historical value distinctions, no matter what age or big event they are treated over the years will continue to grow as an increasing number of collectors selected for collecting orders, medals and various icons.Some private collection hit list of the exhibits, even the boldest imagination - their total cost can amount to hundreds of thousands and even millions of American money.Today we look at another area of interest of collectors - medals times of Tsarist Russia.
Order of Merit as recognition
According to the chronicles, first Order of the Russian empire appeared in the reign of Peter the Great - the recognized historians and political scientists of the entire world community reformer Russia.But while the appearance of the very first national distinctions can be safely attributed to the beginning of the second millennium.In historical documents dated 1100 year, we mention the awarding of a gold torque Alexander Popovich for reflection Polovtsian during a raid on Kiev.It is in the Vladimir Monomakh, he was awarded a massive gold hoop (gold torque), which is worn around the neck, the future, as one might expect, the hero of the epic tales Alyosha Popovich.
emergence of the Russian tsars in the state has changed the age-old foundations, changed and honoring the most distinguished guests.In addition to land holdings, increasing pay, raising to a rank, rank increase began gifting decent pendants, rings, brooches, that could be worn on the exposed parts of the body or clothing as a special distinction from the others.
first Order of the Russian Empire
appearance of the first full insignia having a close resemblance to those that have been established in this century, historians, as already mentioned, dates back to the reign of Peter the Great.Blessed and today the Order of St. Andrew, Peter was established in 1698.The exact date of his appearance there, some sources indicated, and in 1699-th.Even traveling in Europe, Peter decided that it is time to know the world and the Order of the Russian Empire.Photo the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle now included in all historical catalogs.
On the patron saint of the king fell selection is not accidental.It is due to church tradition, tells the story of the first Christian preaching of the Apostle Andrew in the Russian land.In 1720 was registered status of the award, which explained that this distinction is based for the suppression of the ancient Scottish Order - the subjects of the Emperor of Russia should follow the Orthodox Christian tradition.
Knights of the Order of St. Andrew
apply for the Order of St. Andrew of the military might - cavalry general or General of Infantry.His first became a knight of Fedor Alekseevich Golovin - diplomat, advisor of Peter, the first royal admiral, who was Russian by birth, to his admirals appointed foreigners in the service of the king.Orders and medals of the Russian Empire at that time generously gave away to foreigners.Order of St. Andrew and the band received at different times of Napoleon I and his younger brother Jerome, the marshals Berthier and Murat, Prince Talleyrand and the Duke of Wellington.
But under Peter the second Knight of the Order of St. Andrew became hetman Ivan Mazepa - a rather remarkable personality in Russian history.Overall, during the reign of Peter the holders of the Order were about 40 people, including the king himself (he was seventh holder of the Order), as well as his loyal subject, Alexander Menshikov.
During the reign of Paul I, the Order of St. Andrew began to complain and clerics.For example, in 1796 the Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg Gabriel got Andreev insignia.
establishment of some Russian orders
Order of the Russian Empire, a collection whose striking beauty and grandeur, were established all Russian tsars.Before the reign of Paul, who introduced not only some new rewards, but also changed the rules of the award of the Order of St. Andrew, a lot has been done, and Catherine the Great.She November 26, 1769 has been royally established the Order of St. George the Great Martyr and Victorious.The right to wear it were endowed with a higher officer ranks of the Russian army.He is awarded for military feats, neither high birth or early Merit for the Fatherland could not serve as a pretext for awarding the Order - only loyalty oath, duty and honor, who brought glory to Russian arms.I had the Order four degrees.
Another mark of distinction, the highest order of the Russian Empire - "For Faith and Loyalty" - was founded by the same Peter in 1699 and had the status of the highest award.His cavalry could be both military officials and civilians.He is awarded with the very rare and revered occasions.Color tape was blue, just one degree.Signs of the Order was a blue cross and an eight-pointed star.The cross was worn on the belt slung over his right shoulder, a star - on the left side of the chest.
in the name and for the glory of the Order of the Russian
In 1725 was founded the Order of Alexander Nevsky."Russian Empire have someone to be proud of," - says Peter, a plan of the institution of the Order.They in 1710 was founded by Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg, where in 1742, 30 August, were transferred to the saint's relics.The award was created as a mark of distinction for martial merit and is awarded only to military officials.
Order "release of the" Peter was also conceived to perpetuate the achievements of Queen Catherine - beloved wife of the king, he will deliver in 1711 the Emperor of captivity Prus.The very same award came in 1714 and was soon renamed the Order of St. Catherine.
sign in the name of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Prince Vladimir the Great, in September 1782 the first was founded by Empress Catherine II.That year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of her reign and the first knight of the Order of I degree became Catherine herself.
Order of the Russian empire appeared mainly to mark some important events.Thus, the memory of Princess Olga decided to immortalize in the Order has in more recent times.Year of its foundation - 1913th.It was established by Nicholas II and marked the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.
Order of the Empire as a reflection of the state church
In tsarist Russia, no accident that the majority of awards were the names of Orthodox saints.The indivisibility of the state and the primacy of the Church confessed by the parties and the population of the country at all times of the empire.For three hundred commemorate the anniversary of the king's house was awarded the Saint Olga, of which in 955 was committed sacrament of baptism during her journey to Constantinople.Olga's grandson - Saint Vladimir - after the legendary "test faiths" in every way trying to instill the true faith and his people put around their grandmother as a worthy example.Canonised Princess Olga, in spite of all its sins and hardness of heart, for it is the true bearing of the holy faith.
