Order this country are few, however, they differ from other awards of a peculiar form of their orders signs and legends about their origins. Highest National Award of Denmark is the Order of Elephant, which has the original sign. All other medal marks, even with all of their rarity and unusual forms, conceived as a more or less flat, so that one of their party they can fit snugly to your clothing.
In the international language of emblems elephant symbolizes wisdom, justice, generosity and noble qualities. In Denmark, he meets and other awards, as well as art prints and other works of art, which is largely saturated with allegory. Danish Order of Elephant is a miniature sculpture voluminous: elephant, covered with white enamel and decorated with diamonds, has a battle on the back turret, which in turn is a ground ring. Before the turret on the neck elephant sits a black teamster.
Danish knight of knights and other countries, with the impetuosity hearts were ready to serve God′s cause, and therefore readily joined in the crusades. An ancient legend tells that during one such trip Danish Knights defeated the Saracen, who fought in the battle elephant. In memory of the meeting, the giant animals, and in honor to win in 1190 in Denmark and was established by order of the elephant.
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Photo: "DANISH AWARDS: ORDER ELEPHANT
AND ORDER DANEBROG" |
However, reliable (not legendary) history of the Order can be seen only from the middle of XV century, when it restored the Danish King Christian II, to reward them with persons of both sexes.
The statute of the Order of the Elephant time reflected a religious Order "Brotherhood of the Holy Virgin Mary", but in the era of the Reformation emblematika this ancient Order lost its religious content. Again Elephant Order was restored in 1623, when he became a secular court award, this time only men. Star orders - eight, shitaya a round silver plates. In its center, a red velvet box, placed a large rosette with chetyrehkonechnym cross frame laurel branches, bandaged on top and bottom with gold ribbons.
In Russia, the first knight of the Order of the Danish Elephant is "His Serene Highness Prince ′AD Menshikov. He was awarded them in 1710, but soon the Danish envoy in Russia found that Duke violated the statute of orders on which the sign of the Order of Elephant on clothing can not be side by side no other. AD Menshikov also in conjunction with the Order of Elephant attach to his uniform and a sign of the Order of Andrew.
In 1713 chevalier Elephant became Peter I, AI Repnin, Russian Ambassador to the Danish yard VL Dolgoruky, and VV Dolgoruky.
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Photo: "DANISH AWARDS: ORDER ELEPHANT
AND ORDER DANEBROG" |
However, orders had to sign the latter returned to Denmark in 1719, as this grandee was implicated in the Tsarevich Alexei. But in 1726, after the death of Peter I, VV Dolgoruky returned to the court, and in the same year he took his second medal awarding Danish Elephant. However, the second order in 6 years, returned to Copenhagen, as well as field-marshal disgrace and sent into exile. Ten years later, he received the third time the Danish award, which this time he remained until his death.Order Elephant highly appreciated in Russia. Once a composer has devoted his music to Prince AB Kurakin, but are listed in the dedication of its titles, missed the Order of the elephant. After reading the dedication, the Prince exclaimed indignantly. "What a fool! Tell unheeded. "
Semantic foundation of the Order Danebrog became the banner of the state of Denmark, which shows a red cross. In June 1219 the Danish army led by King Waldemar and the Archbishop Anders Sunesenom landed in Estonia at the place Lyundamisse. The Danes sailed in ships, to fight against pagans, estami, but only when they moor to the shore, as the King was the Estonian princes to request mercy and acceptance of Christian baptism. But humility estov was sham, and after three days they were at night with all the parties attacked the Danish camp.
In the army of King Waldemar started panicking, and all seemed to point to a complete defeat.
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Photo: "DANISH AWARDS: ORDER ELEPHANT
AND ORDER DANEBROG" |
But Prince Vitslav, located with his team on the sea, bravely go into battle with estami. During this time, the King gathered his mounted warriors, under the red banner of Danebrog, which legend says the following.During a battle with the Danes estami when the outcome of the battle for the King Valdemar was still questionable, Archbishop Sunesen ascended the hill vozdel hands toward heaven and began to pray to God for victory. When his hand fell from fatigue, then came the other priests to support the Archbishop. At this time, instead of lost, came down from heaven, the red ensign with the image of a cross and a voice. "If you keep it high the banner, it will be victorious." Miracle has stopped the flight began, it was the Danes and bring them to victory.
The existence of the Order Danebrog adjourned the Reformation era, but in 1671 King Christian V to resume. The Order has several degrees, the lower orders mark (grade 5), indicating the date of the establishment and reorganization of the Order Danebrog - 1219, 1671 and 1809 years. The motto of the Order - "PIETATE ET JUSTITIAE" ( "piety and justice").
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