Arrangement and Hierarchy
The display and hierarchy of the Bulgarian orders and medals is being regulated by a series of documents, published throughout the history of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. The essence of these regulations have been summarised and described in the brochure "Extracts of the Statutes of Bulgarian orders and their awarding regulations", published in 1924.
The hierarchy of the decorations is as follows:
1. Order of SS Cyril and Methodius
2. Military order "For Bravery"
3. Royal order of St. Alexander
4. National order of Civil Merit
5. National order of Military Merit
6. Medal "For Science and Art"
7. Order of Merit
8. Honorary decoration "For Incentive of Philanthropy"
9. Medal of Merit
10. Medal "For Incentive of Philanthropy"
11. Medal "For Life-saving"
and the various commemorative medals...
Grand Cross (I class) display
The Grand Cross (I class) of the Royal Order of St.Alexander is being worn suspended from a wide crimson order sash, along with the silver breast star on the left side of the chest.
Grand Officer display
The Grand Officer class (II class) of the Order of Military Merit is being displayed suspended at the neck, along with the silver rhomboid breast star on the left side of the chest.
Commander display
The Commander class (III class) of the Order of Civil Merit is being displayed suspended at the neck. On the above picture are also displayed a group of four decorations: Knights' cross of the Order of St.Alexander, silver Medal of merit, silver commemorative medal for the Wedding of Prince Ferdinand in 1893 and Cross for the Independence.
Display for ladies
Ladies usually display their awards pinned to their left shoulder. Displayed are: first class of the Ladies' cross of the Order of Civil Merit, second class of the Honorary distinction for Incentive of Philanthropy and the Red cross honorary badge.
Military order display
The display of the military order is a subject to specific regulations. All classes of the Military Order "For Bravery" awarded to army men are to be displayed at any time and on any type of uniform. Alternatively, officers can only display its ribbon, threaded through one of the button holes of their jacket/coat.
Civil display
Civil servants, professionals and alike did not have a unified manner of displaying their awards. Here's an example of a notable charity activist and/or medical worker, awarded with a Second class of the Honorary distinction for Incentive of Philanthropy, Red cross honorary badge and a group made up of officers' class of the Order of Civil Merit, Silver Medal of merit with crown and Cross for the Independence of Bulgaria .
Other
This is a photograph of a uniform of the royal guards unit with mounted a group of three decorations: Soldiers' cross of the Military Order, Order of Merit and a Bronze medal for merit with crown. Being in theory part of the armed forces, the display of the awards for members of the Royal Guards was the same as other army units.
Arrangement of bars
Bars are being arranged, according to the above hierarchy and in accordance to the specific regulations of the individual awards. The arrangement follow this list:
- III class of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- IV class of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- I class of the Soldiers' cross of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- II class of the Soldiers' cross of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- III class of the Soldiers' cross of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- IV class of the Soldiers' cross of the Military Order "For Bravery"
- Gold medal of Merit
- Gold order of Merit
- Gold medal "For Science and Art"
- Silver medal "For Science and Art"
- IV class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords above the badge
- IV class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords through the badge
- IV class of the Order of St. Alexander
- IV class of the Order of Civil Merit
- IV class of the Order of Military Merit with battlefield distinction
- IV class of the Order of Military Merit
- V class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords above the badge
- V class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords through the badge
- V class of the Order of St. Alexander
- V class of the Order of Civil Merit
- V class of the Order of Military Merit with battlefield distinction
- V class of the Order of Military Merit
- (Silver) Order of Merit
- VI class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords above the badge
- VI class of the Order of St. Alexander with swords through the badge
- VI class of the Order of St. Alexander
- VI class of the Order of Civil Merit
- VI class of the Order of Military Merit
- Silver medal of Merit
- Bronze medal of Merit
- Medals "For Incentive of Philanthropy"
- Medals "For Life-saving"
- Crosses for X and XX years of faithful service
- Various commemorative medals and crosses etc.
Reconstructions of decoration bars
Reconstruction of the bar of a member of the Bulgarian Volunteer Corps who fought during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Logically, some of the awards are of Russian origin (circa 1885). During these initial years, there weren't detailed regulations to the correct arrangement of bars and the majority of them were arranged incorrectly (usually, by the date of decoration), as shown above.
Reconstruction of the bar of a mayor of a small Bulgarian town (circa 1895).
Reconstruction of the bar of a participant in the April insurgent of 1876 who has been later distinguished for his deeds (circa 1902).
Reconstruction of the bar of a colonel, who participated in the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885 (circa 1909).
Reconstruction of the bar of an army colonel, serving during the start of the Balkan war (circa 1912).
Reconstruction of the bar of an army general who took part in the Russo-Turkish war, the Serbo-Bulgarian war, the Balkan wars and is currently serving in the Great war (circa 1916).
Reconstruction of the bar of a veteran non-commissioned officer, who participated in both the Balkan and Great wars and has been decorated with three crosses "For Bravery" (circa 1940).
Reconstruction of the bar of a veteran German soldier, who has been stationed at the Macedonian front during 1915-1918 (circa 1941).