If you see the full list of awards, established in imperial Russia, it becomes apparent that a rare reward was not wearing a name of an Orthodox saint.And the highest order of the Russian Empire was renamed, not only because of the love of Peter to his wife.
Jubilee and commemorative medals.Causes
All distinctions, among which there were not as many orders as medals and badges, remember and impossible to list - thousands of them.Most appeared after the memorable events of a political or military nature.If we talk about the imperial ancestor premium collection, with a light hand of Peter it was established a lot of event medals.On them you can learn the history of the Russian state.
So, after winning the Battle of Poltava, at the Battle of Gangut under Borodino, were issued corresponding to medal awarding the most distinguished individuals involved in these military campaigns.Taking of Izmail, the defense of Sevastopol, the defeat of Napoleon at Austerlitz, Suvorov Crossing the Alps.All of this - milestones, and each of them tells established orders and medals of the Russian Empire.It is important to note the fact that Russia - the first European country where medals were awarded not only to the highest officer ranks, but ordinary soldiers.
Collecting awards: originals and copies
To produce imperial orders required gems and precious metals: gold, platinum, silver, which previously was valued much higher than today.They are produced by the Mint, materials accounting was carried out with the utmost rigor.From stones The most popular diamond, the price was also rubies, emeralds, turquoise.Needless to say, that originals and replicas of the orders of the Russian empire in our time have no value - except museums have such rarities not everyone can collector, and their worldwide lot.
shame and what to admire most of them are only a few, and the right to see this beauty has personally each.That's reasoned founder of the collection of "Order of the Russian Empire," "AIF" - the most popular in Russia and in the CIS weekly.By the time the "Arguments and Facts" has already had the experience, and quite successful, to produce a series of journal collections orders.
Collections of the newspaper "Arguments and Facts»
Today, hundreds of Russians, read the history of the Fatherland, has acquired illustrated magazines and custom-designed weekly awards replicas of the Soviet Union.There are examples of their use of higher insignia of a number of foreign countries.Collection "Order of the Russian Empire," "AIF" was invented and created a few years ago - in the spring of 2012, but has already managed to cause a considerable stir in the collector circles.
Is it a copy of the 22 orders, transmitting exact details of the originals, but, of course, made of a simple metal, decorated with hot enamels.The scope of the Order included magazines, which described in detail the history of occurrence of orders, the award itself, and also lists all of the most prominent and distinguished gentlemen, over the years award of a mark of distinction.In addition to the orders that have been listed above, the collection includes the sign and the Star of the Military Order of the dignity of the Order of St. Anne, St. Stanislaus, St. John of Jerusalem, St. Nicholas, some other awards.All them, as has been said, and twenty-two.
Signs.Stars.Order
awarding the Order includes not only the promotion of merit.Equally valuable was the fact that the order served as a kind of additional plus for promotion, and to the possession of the Order of 1826 gave the right to hereditary nobility.However, this privilege is then left for a few gentlemen of the highest awards.
highest order of the Russian Empire before the revolution, there are eight names, but some of them had on several levels.Distinctive signs were cross, stars and ribbons.The Order of the Cross was attached to the sash, worn over the shoulder and worn on her hip level.Star of the Order worn on the chest.Tape certain color had the same value, as are the Cross and the Star.Thus, the highest order had just three decals mostly wore them at the same time.Pure female award, and there were those possessed equally with men in all relying orders privileges.
Museum exhibits - witness the glory of the empire
Russian Federation has many worthy of respect for the museum, which contains priceless artifacts, reflecting the great glory of the Fatherland.In one of them - a museum-treasury "Armoury" - the originals are kept the king's robes, crowns, signs of imperial power.A kind is no longer a museum, a repository of items of priceless artistic and historical importance.Order of the Russian Empire is worthy of such a museum, but the originals are kept in the royal awards mainly in private collections.
Today, the only and the most likely opportunity to buy a real Order, the Russian emperors - to attend all kinds of auctions, where quite often come across scripts.But wishing to buy them must remember that it will cost a fortune.Most of us are quite accessible their replicas, produced numerous goldsmith.When making copies using non-ferrous alloys, crystals Swarovski.Products have very quaint artistic value and are in high demand among collectors.
legacy of a great power, as reflected in today
As already mentioned, the signs of the Orders of the Russian Empire included and sashes.All of them had a unique color for each award.Three of them are related to the Order of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Catherine (formerly - The Order of Liberation), I was prepared for a special destiny - to become a symbol of our time.
value St. George ribbon is known to each of us - it on the Day of the Great Victory over fascism pinned to his chest all - from small to large.Blue and red St. Andrew's tape of Catherine have continued.Peculiar signs orders of the Russian Empire are familiar to us from childhood.
In the reign of Paul I was introduced to assign custom Grand Dukes baptismal Order of St. Andrew - a blue sash tied them immediately after the naming.Grand Duchess also received medals and ribbons - red and gold border - signs of the Order of St. Catherine.Dignitaries wishing daughters fate ladies, introduced the custom to dress red ribbon baptized his daughters.The custom has come down to our times, it is the best evidence of the grandeur and importance of the high imperial awards.
