Order of merit

Cross of the Order pro merito Melitensi, established in 1920 by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

An order of merit is a visible honorific order as a state decoration conferred by a state, government, royal family, or other sovereign to an individual in recognition of merits, military or civil.

Typically in the case of modern republics, it may constitute the highest honourable distinction conferred by the state.

Notable orders of merit

• Order of Merit, a British order of merit established in 1902 by King Edward VII
• Order pro merito Melitensi, established in 1920 as a state decoration by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Order of Merit (Lebanon), established in 1922 the highest honour of the Republic of Lebanon
• Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, founded in 1951 as the highest honour of the Republic of Italy
• Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, founded in 1951 as the highest honour of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic, founded in 1952 as the highest honour of the Austrian Republic
• National Order of Merit (Malta), established in 1990 as the highest honour of the Republic of Malta

Defunct

• Pour le Mérite, a Prussian order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia, last awarded in 1918

See also

• Order (honour)
  • Order of Merit (disambiguation)
    • Order of Military Merit (disambiguation), a number of separate orders
    • Order of Naval Merit (disambiguation), a number of separate orders
      • Cross of Merit (disambiguation), a number of separate decorations
      • Medal of Merit (disambiguation), a number of separate decorations