The Order of the Norwegian Lion (J. Tostrup - Oscar II, 18K gold)
Prior to 1900, as tensions within the Norwegian-Swedish union escalated, the Norwegian press began to voice concerns that knights of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim were ranked above holders of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. Public opinion called for the establishment of a Norwegian honours system that was on a par with the systems in Denmark and Sweden.
In response to this demand, King Oscar II decided to found the supreme Norwegian order, as it was referred to.
The Order of the Norwegian Lion was founded on the King's 75th birthday, 21 January 1904, "in memory of the glorious events associated with Norway's venerable Coat-of-Arms".
The Order of the Norwegian Lion was modelled on similar orders such as the Swedish Order of the Seraphim and the Danish Order of the Elephant, and like these, it too had only one class.The establishment of the Order of the Norwegian Lion led to the Order of the Seraphim no longer being used as a common supreme order for the countries in the union.The establishment of a new Norwegian order was met with debate in political circles. A proposal in the Storting called for the national assembly to state its disapproval of the expansion of the Norwegian honours system, but the proposal was rejected by a vote of 54 to 62.DesignThe star of the Order of the Norwegian Lion was fashioned of an eight-point Greek cross in white enamel, which was framed in gold with golden knobs on each point. The centre of the cross held a crimson globe adorned with the Norwegian coat of arms and surrounded by a golden wreath and the order's chain.
The Order's symbol was an oval medallion of red enamel with the Norwegian lion in gold, framed by a golden wreath, and its ribbon was blue with red and white stripes at the edge.StatutesThe King was the Grand Master of the Order, and all heirs to the Norwegian throne were to hold the Order of the Norwegian Lion and the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav.
The Order's membership was strictly limited to 12 individuals at any given time, in addition to foreign sovereigns and heads of state.
Individuals deemed eligible for the Order of the Norwegian Lion must have been previously honoured with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav and have demonstrated exceptional service in a senior governmental role or in another capacity that has contributed to the nation's interests in a significant manner.
The order was awarded to the following of the Swedish Royal house.
1. 21.1.1904 King Oscar II, Grandmaster of the Order, (21.1.1829-8.12.1907), Seraphim knight #239
2. 21.1.1904 Crownprince Gustaf, later King Gustaf V, (16.6.1858-29.10.1950), Seraphim knight #339
3. 21.1.1904 Prince Gustaf Adolf, later King Gustaf VI Adolf,(11.11.1882-15.9.1973), Seraphim knight #466
4. 21.1.1904 Prince Carl Wilhelm Ludvig, Duke of Sødermanland, (17.6.1884-5.6.1965), Seraphim knight #473
5. 21.1.1904 Prince Erik Gustav Ludvig Albert (20.4.1889-20.9.1918), Seraphim knight #497
6. 21.1.1904 Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, (27.2.1861-24.10.1951), Seraphim knight #362
7. 21.1.1904 Eugen Napoleon Nicolaus, (1.8.1865-17.8.1947), Seraphim knight #386
As heir to the Throne of Sweden & Norway, they became automatic by birth Knight holder of the Order as well as the Grand Cross of St Olav. All of the first 7 recipients also were given the collar of the Order of the Norwegian Lion.
8. 27.1.1904 Emperor Wilhelm II, Germany, (27.1.1859-4.6.1941), Seraphim knight #441, Lion on his 45th birthday.
9. 05.4.1904 Emperor Franz Joseph I, Austria/Hungary, (18.8.1830-21.11.1916), Seraphim knight #311
10. 10.9.1904 King Christian IX, Denmark, (8.4.1818-29.6.1906), Seraphim knight #298
11. 1.12.1904 President Emile Loubet, The French Republic, (30.12.1838-20.12.1929), Seraphim knight #539
After the Union of the two countries seized to exist in June 1905, it was no longer awarded.
Following the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, the Order of the Norwegian Lion was no longer conferred. Consequently, King Oscar II never had the opportunity to award the order to any Norwegians. The last surviving recipient of the order was the Swedish King Gustaf VI Adolf, who died in 1973.
Repeal of the order in a revision of the Order of Preference at the Royal Norwegian Court on 29 January 1906, the knights of the Order of the Norwegian Lion were ranked in the same class as holders of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. King Haakon VII chose not to continue the order, and he never wore the Order of the Norwegian Lion, although he remained the formal Grand Master of the order.
King Haakon VII repealed the Order of the Norwegian Lion in a Court resolution on 11 March 1952. The order's statutes were included in the Norwegian government yearbook until 1951, and the absence of the statutes in subsequent editions of the yearbook was the only indication that the order had ceased to exist.
