Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria)

The Order of Military Merit (Bulgarian: Орден „За военна заслуга“) is a Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria. It is the third highest order in the Republic of Bulgaria along with the Order of Civil Merit and the Order of the Madara Rider.

Royal Order of Military Merit Царски орден „За военна заслуга“
Grand Cross set of the Order
Awarded by The King of the Bulgarians
Type	Dynastic Order
Royal house	House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry
Religious affiliation	Bulgarian Orthodox
Ribbon	Yellow with a thin Black stripe on either side and a White stripe on either edge
Eligibility	Military personnel
Awarded for	Awarded for great contributions for the development and the consolidation of the Bulgarian Army, for participation in peacekeeping, peacemaking and humanitarian operations, for long and immaculate service and contribution for the national security and civil order in Bulgaria.
Status	Unconstituted
Grand Master	King Simeon II
Grades	Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight Silver Cross
Precedence
Next (higher)	Royal Order of Bravery
Next (lower)	Royal Order of National Labour
Equivalent	Royal Order of Civil Merit
The ribbon of the Order

The Royal Order

The order was established with a decree of the Knyaz on 19 May 1900 as a sign of the benevolence of the Monarch to the bravery of the Bulgarian army. It was similar to the Order of Civil Merit but made for military personnel. The order was given to military figures for immaculate service and special merit. It was established with six grades and in 1933 the Grand Cross was added.

The order had a shape of Pisan cross with shoulder covered in red enamel. There were two swords between them with edges pointing to the top. In the centre of the averse was placed the monogram of the founder Knyaz Ferdinand, surrounded by a ring in green enamel with inscription ЗА ВОЕННА ЗАСЛУГА (For Military Merit). The averse resembled that of the Order of Civil Merit but with green ring. It had a royal crown on the top.

During war the order had slightly different resemblance with laurel wreath on the shoulders of the cross and white ring.

The Grand Cross was worn on a wide yellow ribbon with black and white edges - the colours of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dynasty. The fourth, fifth and sixth grade were worn on a small triangle ribbon on the chest.

After 9 September 1944 the ribbon was substituted with the one of the Order of Civil Merit, the monogram of Ferdinand was removed and replaced with the Bulgaria tricolour flag. In the 1950s the order was abolished. It was restored in two grades in 2004.

Grades

• I grade, Grand Cross. Awarded to senior state officers and military personnel. It was worn with a sash over the shoulder.
• II grade, Grand Officer. Awarded only to generals. It is similar to the cross of I grade but had a size of 63 mm. It was worn with a ribbon around the neck.
• III grade, Commander. Awarded to commanders of regiments (colonels and lieutenant colonels). The size of the cross was between 54 and 63 mm. It had no stars and was worn with a ribbon around the neck.
• IV grade, Officer. Awarded to majors and captains who commanded companies. It was similar to the cross of III grade but smaller - between 48 and 51 mm.
• V grade, Knight. Awarded to commanders with rank up to captain, Opalchentsi, volunteers in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the Balkan Wars and others. The size was between 48 and 51 mm.
• VI grade, Silver Cross. Awarded to sergeants, Opalchentsi, volunteers in the wars and others. The diameter of the cross was 46 mm.

• 
  Order of Military Merit I grade
• 
  Order of Military Merit III grade

Republic of Bulgaria

Order of Military Merit Орден „За военна заслуга“
The three grades of the Order
Awarded by The President of Bulgaria
Type	State Order
Religious affiliation	Bulgarian Orthodox
Ribbon	Red
Eligibility	Military Personnel.
Awarded for	Awarded for great contributions for the development and the consolidation of the Bulgarian Army, for participation in peacekeeping, peacemaking and humanitarian operations, for long and immaculate service and contribution for the national security and civil order in Bulgaria.
Status	Currently awarded
Grand Master	President Rosen Plevneliev
Grades	Grand Cross Commander Officer
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Next (lower)	Order of the Madara Horseman
Equivalent	Order of Civil Merit
The ribbon of the Order

The Order of Military Merit is the third highest order in Bulgaria. It was reestablished with the Law for the Orders and Medals of the Republic of Bulgaria on 13 June 2003. It is awarded by the president of the nation.

Gallery

• 
  Order of Military Merit I grade (obverse and reverse)
• 
  Star of the Order of Military Merit I grade (obverse)
• 
  Order of Military Merit II grade (obverse and reverse)
• 
  Order of Military Merit III grade (obverse and reverse)