: "Sovereign Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia Mikhail Fedorovich granted shoyu sword ATTENDANT Bogdan Matveye Khitrovo."

Jose Marti, the hero of the Cuban people, both talked about this fighter for the independence of Latin America, freed from Spanish colonial rule, several countries: "On Bolivar need to speak to the mountain top, and that thunder and blinding lightning, talk about it listened to all liberated peoples, and at their feet lay prostrate and decapitated tyranny. "