KUNGL. VITTERHETS HISTORIE OCH ANTIKVITETS AKADEMIEN
HANDLINGAR Historiska serien 29
Perspectives on
the Honours Systems
Proceedings of the symposiums
Swedish and Russian Orders 1700–2000
& The Honour of Diplomacy
Edited by Antti
Matikk ala & Staffan Rosén
Publisher: The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
These joint proceedings are included in the series of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities (KVHAA), but all other institutions involved in the two symposiums have
also contributed to it in different ways: The Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood, the Orders of the
White Rose of Finland and of the Lion of Finland and the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.
We acknowledge with gratitude the generous financial support of the Niilo Helander Foundation, both for the organizing of the Helsinki symposium and for the publication of this volume.
Antti Matikkala & Staffan Rosén (eds). 2015. Perspectives on the Honours Systems. Proceedings
of the Symposiums Swedish and Russian Orders 1700–2000 & The Honour of Diplomacy. Kungl.
Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitetsakademien (KVHAA), Handlingar, Historiska serien 29.
Stockholm 2015. 322 s.
Abstract
The volume Perspectives on the Honours Systems opens new multidisciplinary avenues for research
on both historical and current methods by which monarchs, heads of state and governments have
honoured individuals in different contexts, primarily in the Nordic countries and Russia. Most
of the papers included in this volume were originally given at the symposiums ‘Swedish and Russian Orders 1700–2000: Systems – Traditions – Policies’ (Stockholm 2009) and ‘The Honour
of Diplomacy – The Diplomatic Use of the Honours Systems’ (Helsinki 2011). By taking a long
perspective from the late Middle Ages until today, historians, archivists, museum curators, officers of orders and diplomats address fundamental questions related to honours: why honours
systems have been established, what kind of role they have played in different historical situations
and their current relevance in modern societies.
Keywords
Honours systems, orders of knighthood, orders of merit, decorations, medals, diplomacy
© 2015 The authors and KVHAA, Stockholm
ISBN 978-91-7402-430-2
ISSN 0083-6788
PublisherKungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien
(KVHAA, The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities)
Box 5622, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
http://www.vitterhetsakad.se
Distribution: eddy.se ab, Box 1310, SE-621 24 Visby
http://vitterhetsakad.bokorder.se
Cover and graphic design: Lars Paulsrud
Cover image: Joseph Grassi: G. M. Armfelt with Swedish and Russian orders.
Dresden 1799–1801. Photograph National Board of Antiquities/M. Haverinen.
Printed by Elanders Göteborgstryckeriet
Off-print from:
Matikkala, A. & Rosén, S. (eds) (2015)
Perspectives on the Honours Systems (ISBN 978-91-7402-430-2)
Stockholm: Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien
The Diplomatic Use of Or ders Today –
Some Views from Finland
Mikko Jokela
Early stages
When Finland declared independence in December 1917 it had many
of the institutions of an independent state from the period of the autonomous
Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. However, the newly-born republic did not
have, for instance, its own defence forces or a ministry for foreign affairs. Neither
were there Finnish orders. The Cross of Liberty was introduced soon after the
declaration of independence, in March 1918, whereas the Order of the Cross of
Liberty was established as late as 1940. The Order of the White Rose of Finland
was established in January 1919, by the decision of Gustaf Mannerheim, then
Regent of Finland. The third of the Finnish Orders, the Order of the Lion of
Finland, was established during the war time, in 1942.
The Cross of Liberty had been conferred on both Finnish and foreign diplomats in 1918. Foreign states started sending diplomats to Finland from 1918 onwards. When these first envoys left Helsinki, it was natural that their decoration
with a Finnish order was considered part of normal diplomatic practice. One of
the first foreign diplomats who received a Finnish order during a state visit was
Counsellor Gustaf von Dardel (Illust. 1), who was appointed Commander 1st
Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland on the occasion of the visit General Mannerheim made as Regent to Sweden in February 1919. Later, in 1946,
when serving as Head of Mission in Copenhagen, von Dardel received the Grand
Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland for services rendered to Finland, as
Sweden had acted as protecting state for Finland in Copenhagen.
1. Ambassador Gustaf von Dardel
(1882–1974) in his ambassadorial
uniform wearing the insignia of
the Commander of the Order
of St Olav (neck badge) and the
collars of the Grand Crosses of
the Orders of the Dannebrog
(1945) and of the Polar Star (1931).
Among the stars are those of
the Grand Cross of the Order of
the Lion of Finland (1946) and
Commander 1st Class of the Order
of the White Rose of Finland
(1919). Ambassador von Dardel
received the Grand Cross of the
Order of the Dannebrog with star
with diamonds on 9 May 1945,
just days after the liberation of
Denmark. Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, Sweden.
‘Old’ and ‘new’ diplomacy and decorations
Traditional diplomacy concentrated on bilateral relations between states, and
diplomats mainly worked in ministries for foreign affairs and in the missions of
the diplomatic use of orders today
301
their governments abroad. Particularly diplomats working in and for monarchies
could count on being decorated in various postings during their careers. Numerous republics that were born particularly in the aftermath of the First World
War, adapted a system of orders as an instrument for rewarding distinguished
citizens and civil servants like diplomats. For diplomats, who attended official
ceremonies and were dressed formally, wearing decorations was a normal part
of their work.
