Orders, decorations, and medals of Denmark
The award system of Denmark, and especially the regulations for who is allowed to wear which medals, is one of great variation. The current honour-system has been created one step at a time since the 16th century. The system consists of royal orders and medals, official/governmental medals and some few private medals that have been approved by the monarch.
Orders of chivalry
Order of the Elephant
[Order of the Dannebrog]
| Ribbon | Name | Post-nominal abbreviation | Date of creation Date of approval | Award Criteria |
| Grand Commander | S.Kmd | 1671 | Awarded to 6 members of the Danish Royal Family or royals with close family connection to the family. | |
| Grand Cross | S.K. | 1671 | Awarded to Danish admirals, generals, supreme-court judges, ambassadors and similar as a reward for very meritorious service and awarded to foreign ambassadors after 3 years of service if their county gives orders to foreign diplomats. | |
| Commander 1st Degree | K1 | 1671 | Awarded to Danish admirals, generals, supreme-court judges, ambassadors and other governmental leaders as a retirement decoration and awarded to foreign chargés d affairs after 3 years of service if their county gives orders to foreign diplomats. | |
| Commander | K | 1671 | ||
| Knight 1st Degree | R1 | 1671 | ||
| Knight | R | 1671 | ||
| Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn | D.Ht | 1808 | Awarded to Danish members of the Order of Dannebrog who have made themselves worthy of an extra decoration for either merits of life saving. |
Medals
Civil medals
| Ribbon | Name | Post-nominal abbreviation | Date of creation Date of approval | Award Criteria |
| Medal of Merit in Gold with Crown Fortjenstmedaljen i Guld med Krone | F.M.1* | 16 May 1792 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Medal of Merit in Gold Fortjenstmedaljen i Guld | F.M.1 | 16 May 1792 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Medal of Merit in Silver with clasp Fortjenstmedaljen i Sølv med spænde | F.M.2.M.SPÆNDE | 16 May 1792 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Medal of Merit in Silver Fortjenstmedaljen i Sølv | F.M.2 | 16 May 1792 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Ingenio et Arti Ingenio et Arti | M.i.&a. | 31 August 1841 | Awarded to artists who have done extremely noteworthy work. | |
| Royal Medal of Recompense in Gold with Crown Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Guld med Krone | B.M.1* | 4 September 1865 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Royal Medal of Recompense in Gold Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Guld | B.M.1 | 4 September 1865 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Royal Medal of Recompense in Silver with Crown Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Sølv med Krone | B.M.2* | 4 September 1865 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Royal Medal of Recompense in Silver Den Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Sølv | B.M.2 | 4 September 1865 | This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as he/she seems fit. | |
| Medal for Noble Deeds Medaljen for Ædel Dåd | M.f.æ.D. | 12 June 1793 | Awarded for life saving deeds, where the rescuer has put his own life at great risk in order to save another persons life. | |
| Minister of Justice's Medal Justitsministerens Medalje | Jm.M. | 12 April 2019 | Awarded to Danes as well as foreigners who have made a particularly fearless and / or appreciative effort. | |
| Ministry of Justice Medal for Fallen in Service Justitsministeriets Medalje for Omkommet i Tjeneste | Jum.M.F. | 12 April 2019 | Awarded to employees in the Ministry of Justice who have died as a result of a criminal offense in connection with the service. | |
| Ministry of Justice Medal for Wounded in Service Justitsministeriets Medalje for Sårede i Tjeneste | Jum.M.S. | 12 April 2019 | Awarded to employees of the Ministry of Justice who have been seriously injured physically or mentally as a result of an offense in connection with the service. | |
| Ministry of Justice Medal for International Service Justitsministeriets Medalje for International Indsats | Jum. M.I.T. | 12 April 2019 | Awarded to ministry staff, including police officers, who have made a deserving international effort. | |
