Order of the Lion of Finland explained

Order of the Lion of Finland
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Native Name:
  • Finnish: Suomen Leijonan ritarikunta
  • Swedish: Finlands Lejons orden
Native Name Lang:fi, sv
Type:State order
Founded:-->
Country:Finland
Seat:House of the Estates
Ribbon:Red
Eligibility:Finnish nationals and foreigners
Criteria:For significant civilian or military merits[1]
For:("Awarded for") -->
Status:Currently constituted
Founder:Risto Ryti
First Head:-->
Head Title:Grand Master
Head:Alexander Stubb
Head2 Title:Chancellor
Head2:[2]
Head3 Title:Vice-Chancellor
Classes:
  • Grand Cross
  • First Class Commander
  • Commander
  • First Class Knight
  • Knight
First Induction:September 28, 1942
Higher:Order of the Cross of Liberty
Lower:Cross of Merit for Finnish Physical Education and Sports
Image Size2:80

The Order of the Lion of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Leijonan ritarikunta; Swedish: Finlands Lejons orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the Order of the White Rose of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board. The President of Finland wears the Star of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

History

The Order of the Lion of Finland was established on September 11, 1942. At that time, Finland was waging the Continuation War. Wartime diplomacy included a heightened need to decorate particularly foreigners from aligned countries, chiefly Germany. The existing Finnish orders – the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the Order of the White Rose of Finland – could not keep up with the decorations and their highest grades were in danger to become inflated due to too many holders. The Order of the Lion of Finland was thus established to allow the continuation of decorating foreigners with high ranks in Finnish orders, although the Order of the Lion of Finland can also be awarded to Finnish nationals.[3] The new order also allowed for more flexible decorations, taking in account the rank and achievements of the recipients.[4]

In January 1998 President Martti Ahtisaari was criticized by some NGOs, politicians and notable cultural figures because he awarded Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland to Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo, the Forest Minister of Indonesia, and to Sukanto Tanoto, the main owner of the Indonesian RGM Company, a parent company of the April Company. The April Company was criticized by non-governmental organisations for destroying rainforests, and Indonesia itself was criticized heavily for human right violations, especially in East Timor. Ahtisaari's party chairman Erkki Tuomioja said that giving the medals was questionable since he feared the act may tarnish the public image of Finnish human rights policy. Students of the arts had demonstrations in Helsinki against the decision to give medals.[5] [6] Artist and author Leena Krohn returned their Pro Finlandia medals to protest the Indonesian decorations.[7]

Finnish Olympic and Paralympic medalists are awarded Knight or Knight, First Class, with clasps.[8]

Ambassadors accredited to Helsinki leaving their post are given the Grand Cross provided that their country also awards medals reciprocally.

Classes

The classes of the Order of the Lion of Finland are:

Recipients

Grand Cross

See also

References

Works cited

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Asetus Suomen Leijonan ritarikunnan perustamisesta . Ritarikunnat - Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ja Suomen Leijonan ritarikunnat . 22 September 2022 . PDF . fi .
  2. Web site: Ritarikuntien organisaatio . Ritarikunnat - Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ja Suomen Leijonan ritarikunnat . 7 January 2022 . 22 September 2022 . fi .
  3. Web site: Kolmen ritarikunnan vuoropuhelu . Verkkola . Tuija . Helsingin Sanomat . 6 December 2003 . 26 August 2021 . fi .
  4. Web site: Ritarikunnat isänmaan palveluksessa . Matikkala . Antti . Kylkirauta . 2018 . 31 August 2021 . fi .
  5. Web site: Mielenosoitus: Kunniamerkit takaisin Indonesiasta . Kjellberg . Helena . Helsingin Sanomat . 15 January 1998 . 26 August 2021 . fi. Kotimaa. 1 .
  6. Web site: Ahtisaari saanee vastaehdokkaan UPM:n hallitus- vaaliin . Iivonen . Jyrki . Helsingin Sanomat . 21 March 2000 . 26 August 2021 . fi. Talous. 3 .
  7. Web site: Ahtisaari: Kunniamerkkien myöntäminen Indonesiaan perusteltua . Kjellberg . Helena . Helsingin Sanomat . 16 January 1998 . 26 August 2021 . fi .
  8. Web site: Melkein 4 000 suomalaista saa itsenäisyyspäivänä kunniamerkin – keräsimme kuvakatalogin merkeistä, joita voi nähdä linnan juhlien vieraiden rintapielissä . Aamulehti . Mattila . Pasi . 6 December 2018 . 31 August 2021 . fi .
  9. News: Messuvaltuuskunta Poznanista palannut. April 30, 1948. fi. 12.
  10. News: Tshekkoslovakian lähettiläs Suomessa vaihtuu. Helsingin Sanomat. January 10, 1949. fi. 1.
  11. News: Aikakauslehdentoimittajat ministeri Helon kutsuilla. Helsingin Sanomat. April 30, 1949. fi. 4.
  12. News: Puolan lähettilään jäähyväiset. Helsingin Sanomat. May 14, 1949. fi. 6.
  13. News: Ministeri Coulet'n jäähyväisaudienssi. Helsingin Sanomat. April 6, 1950. fi. 6.
  14. News: Suomen Leijonan suurristi ministeri Seippelille. Helsingin Sanomat. July 2, 1953. fi. 6.
  15. News: Ministeri Zore jäähyväisaudienssilla tasavallan presidentin luona. Helsingin Sanomat. January 12, 1955. fi. 7.
  16. News: Suomen Leijonan suurristi Ranskan lähettiläälle. Helsingin Sanomat. July 17, 1955. fi. 9.
  17. News: Kunniamerkkejä. Helsingin Sanomat. October 4, 1956. fi. 19–20.
  18. News: Suomen Leijonan suurristi ministeri Langerille. Helsingin Sanomat. February 23, 1957. fi. 7.

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