Lion Text

Baron, Field Marshall and President Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim
(1944-1946)

The Order of the Lion of Finland (Suomen Leijonan Ritarikunta)

The Order of the Lion of Finland was instituted September 11th, 1942. It was introduced in an effort to preserve the prestige of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, which could have been diminished if granted too frequently, and to facilitate the awarding of honors for various types of merit. December 6th, the independence day of Finland is the ceremonial day of the Order.

The Order of the Lion of Finland is awarded for civilian and military merit during peace or wartime.

The orders of Finland are administered by a board consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four other members. The Finnish president is head of the Order.

The sash and all ribbons for the Order are made from solid dark red silk.

The Order is divided in five classes: Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class, Commander, Knight 1st and Knight.

Grand Cross

Not currently in collection.

The insignia is a white-enameled George cross in gold. The obverse features the Lion of Finland on a red medallion. The reverse is smooth enamel only.

Insignia and breast stars awarded for service in wartime have swords.

The breast-star is a 5-pointed fluted silver star with partially gilded rays (similar to Commander 1st Class). The center features the Lion of Finland on a red medallion.

The Order does not have a collar associated with the Grand Cross class.


Commander 1st Class Breast Star - Obverse	Commander 1st Class Breast Star - Reverse	Commander 1st Class & Commander Current model in silver (breast star) and gilded silver (commander badge) shown. The Commander class in divided into two classes, Commander 1st Class and Commander.

		Commander - Obverse	Commander - Reverse

Commander 1st Class wears a breast star in addition to the Commander insignia, while Commanders wears the insignia only. The Commander insignia is worn by men in a neck ribbon and by women in a bow. The breast star for Commander 1st Class is identical to the Grand Cross breast star, but does not have gilded rays.


Knight 1st Class - Obverse	Knight 1st Class - Reverse	Knight - Obverse	Knight - Reverse	Knight Miniature Obverse	Knight 1st Class & Knight Latest Knight 1st Class in gilded silver, Knight and miniature Knight in silver shown. Insignia worn by men in a ribbon and by women in a bow. The ribbon for Knight 1st Class features a rosette, Knight Class does not.

				Knight Miniature Reverse

Merit Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland

Latest Merit Cross in silver shown.

In addition to the classes and insignia above, the Orders has an additional Merit Cross in silver. The cross is identical in size to the knights crosses, but with no enamel.

The Merit Cross is awarded to civilians and NCOs.

Knight - Obverse

Knight - Reverse