In the latter half of the twentieth century the United Nations and its special
agencies, programmes and funds led the way to multilateral diplomacy, the socalled ‘new diplomacy’. In the work of international organizations diplomats
could now work for their whole careers concentrating on specific policy issues
like disarmament, trade negotiations and treaty negotiations of all kinds. A diplomat who devoted his or her whole career to multilateral work did not have
equal access to being decorated because international organizations do not have
orders, the rewarding instruments of ‘old diplomacy’. Diplomats of the multilateral school have since then mainly received decorations from their own heads
of state.
With some exaggeration it can be said that whereas the ‘old diplomacy’ paid
a great deal of attention both to substance and appearance, the ‘new diplomacy’
for its part concentrates more pointedly on substance and is less concentrated
with appearance.
Principles on decorating foreign diplomats serving in Finland
Foreign citizens may receive a Finnish order for outstanding merits. The decoration process concerning foreign citizens, including diplomats, is prepared by the
Protocol Services of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, for presentation to the
Chapter of the Orders of the White Rose of Finland and of the Lion of Finland.1 The role of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in matters related to granting
Finnish orders to foreign citizens is backed up by the fact that the Secretary
of State of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is a member of the Chapter of the
Orders. The final decision in matters concerning Finnish or foreign citizens is
made by the President of the Republic, in his/her capacity as the Grand Master of
the Orders.
1
The basic guidelines of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs with regard to the conferral of Finnish
orders on diplomats and other foreigners have been outlined in Maassa maan tavalla – tunne
säännöt ja onnistu: Ulkoasiainministeriön protokollapalvelut (Helsinki, 2008), 42–44, 60.
302
mikko jokela
For different reasons the number of Finnish orders bestowed on foreign diplomats who have served in Helsinki is quite limited. One of the main reasons
for the variety in numbers, is that the rotation speed of diplomats serving in
Helsinki varies from one year to another. Thus, excluding ambassadors, there
were seven Finnish orders in different categories that diplomats leaving Helsinki
received in 2007. In comparison, just one Knight 1st Class of the Lion of Finland
was awarded to a foreign diplomat in 2010.
Since 2000 annually 2–7 ambassadors, who have served in Helsinki, have
received a Finnish order at the end of their term. In most cases the ambassadors
have received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland. Commander
1st Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland has been bestowed on some
ambassadors, mainly for reasons of balanced reciprocity or sometimes, exceptionally, even when there is no reciprocity, after the return of the ambassador to
his home country (Illust. 2).
2. Pekka Lintu, Finnish
Ambassador to the United States
(right), investing Eric Edelman,
US Ambassador to Helsinki in
1998–2001, with the insignia of
the Commander 1st Class of the
Order of the Lion of Finland, in
June 2009. Ministry for Foreign
Affairs, Finland.
the diplomatic use of orders today
303
A basic precondition for diplomats serving in Finland to be decorated with
a Finnish order is that there is reciprocity with the country concerned in the
practice of decorating diplomats. This means that Finnish diplomats who meet
the basic requirements can be decorated in the countries where they have served.
To prove that there is a functioning reciprocity, the Protocol Services of the
Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs collects information on whether and how
diplomats returning to Helsinki after their service abroad have been decorated,
particularly Finnish ambassadors after they have left their posting. Reciprocity
is also followed in the type or level of decorations Finnish diplomats receive for
their service in foreign capitals.
3. The insignia of the Order of
the Lion of Finland: Grand Cross,
Commander 1st Class (ribbon for
women), Commander, Knight
1st Class, Knight. Copyright
© The Chancery of the Orders of
the White Rose of Finland and
of the Lion of Finland/Studio
Fotonokka Oy.
Presently there are 61 Embassies in Helsinki. The number of personnel with
diplomatic status is approximately 500. Ambassadors stay in Helsinki on average for three years. This means that roughly one-third of the ambassadors leave
Helsinki annually. The rotation has lately been somewhat faster than it used to
be. Ambassadors rarely stay longer than five years in one posting and terms lasting two to three years are not exceptional.
The minimum time of service for an ambassador in Helsinki to become eligible for decoration is three years for resident ambassadors. For non-resident
ambassadors the minimum time is five years. Ambassadors usually receive the
Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland (Illust. 3), and are invested
with the Grand Cross by the President of the Republic at the farewell audience.
Finnish orders bestowed on foreign diplomats – usually the Order of the Lion
of Finland – in other service categories are the following:
• Commander 1st Class for Ministers and Chargés d’Affaires
• Commander for Minister Counsellors and Counsellors
• Knight 1st Class for First and Second Secretaries
• Knight for Third Secretaries.
Excluding the ambassadors, diplomats from other service categories receive their
orders through Finnish embassies, usually in a ceremony organized by the ambassador of Finland.
