Hungarian Order of Merit
Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (Civil)
Awarded by President of Hungary
Type	State decoration
Established	1991 (1991)
Status	Currently constituted
Statistics
First induction	1991
Precedence
Next (higher)	Hungarian Order of Honour
Next (lower)	Hungarian Cross of Merit
Grand Cross with Chain Grand Cross Commander's Cross with Star Commander's Cross Officer's Cross Knight's Cross Ribbon bars and classes of the Hungarian Order of Merit (Civil)

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.

Grades

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

Insignia

Civil Division
Grand Cross with Chain
	Chain	Star	Alternative Medal
Grand Cross
	Sash	Star	Alternative Medal
Commander's Cross with Star
	Cross	Star	Alternative Medal
Commander's Cross
	Cross	Alternative Medal
Officer's Cross
	Cross
Knight's Cross
	Cross

Military Division
Grand Cross
	Sash	Star	Alternative Medal
Commander's Cross with Star
	Cross	Star	Alternative Medal
Commander's Cross
	Cross	Alternative Medal
Officer's Cross
	Cross
Knight's Cross
	Cross

• The medal of the Order is made on the features of the ancient Royal Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary: it consists of a white-enamelled cross edged with green, showing a central circular medallion enamelled in red showing the coat of arms of Hungary, surrounded by a wreath of green enamel.
• The star takes up the shape of the medal but is mounted on a golden radiant star.
• The ribbon is green with a red stripe and a white stripe for the civil class, while it is red with a green stripe and a white stripe for the military class.

References

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of Merit (Hungary).

• State Decorations, Office of the President of Hungary
• Hungary: Hungarian Order of Merit (Civilian), Medals of the World
• 1991 XXXI law enacting the order
• 2011 CCII. law enacting the order