Order of the Cross of Vytis
Order of the Cross of Vytis | |
---|---|
State Decoration | |
Founded | 30 July 1919 |
Country | Lithuania |
Awarded for | Heroic defense of Lithuania's freedom and independence |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of Vytautas the Great |
Next (lower) | Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas |
Related | Medal of the Order of the Cross of Vytis |
The Order of the Cross of Vytis (Lithuanian: Vyčio Kryžiaus ordinas) is a Lithuanian presidential award conferred for heroic defence of Lithuania's freedom and independence. November 23 is a holiday in honour of the Order of the Cross of Vytis.
History
Interwar period
Rejected initial design
The order was first established on 30 July 1919 as the Cross for the Homeland (Kryžius "Už Tėvynę") when the newly established
Lithuanian Army was engaged in the Lithuanian–Soviet War.[1] The initial design was based on the Polish Virtuti Militari with an addition of crossed swords, but no such crosses were actually produced.[2] At the time of the Polish–Lithuanian War, the design was criticized for following Polish traditions.
wearing the interwar Cross of Vytis, alongside other awards
New version
On 26 November 1919, the design was changed to the Cross of the
Vytis. The order had two types: the first type had the crossed swords, and the second type was without the swords. Each type had three classes (the 1st class was the lowest, 3rd class was the highest).[1]
After 1991
The Order of the Cross of Vytis was the first state decoration of the pre-war Lithuania reinstated after the
1940–90 occupations and service during the independence movement in 1988–90, and other acts of valor and bravery.[4]
Classes
The Order of the Cross of Vytis is awarded in five classes:[4]
1. Grand Cross | |
2. Commander's Grand Cross | |
3. Commander's Cross | |
4. Officer's Cross | |
5. Knight's Cross |
References
- ^ ISSN 1392-6489.
- ISSN 2029-5669.
- ^ a b "Order of the Cross of Vytis (the Knight)". Administration of the Office of the President. Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ a b "Republic of Lithuania Law on State Awards, Official English translation". Chancellery of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 18 June 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2015.