by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2012
There are 12 Orders in Thailand, all awarded at the discretion of the Sovereign. The 5 most senior orders are listed below.
The Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
The most senior order in Thailand, the Order of Rajamitrabhorn was established by King Rama IX in 1962 and is granted to foreign heads of state. There is only one class, and the insignia of the order contains:
-A collar with a large diamond pendant, depicting the Chakra crossed over the Trident.
-A smaller pendant worn suspended from a yellow sash with thin white and blue stripes, worn over the right shoulder.
-A star of the order contains the figure of Narayana on the Garuda on a blue shield surmounted on an 8-point silver star
atop an 8-point golden star.
The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri
Established by King Rama V in 1882 to celebrate the centennial of Bangkok, and as a remembrance of King Rama I, the Order of the Royal House of Chakri is given to members of the Thai Royal Family, as well as foreign heads of state and members of other royal families. Also comprising only one class, the insignia contains:
-A collar with the Pendant of Chakri suspended.
-A smaller Pendant of Chakri worn suspended from a solid yellow sash, worn over the left shoulder.
-A star of the order, the Star of Chakri, worn on the left chest.
The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems
The Order of the Nine Gems was founded by King Rama IV in 1851, and later revised by King Rama V. It is granted to members of the Thai Royal Family as well as distinguished “high ranking devoted officials, having rendered services to the Kingdom and in affiliation with Buddhism.” There is one class with the following insignia:
-The Pendant of the Nine Gems suspended from a yellow sash with red, blue and green stripes on the outer edge. The sash (only for men) is worn over the right shoulder.
-The Star of the Nine Gems, worn on the left chest.
-Men also receive a gold Ring of the Nine Gems to wear on the right index finger.
-Women wear the pendant suspended from a bow worn on the left shoulder.
The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
The Order of Chula Chom Klao was created by King Rama V in 1873, in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty. The order bears his name (Chulalongkorn) and the color pink in the insignia represents the traditional Thai birthday color. (explained further here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_the_day )
There are four different classes, with several sub-divisions specifically for men or women:
Special Class
Knight Grand Cordon – awarded at the discretion of the King, to foreign royals and other distinguished members. There is no limit to the number of members of this class. Insignia consists of the Collar, Pendant (worn either from the sash or suspended from the Collar), the Star, and the Junior Companion.
First Class
Knight/Dame Grand Cross – limited to 30 male and 20 female members. The insignia is the same as the Knight Grand Cordon, with the exception of the Junior Companion.
Second Class
Knight/Dame Grand Commander – limited to 200 male and 100 female members. The insignia comprises the Star and the Pendant, worn as a necklet on a pink silk ribbon. For women, there is no Star, and the Pendant is worn either from a pink bow on the left chest or suspended from the Sash.
Knight/Dame Commander – limited to 250 male and 100 female members. The insignia comprises the Pendant, worn as a necklet on a pink silk ribbon. For women, it was worn as a bow on the left chest.
Third Class
Grand Companion – limited to 250 male members. The insignia is the Pendant (a smaller size), worn as a medal on a pink band, with rosette, on the left chest.
Companion – limited to 200 male and 250 female members. The insignia is the same as Grand Companion, without the rosette. For women, it is similar to the Dame Commander, with a smaller version of the Pendant.
Junior Companion – limited to 100 male members. The insignia is similar as that of Companion, however, the Pendant is entirely in silver.
Fourth Class
Member – limited to 150 female members. The insignia is yet another smaller version of the Pendant, of gilt and blue enamel, worn from a pink bow on the left chest.
The insignia for the Order consists of:
The Pendant – a gold disc with the enameled portrait of King Rama V, surrounded by a blue enameled circlet engraved with the motto “I Shall Maintain My Royal Family” in Thai. This lies atop a pink enameled 8-point star, surmounted on a gold cogwheel. Surrounding this is a wreath of gold leaves, enameled in green. The pendant is topped by a gold enameled crown and golden starburst. The reverse is similar in design. The Airavata elephants bearing the Trident, enameled in white is at the center of the disc. This is surrounded by a blue enameled circlet with Thai script. The pendant for women is slightly smaller, with brilliants at the crown and wreaths.
The Star – worn on the left chest, the Star has 16 rays of pierced silver and straight gold. At the center is a pink-enameled disc with the Royal Cipher of King Rama V in brilliants and a blue enameled circlet with the motto gilded in Thai. This is edged with a silver band set in brilliants. A smaller version is worn by women.
The Collar – consists of 16 Royal Ciphers of King Rama V in pink enamel, and 17 gold rosettes joined by chain links. The center of the collar has an oval medallion with Airavata elephants, in white enamel, and a gold crown topped with a starburst. On either side of the medallion are gold lion supporters carrying Royal Parasols. The collar is topped with white bows.
The Medal – known as the ‘Junior Companion’, is basically the same as the pendant, however, it is all in silver. It is worn suspended from a pink ribbon, worn on the left chest.
The Sash – pink silk, worn over the left shoulder, with the Pendant suspended on the right hip. For women, the sash is slightly more narrow.
Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit
Established y King Rama VI in 1911 to reward personal service to the sovereign, the Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit has just one class.
The Chain of the order contains Rama VI’s cipher in white enamel linked with gold Thai crowns containing the royal emblems enameled in blue. The central piece in the chain is the royal emblem in diamonds.
The Pendant, worn either suspended from the chain or on a neck ribbon, is a blue enameled disc surrounded by diamonds. This is flanked by four scepters of elephant tusks, diamond leaves, and gold ciphers. Atop the pendant is the royal crown topped with a sunburst.
The ribbon is yellow with black stripes on either side.
Links
This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.