Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein explained

Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein Fürstlich liechtensteinischer Verdienstorden
Awarded By:	Prince of Liechtenstein
Established:	22 July 1937
For:	Service to the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Status:	Currently constituted
Head:	Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Head Title:	Sovereign
Grades:	Knight Grand Cross, Special Class Knight/Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class Knight/Dame Grand Cross Knight Grand Officer Knight Commander Knight Officer Knight Medal of Merit
Date:	22 July 1937

The Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstlich liechtensteinischer Verdienstorden) is an order of merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein that is awarded for services rendered to the principality. Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein founded the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein on 22 July 1937 (on the anniversary of his marriage).^[1]

Grades of the Order

There order is presented in six grades of two ranks of Knight and Dame, depending on the criteria of the recipient.

• Grand Cross, Special Class. (Grand star in Gold with Diamonds)
• Grand Cross, 1st Class. (Ordinary star in Gold with Diamonds)
• Grand Cross. (Ordinary Star)
• Grand Officer (Necklet or Bow with Ordinary star)
• Commander (Necklet or Bow)
• Officer (Medal with Gold Cross)
• Knight (Medal with Silver Cross)
• Medal (Medal with Bronze Cross)

Recipients

Recipients have included:

Grand star

• Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein – Grand Star^[2]
• Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein – Grand Star (1937)
• Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Georgina, Princess Consort of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria – Grand Star
• Marie, Princess Consort of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein – Grand Star
• Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
• Ferdinand Nigg - Grand Star^[3]
• Alexander Van der Bellen – Grand Star (2018)^[4]

Cross

• Otto Schaedler – Commander's Cross (1939)^[5]
• Hilmar Ospelt – Commander's Cross (1981)^[6]
• Cornelia Gassner – Commander's Cross (1994)^[7]
• Rita Kieber-Beck – Commander's Cross (2003)^[8]
• Josef Hoop – Grand Cross (1937)^[9]
• Martin Risch – Grand Cross^[10]
• David Strub – Grand Cross^[11]
• Alfons Goop – Grand Cross (1970)^[12]
• Hans Brunhart – Grand Cross^[13]
• Markus Büchel – Grand Cross^[14]
• Alois Mock – Grand Cross
• Wolfgang Schüssel – Grand Cross (2000)^[15]
• Wolfgang Brandstetter – Grand Cross (2019)^[16]
• Alexander Schallenberg – Grand Cross (2019)^[17]
• Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger (2021)^[18]
• Petra Schneebauer (2021)
• Harald Mahrer – Grand Cross (2024)^[19]
• Markus Wallner – Grand Cross (2022)
• Alexander Frick – Grand Cross with Diamonds (1967)^[20]
• Walter Kieber – Grand Cross with Diamonds (2003)^[21]
• Karlheinz Kopf – Grand Cross with Diamonds (2017)^[22]
• Ferdinand Risch – Knight's Cross (1937)^[23]

External links

• DÉCORATIONS du LIECHTENSTEIN (French), decorations in colour, including the plaque
• Concerning the foundation of the Order of Merit and its medal (German) – gesetze.li

Notes and References

1. Web site: Principality of Liechtenstein: Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein . Megan C. Robertson . 9 August 2008 . Medals of the World . 26 April 2011.
2. Web site: Hohe Auszeichnung für Ex-Landeschefin . Kommunikation Land Steiermark.
3. Web site: Büchel . Donat . 31 December 2011 . Nigg, Ferdinand (1893–1957) . 23 September 2023 . . de.
4. Web site: Analysis: Vienna's 900 Years of Close Ties With Former Tax Haven Liechtenstein . 2024-07-10 . Vindobona.org . en.
5. Web site: Schremser . Jurgen . Schaedler (Schaedler), Otto . 14 May 2023 . . de.
6. Web site: Editorial . 31 December 2011 . Ospelt, Hilmar . 23 February 2024 . . de.
7. Web site: Editorial . 21 February 2024 . Gassner, Cornelia . 23 February 2024 . . de.
8. Web site: 31 December 2011 . Kieber (-Beck), Rita . 12 August 2024 . . de.
9. Web site: . 31 December 2011 . Hoop,_Josef_(1895–1959) . 26 October 2022 . . de.
10. Web site: Büchel . Donat . 31 December 2011 . Risch, Martin . 2 September 2023 . . de.
11. Web site: Büchel . Donat . 31 December 2011 . Strub, David . 8 September 2023 . . de.
12. Web site: . 31 December 2011 . Goop, Alphonse . 6 October 2023 . . de.
13. Web site: Editorial . 31 December 2011 . Brunhart, Hans . 19 February 2024 . . de.
14. Web site: Editorial . 31 July 2017 . Büchel, Markus (1959–2013) . 1 April 2024 . . de.
15. Web site: Wolfang Schüssel . eliechtensteinensia.li.
16. https://www.volksblatt.li/Nachricht.aspx?src=vb&id=225138{{Dead link|date=February 2024}}
17. Web site: 6 November 2019 . Ordensverleihung an den österreichischen Aussenminister . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010080331/https://www.lie-zeit.li/2019/11/ordensverleihung-an-den-oesterreichischen-aussenminister/ . 10 October 2021 . 8 February 2023 . Lie:ZEIT.
18. Web site: 8 September 2021 . Zwei Orden an österreichische Spitzendiplomatinnen in Wien überreicht . 26 July 2024 . Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein . de.
19. News: 11 June 2024 . Österreichischer Wirtschaftskammerpräsident erhält Verdienstorden . 12 June 2024 . . de.
20. Web site: Frommelt . Fabian . 31 December 2011 . Frick, Alexander . 18 May 2023 . . de.
21. Web site: Editorial . 30 August 2017 . Kieber, Walter (1931–2014) . 1 November 2023 . . de.
22. https://www.volksblatt.li/Nachricht.aspx?src=vb&id=165133{{Dead link|date=February 2024}}
23. Web site: Büchel . Donat . 31 December 2011 . Risch, Ferdinand . 30 April 2024 . . de.