| Danish Tourism Board Medal of Honor Danmarks Turistråds Hæderstegn | D.T.H. | 26 February 1963 8 March 1963 | Awarded to persons who have done a special effort to promote Danish tourism. Maximum 5 medals may be awarded each year, and only 2 of these may be awarded to Danes. | |
| Medal of Merit of the Greenlandish Home-Rule Grønlands Hjemmestyres Fortjenstmedalje | Grøn.Hjst.M. | 1 May 1989 | Awarded in gold or silver for meritious service for Greenland in fields such as public service, business, art or science. |
Uniformed Service decorations
| Ribbon | Name | Post-nominal abbreviation | Date of creation Date of approval | Award Criteria |
| Valour Cross Tapperhedskorset | Fsv.TK. | 14 November 2011 | Highest award for bravery, comparable to the Victoria Cross or Medal of Honor. | |
| Defence Medal for Bravery Forsvarets Medalje for Tapperhed | Fsv.M.T. | 30 October 1995 | Awarded to military and civilian personnel of the defense who, during combat or terrorist attack, have done heroic deeds. | |
| Defence Medal for Excellent Service Forsvarets Medalje for Fremragende Tjeneste | Fsv.M.F.T. | 7 December 2009 | Awarded for extraordinary service to the Danish Defence. | |
| Distinguished Flying Medal Medaljen for Udmærket Lufttjeneste | M.f.u.Lt. | 30 May 1962 | Awarded to pilots and crewmembers who, over a longer period of time have been an excellent role model for others, or for very exceptional and dangerous rescue operations of persons or material, done without taking unnecessary risk. | |
| Defence Medal for Fallen in Service Forsvarets medalje for Faldne i Tjeneste | Fsv.M.F. | 1 January 2010 | Awarded to personnel killed in the line of duty, as a result from "acts of weaponry", including mines used in combat or during terrorist attacks. | |
| Defence Medal for Wounded in Service Forsvarets medalje for Sårede i Tjeneste | Fsv.M.S. | 1 January 2010 | Awarded to personnel wounded in the line of duty, as a result from "acts of weaponry", including mines used in combat or during terrorist attacks. | |
| Navy Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste ved Søetaten | Ht.S. | 29 January 1801 | Awarded to personnel in the Danish Navy for 25 and 40 years of nonstop consecutive service. | |
| Army Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste ved Hæren | Ht.H. | 26 September 1945 | Awarded to personnel in the Danish Army for 25 and 40 years of nonstop consecutive service. | |
| Air Force Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste ved Flyvevåbnet | Ht.F. | 11 March 1953 | Awarded to personnel in the Danish Air Force for 25 and 40 years of nonstop consecutive service. | |
| Armed Forces Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste | F.Ht. | 11 March 1953 | Awarded to personnel in the Danish Armed Forces, who are not eligible for the branch-specific medals, for 25 and 40 years of nonstop consecutive service. | |
| Reserve Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste i Forsvarets Reserve | Ft.Fsv.R. | 16 April 1978 | Awarded to personnel in the Danish Armed Forces Reserve after 25 years of service. | |
| Medal of the Minister of Defence Forsvarsministerens Medalje | Fm.M. | 7 December 2009 | Awarded by the Minister of Defense to whomever he seems fit. Awarded for meritorious non-combat deeds, heroism outside of combat and personnel killed in action outside of combat. | |
| Defence Medal for Meritorious Service Forsvarets Medalje for Fortjenstfuld Indsats | Fsv.M.3. | 27 November 1991 1 January 2010 | Originally awarded for meritorious deployment outside of Denmark. After 2010 awarded to civilians or military personnel who have done meritorious service to the better of the Danish Defence. | |
| Defense Medal for International Service, Single Deployment Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Enkeltmandsudsendelse | Fsv.M.I.T. | Awarded for international deployment alone | ||
| Defense Medal for International Service, Afghanistan Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Afghanistan | Fsv.M.I.T. | 1 January 2010 | Awarded for international deployment with the Danish Armed forces in Afghanistan | |
| Defense Medal for International Service, Kosovo Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Kosovo | Fsv.M.I.T. | 1 January 2010 | Awarded for international deployment with the Danish Armed forces in Kosovo | |
| Defense Medal for International Service, Lebanon Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Libanon | Fsv.M.I.T. | 1 January 2010 | Awarded for international deployment with the Danish Armed forces in Lebanon | |
