| Order of the Lion and the Sun | |
| Awarded By: | Head of the Iranian Imperial Family |
| Type: | Dynastic Order |
| Head Title: | Sovereign |
| Head: | Crown Prince Reza of Iran |
| Grades: | Knight/Dame Grand Cordon, Knight/Dame Grand Officer, Knight/Dame Commander, Knight/Dame Officer, Knight/Dame, Companion |
| Former Grades: | Knight Grand Cross with Collar |
| Date: | 1808 - 1926 (National Order of Humayoun) 1926 - 1979 (National Order of the Lion and the Sun) 1979 - present (House Order) |
| House: | House of Pahlavi |
| Higher: | Order of Aqdas |
| Lower: | Order of the Crown Order of the Pleiades |
The Imperial Order of the Lion and the Sun (Persian: نشان سلطنتی شیر و خورشید) was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials (later extended to Iranians) who had rendered distinguished services to Iran. In 1925, under the Pahlavi dynasty the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with new insignia, though based on the Lion and Sun motif. This motif was used for centuries by the rulers of Iran, being formally adopted under Mohammad Shah.
The order is abbreviated as KLS, for Knight of Lion and Sun.[1]
The order was senior to the Order of the Crown. It was issued in five grades.
| Name | Year | Rank | Reason awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Franz Nadler | 1900 | Commander Cross | Mayor of Mariánské Lázně | |
| 1896 | Second and Third | Service to Shah and provision health care to population | ||
| Brigadier General Frank Schaffer Besson Jr., Director of the Third Military Railway Service in Iran from 1944 to 1945. The Shah of Iran personally presented him with the Iranian Medal. | 1944 | Second Class | Service to Shah and provision health care to population ((https://transportation.army.mil/museum/about/besson.html)) |