Military

PERSIA

The Pahlavi Dynasty

ORDERS & DECORATIONS

The miniature medal bar of H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi

Centre: the badge and sash of the Order of Maha Chakri of Thailand. Left to right: the Order of Zulfiqhar 1st class, the Third Isfand Decoration, the Orders of Sipah, Merit, Glory, and Kidmat, the Gold Medal of Merit, unidentified, unidentified, the Order of the Bath, the Royal Victorian Order, the Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre with palm of France, the Order of the Renaissance of Jordan, the Order of Leopold of Belgium, the Order of the Redeemer of Greece, the Order of the Golden Spur of the Vatican, the Order of the Supreme Sun of Afghanistan, the Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, the Order of Muhammad 'Ali of Egypt, US Legion of Merit, Nishan-i-Pakistan, unidentified, and the Order of the Prospitious Clouds of China (note: some of the ribbons worn by the Shah are actually incorrect).

The Third Isfand Decoration

Founded by H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1924 as a reward of valour for officers and other ranks of the Imperial Armed Forces. Awarded in three classes: first class in gold, second class in silver and third class in bronze.

The insignia of the order consists of an un-enamelled crowned eagle in relief with outstretched wings, and a rising sun in the background. Recipients of the order wore the badge suspended from a silk ribbon and medal bar, on the left breast. The colours of the ribbon are red with two broad vertical stripes of black in the centre. The first class includes a small gold eagle with wings outstretched, worn on the ribbon.

Nishan-i-Sipah
The Order of Sipah

Founded by Ahmad Shah Qajar on 19^th April 1924, at the suggestion of Reza Khan. The conditions for award were gallantry in action, courage or exceptional bravery, particularly in internal conflicts. The order consisted of three classes (Nishan-i-Sipah).

The insignia of the order consists of a gold badge with five arms with rounded ends, separated by five swords between the arms and a round disk in the centre. The arms of the badge are in deep red enamel while the swords are in un-enamelled gold. The central disk bears a gold Pahlavi crown on a blue enamelled field.

Recipients of the first class wear the badge of the order suspended from a silk ribbon of red moiré with narrow vertical white stripes near the border. The badge of the first class is worn from a ribbon around the neck. When worn from a medal bar on the left breast, the ribbon has a small gold wreath in the centre.

Recipients of the second class wore the same badge as the first class, but without wreath. The ribbon of the second class is worn from a medal bar on the left breast, with a small silver wreath in the centre of the ribbon.

Attached to the order are three medals (Midal-i-Sipah) intended for con-commissioned officers and men. The first class in gold, with the same obverse as the order, enamelled and superimpowed onto the face of a medal. The second class is in silver-gilt and third in plain silver. The last two classes are conventional medals, both bearing two crossed scimitars and a crown above a wreath.

Nishan-i-Liaqat
The Order of Merit

H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi founded this order in 1937 to reward distinguished military services during times of peace or war, in one class (Nishan-i-Liaqat).

The insignia of the order consists of a circular gold decoration of three arms, enamelled in blue, with rounded ends. In the centre, a small disk with a gold Pahlavi crown on a red enamelled field and surrounded by a simple raised gold band. The whole, resting on a wreath in gold, someway towards the circumference of the arms of the "star", but only visible between them. At the bottom, over the wreath, but under the two lower arms, two crossed scimitars in plain gold, pointing upward. The upper arm attached to a round suspension ring.

Recipients of the first class wore the badge of the order suspended from a moiré ribbon of light blue with red border stripes.

Recipients of the second class wore the same badge as the first class, but without wreath. The ribbon of the second class is worn from a medal bar on the left breast, with a small silver wreath in the centre of the ribbon.

Recipients of the third class wore the same badge as the second class, but smaller and suspended from a ribbon and medal bar, on the left breast.

H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah instituted the Medal of Merit (Midal-i-Liaqat) in 1959, a silver-gilt medal attached to the order and conferred on other ranks.

Nishan-i-Iftikhar
The Order of Glory

H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi founded the order in 1937 to reward distinguished military services during times of peace or war, in one class (Nishan-i-Iftikhar). H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah instituted a gold medal (Midal-i-Iftikhar) for other ranks in 1954.

Copyright©Christopher Buyers
The badge of the order is similar to the badge of the Order of Zulfikhar, but with the star enamelled in blue and resting on a point of a single arm of the star. In the centre, a small disk with a gold Pahlavi crown on a red enamelled field, surrounded by one band enamelled in white, itself surrounded by another band enamelled in green. The whole resting on a five-pointed gold star with many rays, the rays grouped in sevens between the arms of the enamelled star. The uppermost point of the gold background star attached to a simple, round suspension ring.

Recipients of the order wore the badge suspended from a silk ribbon and medal bar, on the left breast. The colours of the ribbon are five narrow vertical stripes of black separated by four narrow stripes of white. They also wore a small gold wreath, in the middle of the ribbon.

