| Order of the Dannebrog Dannebrogordenen | |
|---|---|
 Order of the Dannebrog, Breast Star of the Grand Cross, unofficial model | |
Awarded by  Sovereign of Denmark[1] | |
| Type | Chivalric order with six grades, one grade augmentation, and one related decoration |
| Established | 12 October 1671[2] |
| Country |  Kingdom of Denmark |
| Ribbon | White with red edges |
| Motto | Gud og Kongen (Danish for 'God and the King') |
| Criteria | Meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for those working for Danish interests |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Christian V |
| Grand Master | Frederik X |
| Grades | Grand Commander (S.Kmd.) Grand Cross (S.K.) Commander 1st Class (K.1) Commander (K.) Knight 1st Class (R.1) Knight (R.) |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of the Elephant |
| Next (lower) | Medal of Merit |
| Related | Decoration of the Cross of Honour of the Dannebrog |
 Grand Commander
 Knight Ribbon bars of the Order | |
The Order of the Dannebrog (Danish: Dannebrogordenen)[3] is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank,[4] who formed a single class known as White Knights to distinguish them from the Blue Knights who were members of the Order of the Elephant.[5] In 1808, the Order was reformed and divided into four classes. The statute of the Order was amended in 1951 by a Royal Ordinance so that both men and women could be members of the Order. Today, the Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests.
- ^ Jespersen, Knud J. V. "The Royal Orders of Chivalry". Denmark: The Official Website of Denmark. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
The Queen heads the two Danish Royal Orders of Chivalry, the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog....Any decision about the bestowal of honours continues to lie solely with the Head of the Order, but the day-to-day administration of the honours system is undertaken by the College of Arms, which forms part of the royal court
- ^ Robertson, Megan C. (16 December 2011). "Kingdom of Denmark: Order of the Dannebrog". Medals of the World. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
Ribbon: White with red edges...Instituted: 12 October 1671 by King Christian V...Awarded: For special deeds or conspicuous service to Denmark..Grades: 6 plus a Silver Cross – renamed Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog (Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn) in 1952
- ^ "De kongelige Ridderordener". Monarkiet i Danmark (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Kongehuset (The Danish Royal House). 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
Danmark har to kongelige ridderordener, Elefantordenen og Dannebrogordenen (Denmark has two Royal Orders of Chivalry: The Order of the Elephant, and The Order of Dannebrog)
- ^ "The Royal Orders of Chivalry". The Danish Monarchy, Official Homepage of the Danish Royal Family. Kongehuset (The Royal House of Denmark). 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
According to those statutes, the order had only one grade called 'White Knight', corresponding to today's 'Grand Cross Knight'. The circle of knights was limited to Danish royalty and noblemen; commoners were not considered. That changed in connection with the expansion of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1808. On that occasion, the order was divided into different grades, and the circle of those decorated was widened to include common-born persons. Along with a series of lesser changes later, the decisions from 1808 continue as the formal basis for conferral of the Order of the Dannebrog. Today, Danish commoners constitute by far the largest group of those decorated
- ^ "The Order of Dannebrog". Ordenshistorish Selskab. The Orders and Medals Society of Denmark. 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
The order had one class and the members were called 'white knights' (as opposed to the Order of the Elephant's 'blue knights')