Type Dynastic Order Status Currently constituted | Royal house House of Zogu | |
 | ||
Awarded for Distinguished services rendered to the Crown and achievements in every field of the society. Sovereign Crown Prince Leka of Albania Grades Grand Cross, Grand Star
Grand Cross, Special Class
Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight/Dame | ||
The Order of Skanderbeg (Albanian: Urdhëri i Skënderbeut) was instituted in 1925 as an Order of Merit of the Albanian Republic. It was replaced by the Communist government in 1945 and replaced by a new award of the same name. Skanderbeg is the national hero of the Albanian people.
Contents
The Albanian Royal family maintain the order of Skanderbeg, which has only been awarded to a select number of people since the fall of the monarchy in 1939. This order should not be mistaken with the current Republican orders given by the head of the Albanian state.
Description
The Communist version of the Order was created on 13 October 1945 with three classes. The medal design included an image of Skanderbeg on a five pointed star and the ribbons were red with 1 to 3 blue stripes according to class of award.
It was awarded to officers of the Albanian Peoples Army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a recognition of services to the country and the people for the organization, modernisation and reinforcement of the armed forces.
History
The president and later king of Albania, Ahmet Zogu founded the order as an order with four grades. After the Italian annexation of Albania his successor, Victor Emanuel III, King of Italy and of Albania, Emperor of Ethiopia, added a fifth grade, Officer, in 1940.
In 1945 the People's Republic of Albania decided to replace the order. In that same year a new order with the same name was founded, along the lines of the Socialist Orders of Merit, with three grades. It was awarded until the fall of Albanian Communism in 1990. Another honorary award bearing Skanderbeg's name, also known as the Order of Skanderbeg, has been instituted by the current Albanian Republic.
Recipients
For subsequent awards see Order of Skanderbeg (1990–).