Royal Order of Civil Merit
The Royal Order of Civil Merit (Spanish: Real Orden del Mérito Civil; Abbr.: OMC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain
The Order was established in 1926 by King Alfonso XIII of Spain to recognise “extraordinary services of Spanish and foreign citizens for the good of the Nation.”
Knights and Dames of the Order include heads of state, royalty, diplomats, scientists, artists, as well as government, business, political, religious and military leaders. They are granted an official diploma signed by the King, a style of address, the right to wear the Order’s insignia, and a heraldic achievement.
His Majesty the King of Spain is the Grand Master of the Royal Order of Civil Merit, hence all awards of this Order are bestowed in his name. Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Grand Chancellor of the Order. The Ministry’s Directorate-General for Protocol receives the proposals, evaluates all candidates, and produces the mandatory reports justifying the exceptional merits of each awardee.
For more information, visit the website of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Symbols of the Order
The Order’s motif signifies civic and chivalric virtues such as justice, strength, stability, and dedication to the common good
The Cross of the Order is made of gold, with dimensions of 48 x 50 mm. It is formed by four equal arms, in the shape of a cross, enamelled in intense blue, and finally edged in white. Between these arms it carries five polished bursts of the same metal. In its center, it has an oval of intense blue enamel, bordered with white fillet, with the gold-colored inscription "To Civil Merit". Inside the oval, there is a die-cut in high relief, with the characteristic motif of the Order: a matron leaning on a column, with a sword in her right hand, tempered in the fire of sacrifice, as a symbol of civic virtues. Between the upper ends of the blades, it appears the Royal Crown of Spain. The entire set hangs from a green enamelled laurel wreath.
The ribbon of the Order is blue with a narrow white centre stripe. The blue colour symbolizes nobility, truth and justice, while the white colour represents purity, peace and integrity. Blue and white are also colours strongly associated with the Royal House of Bourbon.