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Order of merit for distinguished service From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta; Swedish: Finlands Vita Ros’ orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board.
Order of the White Rose of Finland
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![]() Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland | |
Awarded by ![]() | |
Type | State order |
Established | January 28, 1919 |
Country | Finland |
Seat | House of the Estates[1] |
Ribbon | Ultramarine |
Motto | Isänmaan hyväksi ('For the Good of the Fatherland') |
Eligibility | Finnish nationals and foreigners[2] |
Criteria | Distinguished service to the fatherland[2] |
Status | Currently constituted |
Founder | Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim |
Grand Master | Alexander Stubb[1] |
Chancellor | Jussi Nuorteva[1] |
Vice-Chancellor | Kari Jordan[1] |
Classes |
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Website | ritarikunnat |
Statistics | |
First induction | February 12, 1919[3] |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | (Order of the White Rose of Finland is the highest order) |
Next (lower) | Order of the Cross of Liberty |
![]() Ribbon of the Order of the White Rose of Finland |
The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Gustaf Mannerheim in his capacity as regent (temporary head of state) on January 28, 1919.[4][5] The name comes from the nine roses argent in the coat of arms of Finland.[6] The order's rules and regulations were confirmed on May 16, 1919,[7] and its present rules date from June 1, 1940. The revised scale of ranks was confirmed most recently in 1985. The original decorations were designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The swastikas of the collar were replaced by fir crosses in 1963, designed by heraldic artist Gustaf von Numers. The honour can be granted for military as well as civilian merit.
The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine, as it is found in the flag of Finland, although officially the statutes do not define the color of the ribbon beyond it being "dark blue".[8] The motto of the order appears on the medallion and is Isänmaan hyväksi (Finnish for 'For the Good of the Fatherland').[2][9]
The President of Finland wears the Grand Cross of the White Rose of Finland with Collar (a neck chain). The Collar is worn four centimetres from either side and hangs at equal distances at the front and back. The Grand Cross and Commander marks are awarded with a breast star.
The classes of the order of the White Rose of Finland are:
Generally the Grand Cross with Collar is awarded only to foreign heads of state, e.g. to King Fuad I of Egypt (1935), Charles de Gaulle (1962), Josip Broz Tito (1963) and King Birendra of Nepal (1988). In the case of royals, consorts may be awarded with it. Heirs apparent of Nordic monarchies have also been awarded.[10] The Grand Master may however in principle award it at his pleasure.[11] During World War II Hermann Göring and Joachim von Ribbentrop were exceptionally given the Grand Cross with Collar because Adolf Hitler would not receive orders.[12]
Prime Ministers of Finland customarily receive the Grand Cross. (Certain leftist politicians refused the cross or did not wear it, and the transient term in office of Anneli Jäätteenmäki did not lead to the President awarding the cross.)[13] The Grand Cross is also given to presidents of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, the Archbishop of Turku and Finland, and the Chancellor of the order.[14]
Year | Commander | Notes |
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1919 | ![]() |
Regent of Finland (1918–1919) Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces (1918, 1939–1946) President of Finland (1944–1946) |
???? | ![]() |
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1926 | ![]() |
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1930 | ![]() |
President of Czechoslovakia |
1931 | ![]() |
Regent of Hungary |
1934 | ![]() |
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1939 | ![]() |
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1941 | ![]() |
for services "toward relieving the civilian population of wartorn Finland".[15] |
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politician, military leader | |
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1942 | ![]() |
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Emperor of Japan[16] | |
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1944 | ![]() |
[17] |
1947 | ![]() |
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1951 | ![]() |
in 1948 Aabel became the Assistant Military Attaché in Helsinki, Finland[18] |
1955 | ![]() |
[19] |
1956 | ![]() |
[20] [21] |
1960 | ![]() |
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1961 | ![]() |
[22] |
1962 | ![]() |
[16] |
1963 | ![]() |
|
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1967 | ![]() |
[23] |
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first wife of actor Gregory Peck | |
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US Army Attaché | |
1969 | ![]() |
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1971 | ![]() |
|
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1974 | ![]() |
King of Sweden[16] |
1976 | ![]() |
[16] |
1978 | ![]() |
Marshal of the Soviet Union |
1983 | ![]() |
|
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1984 | ![]() |
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1988 | ![]() |
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late king of Nepal[16] | |
1991 | ![]() |
[24] |
1996 | ![]() |
King of Thailand |
2003 | ![]() |
|
2004 | ![]() |
Executive Director – International Programs, FEMBA/GAP programs, UCLA Anderson School of Management[25] "for assisting the expansion of Finnish start-up companies through the UCLA Anderson's Global Access Program."[25] |
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Knight of the Order of White Rose of Finland, ice hockey executive, businessman, and politician[26] | |
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historian | |
2005 | ![]() |
philologist, linguist |
2006 | ![]() |
[27] |
2007 | ![]() |
|
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[28][29] | |
2008 | ![]() |
|
![]() |
Managing Director – Finnforest USA | |
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Chief Executive Officer, Nokia Siemens Networks | |
2009 | ![]() |
|
![]() |
President of Kazakhstan[30] | |
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[31] | |
2010 | ![]() |
|
2011 | ![]() |
Former executive vice president and CTO of Nokia. Henry was a tenured professor of computer science at the University of Helsinki. Henry holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Helsinki, Finland and an honorary doctorate from University of Tampere, Finland. |
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Professor, Director – GAP, UCLA Anderson School of Management[32] "in recognition of his efforts, through the GAP program, to help Finnish technology companies expand into markets abroad, including the United States"[33] and their advancement "further in corporate development."[32] | |
2012 | ![]() |
President of Finland (2012–2024) |
![]() |
Miss Universe 1952 | |
2015 | ![]() |
[34] |
![]() |
[35] Chevalier (Knight) of the White Rose of Finland | |
2016 | ![]() |
Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose for the promotion of Finnish culture including the commissioning Rockland the Opera[36] |
2017 | ![]() |
[37] |
2021 | ![]() |
[38] |
2022 | ![]() | |
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2024 | ![]() |
President of Finland (2024–) |
2024 | ![]() |
President of Estonia (2021–) |
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