Order of Bene Merenti of the Royal House


The Order of Bene Merenti of the Royal House Romanian: Ordinul Bene Merenti al Casei Domnitoare was instituted as a Decoration on 20 February 1876 by Prince Carol I later King Carol I of the Kingdom of Romania during his tenth year of reign as Domnitor or Sovereign Prince of the United Principalities of Romania. The Decoration was changed into an Order on 16 December 1915 by King Carol I's nephew King Ferdinand I of Romania. On 8 September 1940, the Order was abolished and replaced with the Order of St. George by King Ferdinand I's grandson King Michael I.

Decoration

The Order, previously a Decoration Medal known as the Decoration of Bene Merenti of the Royal House, was based as a separate Romanian version of the House Order of Hohenzollern of the House of Hohenzollern of which Prince Carol I belonged to.
Although intended to honour Civilians, military figures, and foreigners with achievements in the fields of Culture, Science, Industry, Agriculture and also Services to the King, the Decoration was barely bestowed.
The Decoration was in two types:
The Decoration transformed into an Order under the reign of King Carol I's nephew King Ferdinand I on 16 December 1915.
On 8 September 1940, the Order was abolished and replaced by the Order of St. George under the reign of King Ferdinand I's grandson King Michael I.

Grades