| Hungarian Order of Merit | |
| Awarded By: | President of Hungary |
| Type: | State decoration |
| Status: | Currently constituted |
| First Induction: | 1991 |
| Higher: | Hungarian Order of Honour |
| Lower: | Hungarian Cross of Merit |
The Hungarian Order of Merit (Hungarian: Magyar Érdemrend) is the fourth highest State Order of Hungary. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary which existed from 1922 until 1946.
In 2011 its official name changed from Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary to Hungarian Order of Merit in accordance with the new Hungarian Constitution. It is awarded in either civilian or military divisions.
Since 2011, the Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen is the highest State honour of Hungary.
The civil division is divided into six grades, whilst the military division is divided into five. The highest grade, the Grand Cross with Chain, is exclusive to the civilian division and is only awarded to heads of state and the President of Hungary ex-officio.[1] The maximum number of awards which are permitted to be made to Hungarian citizens per year is subject to the grade in the following fashion:[2]
Grand Cross: 5
Commander's Cross with Star: 20
Commander's Cross: 40
Officer's Cross: 140
Knight's Cross: 300
Guide on how to wear different classes of the order | ||||||
| Grades | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight's Cross | Officer's Cross | Commander's Cross | Commander's Cross with Star | Grand Cross | Grand Cross with Chain | |