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The Order of the Sword

Kommendör av Svärdsorden. Foto: Markku Koivumäki/Studio Kamera-Boden

Commander of the Order of the Sword. Photo: Markku Koivumäki/Studio Kamera-Boden

The Royal Order of the Sword was instituted in 1748, and is conferred upon military personnel who have made personal endeavours for Sweden or for Swedish interests.

The insignia of the order is the decoration worn on a collar or on a yellow ribbon with blue edges.

The cross is a white-enamelled golden cross with a dark blue medallion bearing the three crowns of the order and an upright sword, crowned with a closed crown. Between the arms of the cross are open crowns.

The collar consists of alternating blue-enamelled antique helmets on pelte shields and swords with scabbards. The collar can be conferred upon foreign citizens as a special mark of honour.

For the two highest classes of the order, the star is also worn on the left side of the chest. The star is an eight-pointed silver cross, at the centre of which is a dark blue medallion bearing three crowns and an upright sword.

The classes are:

  • Commander Grand Cross
  • Commander, First Class
  • Commander
  • Knight, First Class
  • Knight

The order includes the Cross of the Sword in silver, and the Medal of the Sword in gold and silver, instituted in 1850.

As a special honour, which can only be conferred when Sweden is at war, King Gustav III instituted a rank of distinction in 1788, which was subsequently divided into two classes:

  • Knight Grand Cross, First Class
  • Knight Grand Cross

In 2023, in connection with the Honours Reform, the War Cross of the Order of the Sword in gold, silver and bronze instituted in 1952 (but never conferred) was changed to the Military Cross of the Order of the Sword in gold, silver and bronze. They are conferred for personal valour in conflict.

Return of Orders

All orders shall be returned to the Royal Orders of Knighthood upon the death of the recipient. The order decoration, name and date of birth of the recipient shall be sent by registered post to Kungl. Maj:ts Orden.

The details of the person to whom acknowledgement of receipt of a returned order is to be sent must also be included. If desired, the Royal Orders of Knighthood can also send a picture, free of charge, of the returned order decoration along with the acknowledgement of receipt.