The Order of St Alexander (or Орден “Свети Александър” in Bulgarian) was established by Knyaz Alexander I on 25 December 1881 and named after his patron saint, Alexander Nevsky. It was the second-highest Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria.
The order was awarded to Bulgarian and foreign citizens with the personal benevolence of the Bulgarian monarch, who was the Grand Master. Four grades and Grand and Lesser Necklace were formed and in 1908 a Grand Cross was added. Later, wartime grades with swords in the middle and above the cross were created.
The following grades exist:
- Great Cross of the Order of St Alexander, Grand and Lesser Necklace.
- I grade, Grand Cross. Awarded to senior state officers and military personnel.
- II grade, Grand Officer Cross.
- III grade, Commander Cross.
- IV grade, Officer Cross.
- V grade, Officer Cross.
- VI grade, Silver Cross.
The Ottoman sultans Abdul Hamid II and Mehmed V were respectively awarded the Grand and Lesser Necklace of the Order of St Alexander with diamonds. They are currently kept in the collection of the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul.
The Order Of Saint Alexander Design
The insignia of the order was a white enameled cross pattée with golden or silver edges according to the grade.
On the pendant of the obverse, there’s a stylized inscription with the name of the order and on the surrounding ring there was the motto СЪ НАМИ БОГЪ (translated “God with us“) with laurel wreaths below.
On the reverse, there’s a white background with inscription 19 ФЕВРАЛЪ 1878 (translated “19 February 1878“), the date of the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano. Above the cross is a royal crown.
The Grand necklace consisted of thirty interconnected medallions with crowned lions, alternated with the monogram of the founder Knyaz Alexander I and eight edges Orthodox cross.