Nishan-i-Kidmat
The Order of Service

H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah founded the order in 1949 as a reward for faithful military services. The order consisted of three classes (Nishan-i-Kidmat) and a medal of honour (Midal-i-Kidmat).

The badge of the order is a five-armed gold star, similar to the badge of the Order of the Crown of Iran. The arms of the star, enamelled in red with each of the ten points topped with gold ball finials. The centre of the star has a small, round disk bearing a gold Pahlavi crown, on a red enamelled field. The arms of the star rest on a laurel wreath, about halfway between the tips of the star and the disk in the centre. Between the arms of the uppermost ray of the star, a small Pahlavi crown attached to a suspension device, including a sprig of leaves tied in a knot.

Recipients of the first class wear the badge of the order in gold, suspended from a silk ribbon of gold moiré edged with red, with a central vertical stripe of green edged in red. The badge of the first class is worn from a ribbon around the neck. The laurel wreath and sprig of leaves in the suspension are enmelled in green.

Recipients of the second class wear the badge of the order in silver gilt, from a medal bar on the left breast, the ribbon has a small wreath in the centre. The laurel wreath and sprig of leaves in the suspension are enmelled in green.

Recipients of the third class wear the badge of the order in silver, from a medal bar on the left breast, without the wreath. The laurel wreath and sprig of leaves in the suspension are in plain silver, without enamel.

The medal is enamelled silver-gilt depicting the star, one arm of which points upward with the crown on a red enamelled circular background

Nishan-i-Daraksh
The Order of Splendour

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah on 22^nd March 1947. Awarded in three classes to officers of the police forces in recognition of distinguished services rendered to the force.

Nishan-i-Danesh
The Order of Danesh

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah as an order of merit bestowed on distinguished scholars and scientists. Awarded in two classes in gold, from a ribbon of silk moiré with stripes of red, white, and red, all of equal width. Members of the first class wear a gold three-quarter wreath on the ribbon. Members of the second class wear the ribbon without a wreath.

No details of the insignia are available.

Nishan-i-Honar
The Order of Arts

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah as an order of merit for those distinguished in the fine arts. Awarded in three classes: first class in gold, second class in silver-gilt, and third class in plain silver.

No details of the insignia are available.

Nishan-i-Pas
The Police Order

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah on 22^nd March 1947. Awarded in three classes to officers of the police forces for meritorious services. Also to civilians and members of the public who render outstanding assistance to the police in the execution of their duty, and performing acts condusive to public order. Attached to the order, a medal (Midal-i-Pas) awarded to Police other ranks, under similar conditions to the order.

The insignia of the order consists of a badge of six arms with rounded ends, separated by rays between the arms, a round disk in the centre, resting on crossed sword and sheaf. The arms of the badge are in sky blue enamel while the rays are in un-enamelled. The central disk bears a Pahlavi crown on a red enamelled field.

Recipients of the first class wear the badge of the order in silver gilt, suspended from a silk ribbon of black moiré with four vertical stripes of yellow edged white. The badge of the first class is worn from a ribbon around the neck.

Recipients of the second class wear the badge of the order in silver, from a medal bar on the left breast, the ribbon has a small wreath in the centre.

Recipients of the third class wear the badge of the order in silver, from a medal bar on the left breast, without the wreath.

Nishan-i-Sepas

The Order of Gratitude

Founded by H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi as an award for lower ranking civil servants and government officials for distinguished, long, faithful or meritorious service. Awarded in three classes: first class in gold, second class in silver and third class in bronze.

The insignia consists of a circular medallion. In the centre a small bust of a bearded man facing left and crowned by a laurel wreath. The bust rests in the centre of a four-armed cross, the arms of which resemble extended flames. The arms rest on a circular wreath of twelve flowers, with petals partly enamelled in green. The outer circumference of the wreath resembles that of a medal. The area between the arms of the cross and the wreath is open. The medallion is worn from a ribbon of silk moiré with vertical stripes of green, white and red, all of equal width.

Nishan-i-Avecinna
The Order of Avecinna

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah. This order has a ribbon of five narrow red vertical stripes separated by four narrow vertical stripes of gold, in the same width. A gold cup with two snakes entwined on either side, worn on the ribbon.

No details of the insignia are available.

Nishan-i-Razy
The Order of Razy

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah. The ribbon of this order is silk moiré, red with narrow vertical white stripes towards the border. A gold cup with two snakes entwined on either side, worn on the ribbon.

No details of the insignia are available.

The Sarbolandy Badge

Founded by H.I.M. Muhammad Reza Shah in 1971 and awarded to the families of military personnel who died or were killed on active service. The ribbon is dark red or black with narrow vertical stripes of red towards the border. Worn with a gold Pahlavi crown on the ribbon.

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