Even if some of the ambassadors and other diplomats serving in Helsinki would
basically be eligible to be decorated with a Finnish order, there may be national limitations for civil servants that prevent them from receiving any foreign
304
mikko jokela
orders during the time they are in service, and in some cases also after they have
concluded their service. This means that already before an order is proposed to a
diplomat, it must be ascertained whether the diplomat is able to receive a foreign
order. Another basic requirement, naturally valid for both domestic and foreign
candidates, is that they have an impeccable record of service.
A special feature of Finnish orders that foreign citizens have received is that
since 2008 there is no longer an obligation to return the insignia after the death
of the recipient. This means that orders can now be kept by the heirs, and that
Finnish embassies no longer have the duty to contact families after the recipients
have passed away. It seems that this practice is unique. Most countries state in
the documents following the order that the order has to be returned after the
death of the recipient. Another, albeit exceptional, alternative is that the heirs
can purchase the order for a given, rather high price.
State visits and the exchange of orders
Heads of state meet today on various occasions: at conferences, anniversary festivities of all kinds, family events, and so on. Only a small part of the meetings
of the heads of state gives ground for the exchange of orders between the delegations of the visiting and the receiving country. Orders are mainly exchanged
when a full-scale state visit takes place. Working visits and also official visits
take place with less formalities and ceremonies, and decorations are usually not
exchanged in these events.
When a state visit is planned, one part of the preparations for the coming
visit is usually that the incoming country sends an advance delegation to get
acquainted with the practical arrangements, programme, locations, transportation, accommodation, etc. during the visit, and to establish contacts with respective colleagues of the receiving country. The possible exchange of orders is also
among the issues discussed during the visit of the advance delegation.
State visits do not automatically involve an exchange of decorations, or the exchange may take place on various levels and to various extents. One possibility is
that there is no exchange of decorations, e.g. with the countries that do not have
orders or do not have a practice to grant them to foreign citizens. In a restricted
form, the exchange of decorations on a state visit may take place only between
heads of state and their spouses.
A usual practice on a state visit is that, in addition to the heads of state and
their spouses, the official delegations on both sides are also among the recipients
306
mikko jokela
of orders. When a more extensive exchange of decorations takes place, the incoming delegation usually grants two to three times more decorations than the
receiving country. In addition to the members of the official delegations other
persons related to a state visit, like mayors of the cities visited or rectors of the
universities where speeches are held, CEOs of companies visited, etc. may be
included among the recipients of orders.
The overall number of orders exchanged in a state visit is negotiated first during the visit of the advance delegation, and afterwards between the authorities
in the two capitals. Negotiations concern the exchange ratio between the two
parties, the type of orders involved in the exchange and finally persons included
in the exchange and the level of orders proposed to different persons.
An example of the exchange of orders during a state visit to Finland is the state
visit of the Federal President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, and his spouse in September 2011. As the Austrian President had already received the Grand Gross of the
Order of the White Rose of Finland with Collar during an earlier visit, only his
spouse, Mrs Margit Fischer, received the Grand Cross of the Order of the White
Rose of Finland on this state visit. Six members of the delegation, including two
ministers and the ambassador in Helsinki, H. E. Mrs Margit Wästfelt, received
the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland (Illust. 4). Commander
1st Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland was granted to six members of the
official delegation. Three other members of the delegation were granted Commander of the Lion of Finland.
The orders granted by the Federal President of Austria during the state visit to
Finland all belonged to the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic
of Austria. The spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, Dr Pentti
Arajärvi, received the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash (Grand
Cross 1st Class), as did as the Speaker of the Parliament, Eero Heinäluoma, Prime
Minister Jyrki Katainen, and five high civil servants. The Grand Decoration
of Honour in Gold with Star (Commander with Star 1st Class) was granted to
six persons who participated in different functions – e.g. high officers, foreign
policy advisors – during the state visit. In a similar way, the Grand Decoration of
Honour in Gold with Star (Commander 1st Class) was bestowed on eight persons
representing the Parliament, the Cabinet of the President of the Republic, the
police, etc. Four officers received the Grand Decoration (Officer). The Decoration of Honour in Gold (Knight 1st Class) was granted to five persons from the
the diplomatic use of orders today
307
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Palace. Finally, two members
of the clerical staff of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs received the Decoration
of Merit in Gold (Cross of Merit 1st Class).
All in all there were sixteen Finnish orders granted during this state visit and
thirtyone Austrian orders. Considering the exchange of orders in state visits this
number of orders – 16 + 31 – is rather at the modest end of exchanges. In state
visits to and from monarchies the total number of orders exchanged could well
exceed one hundred.
4. H. E. Margit Wästfelt,
Ambassador of Austria, greeting
Tarja Halonen, President of
Finland, during the state visit
of Heinz Fischer, President of
Austria (middle), to Finland in
September 2011. Mrs Margit
Fischer and Dr Pentti Arajärvi on
the right. Copyright © The Office
of the President of the Republic
of Finland.
308
mikko jokela