Crosses of Naval Merit
Crosses of Naval Merit are a Spanish military award for gallantry or merit in war or peace. Awarded to members of the Spanish Naval Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians.
History and Attribution
Established on 3 August 1866 by Queen Isabella II as the Order of Naval Merit and amended many times. During the Spanish Civil War it was recognized by both sides of the conflict. Awarded originally in four classes, nowadays it lost the rank of an order of merit and the classes were reduced to two and the number of categories extended to four.According to the current regulations the decoration is conferred in the following classes:
- Grand Cross - to generals, admirals or civilian personnel of equivalent rank;
- Cross - to other officers, non-commissioned ranks or equivalent civilian personnel.
- with Red Decoration - for courage, actions, deeds or service during an armed conflict or military operations that involve or may involve the use of armed force and may require significant military or command skills; since 2007 it can be awarded for acts of gallantry while on an overseas mission and to soldiers fallen during such a mission;
- with Blue Decoration - for actions, events or extraordinary services including operations resulting from a mandate of the United Nations or of other international organizations;
- with Yellow Decoration - for actions, deeds or service that involve high personal risk and in cases of serious injury or death resulting from such actions or service;
- with White Decoration - for actions, deeds or distinguished service during missions or ordinary or extraordinary service in the armed forces or in connection with defense of the country.
Insignia and Ribbons
The decoration has the form of a Greek cross with the arms enameled red in the Red Decoration category and white in the remaining categories. The Blue Decoration and Yellow Decoration badges have additional narrow bars in blue or yellow across the lower and lateral arms. The upper arm is surmounted by a Spanish royal crown and has a tablet to engrave the date of bestowal. The round central shield of the obverse bears the coat of arms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre and Granada ; in the middle there is a blue oval shield of the House of Bourbon-Anjou. On the reverse there are letters "MM" on red background. The cross is worn on a ribbon on the left side of chest. Each subsequent award is denoted by a bar with the date of bestowal on the ribbon.The Grand Cross has the same form as the cross described above but is worn on a sash over the right shoulder.
The star added to the class of Grand Cross is gilt, eight-pointed, with the cross superimposed on it; currently between the arms of the cross there are alternate towers and lions.
Grand Cross - Red Decoration | Grand Cross - Blue Decoration | Grand Cross - Yellow Decoration | Grand Cross - White Decoration |
Cross - Red Decoration | Cross - Blue Decoration | Cross - Yellow Decoration | Cross- White Decoration |