| Defense Medal for International Service, Gulf of Aden Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Adenbugten | Fsv.M.I.T. | Awarded for international deployment with the Danish Armed forces in the Gulf of Aden | ||
| Defense Medal for International Service, Syria Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste, Middelhavet | Fsv.M.I.T. | Awarded for participation in Removal of chemical weapons from Syria | ||
| Defense Medal for International Service 1948-2009 Forsvarets Medalje for International Tjeneste 1948-2009 | Fsv.M.I.T. 48-09. | 2015 | Awarded for international deployment with the Danish Armed forces any time between 1948 and 2009 | |
| Homeguard Medal of Merit Hjemmeværnets Fortjensttegn | Hjv.Ft. | 11 February 1959 | Awarded to personnel who have made a special contribution to the Danish Homeguard, normally awarded to Company Commanders, Politicians and similar. | |
| Homeguard 25 Years Service Decoration Hjemmeværnets 25 års-tegn Homeguard 40 Years Service Decoration Hjemmeværnets 40 års-tegn Homeguard 50 Years Service Decoration Hjemmeværnets 50 års-tegn Homeguard 60 Years Service Decoration Hjemmeværnets 60 års-tegn | Hjv.25. Hjv.40. Hjv.50. Hjv.60. | 25 November 1973 6 September 1988 12 April 2000 12 June 2009 | Awarded to personnel of the Danish Homeguard after 25, 40, 50 and 60 years of service. | |
| Civil Defense Long Service Medal Hæderstegnet for 25 års god tjeneste i Civilforsvaret | H.T.C.F | 25 April 1963 | Awarded for 25 years of meritorious service in the Civil Defense | |
| Badge of Honor of the League of Civil Defense Beredskabsforbundets Hæderstegn | B.F.Ht. | 9 November 1956 | Awarded for noteworthy work for the Civil Defense cause in Denmark, over a prolonged period of time. Normally awarded to Civil Defense leaders, fire chiefs, politicians and similar persons. | |
| Rescue Preparedness Medal Redningsberedskabets Medalje | R.B | 20 April 1994 | Awarded for participation in humanitarian international operations outside the borders of Denmark | |
| Fire Department Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste i Brandvæsnet | Ht.g.T.B. | 5 December 1973 | Awarded for 25 years of meritorious service in the municipal fire services | |
| Police Long Service Medal Hæderstegn for God Tjeneste i Politiet | Ht.P | 18 June 1959 | Awarded for 25 years of meritorious service in the Danish police | |
| Badge of Honor of the Reserve Officers Association of Denmark Reserveofficersforeningen i Danmarks Hæderstegn | R.O.Ht. | 27 April 1950 | Awarded by the Danish Reserve Officers Association to whomever they find are in need of honors. Normally only awarded in 2-3 specimens a year | |
| Medal of Honor of the Chamber of Danish Handicraft Håndværksrådets Hæderstegn | H.Ht. | 19 February 1965 6 March 1965 | Awarded in silver for 10 years in a leading position in a handicraft-union or similar. Gold awarded after 25 years. | |
| Badge of Honor of the Society of Danish Military Athletics Dansk Militært Idrætsforbunds Hæderstegn | D.M.If.Ht. | 23 November 1968 5 September 1967 | Awarded to persons who have done a special effort to promote the voluntary athletics in the Danish Military. | |
| Danish Red Cross Badge of Honor Dansk Røde Kors Hæderstegn | D.r.K.Ht. | 19 February 1916 | Awarded for special, and normally prolonged, service to the Danish Red Cross. To be awarded the Badge of Honor, one must already have the Badge of Merit 1st Class. | |
| Danish Red Cross Medal for Merit Dansk Røde Kors Fortjensttegn | D.r.K.Ft. D.r.K.Ft.I. | 28 March 1963 | Awarded to persons in volunteer leading positions in the Red Cross. 2nd class typically awarded after 4–6 years as a member of central board, 8–10 years as a section-manager or equal, or after 12–15 years as a member of a local board or equal. 1st class typically awarded after 6–10 years work, after being awarded the 2nd class medal. | |
| Danish Blue Berets Peace Prize Medal De Blå Baretters Fredsprismedalje | F.P.M | 1995 | Commemorative medal, celebrating the Nobel Peace Prize to UN forces. May be awarded to all veterans of international UN operations. |
Commemorative medals
Historic
Historic Orders
- Order of the Armed Arm 1616
- Order of the Perfect Union 1732 – 1770
- Order of Mathilde 1771 – 1772
- Order of Christian VII 1774 – 1800
Historic Medals
- King Christian X's Liberty Medal
- Royal Life Guards 350th anniversary commemorative medal
- Guard Hussar Regiment 400th anniversary commemorative medal