Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana

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The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonian: Maarjamaa Risti Teenetemärk,) was instituted in 1995 to honour the independence of the Estonian state. The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is bestowed upon the President of the Republic. Presidents of the Republic who have ceased to hold office shall keep the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana. The Collar of the Order was used de facto as the badge of office of the President of the Republic, since the original Presidential collar, that of the Order of the National Coat of Arms was taken from Estonia to the Kremlin after the Soviet occupation of the country in 1940, where it remains to this day. However a new collar of that order was made in 2008[1]. The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is also given as a decoration of the highest class on foreigners who have rendered special services to the Republic of Estonia. As such it is the highest and most distinguished order granted to non-Estonian citizens.

[edit] Classes

The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana comprises six classes:

• One special class - The Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana;
• Five basic classes - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class.

The crosses and shields of all the classes of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana have the same design and are of the same size.

The blue colour tone of the moiré ribands belonging to the decorations of all the classes of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is determined according to the international PANTONE colour-table as 300 C.

[edit] Famous recipients of the Collar

• Arno Pijpers, 2008
• Aníbal Cavaco Silva, 2008
• Juan Carlos I, 2007
• Akihito, 2007
• Mikheil Saakashvili, 2007
• Elizabeth II, 2006
• Toomas Hendrik Ilves, 2006
• László Sólyom, 2006
• Ivan Gašparovič, 2005
• Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, 2004
• Tassos Papadopoulos, 2004
• Ion Iliescu, 2003
• Georgi Parvanov, 2003
• Jorge Sampaio, 2003
• Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 2003
• Ahmet Necdet Sezer, 2002
• Arnold Rüütel, 2001
• Jacques Chirac, 2001
• Guido de Marco, 2001
• Ferenc Mádl, 2000
• Johannes Rau, 2000
• Tarja Halonen, 2000
• Vaira Vike-Freiberga, 2000
• Harald V, 1998
• Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, 1998
• Aleksander Kwasniewski, 1998
• Algirdas Brazauskas, 1997
• Süleyman Demirel, 1997
• Oscar Luigi Scalfaro,1997
• Árpád Göncz,1997
• Milan Kučan, 1997
• Guntis Ulmanis, 1996
• Vaclav Havel, 1996
• Margrethe II, 1995
• Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, 1995
• Carl XVI Gustaf, 1995
• Martti Ahtisaari, 1995

[edit] External links

• List or recipients