Titles, Orders, Decorations and Honours of Hanover | Overview

[anchor=intro][/anchor][color=#4f4e4e][size=200][i][b]Titles, Orders, Decorations & Honors of Hanover[/b][/i][/size][/color][hr]

[floatleft][box][center][b]Table of Contents[/b][/center][hr]I. [url=#intro]Introductory[/url]
II. [url=#titles]Titles[/url]
[tab=20][/tab] – [url=#peerages]Peerages[/url]
III. [url=#order]Order[/url]
IV. [url=#decorations]Decorations[/url]
[tab=20][/tab] – [url=#military]Military[/url]
[/box][/floatleft]
[color=white]
-

-

-

-

-

-
[/color]

[size=175][anchor=title][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Titles[/b] [/color][/anchor][/size][hr]

[size=145][anchor=peerages][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Peerages[/b] [/color][/anchor][/size]

In Hanover’s Peerage system, there is a total of 5 ranks of peerage: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron. Each individual holds the right to a seat in the House of Lords, which is the upper house of Parliament.

Each rank of peerage has its specific criteria & responsibilities as stated below.
[list]
[*][b] Duke / Duchess [/b]
[list]
[*]Is the highest rank of peerage, just below that of the monarch themselves. The rank is normally only obtainable if the individual is a blood-relative to the crown, typically being the sibling of the monarch. A handful of other Dukes exist, but all of those Dukes are descendants from the relatives of past monarchs. They are addressed as ‘Your Grace’.
[/list]
[*][b] Marquis / Marquess [/b]
[list]
[*]Is the second highest rank of peerage, following that of a Duke. The rank of Marquis is primarily given out for specific deeds or actions, as it was a title that originated post formation of the Kingdom. It has become common in past decades for past Prime Minister’s and other senior officials to be made Marquis. They are addressed as ‘My Lord / Lady’.
[/list]
[*][b] Count / Countess [/b]
[list]
[*] Is the third highest rank of peerage, following that of a Marquis. The most common rank in the Peerage, Counts are primarily comprised of the nobles from the feudal Electorate of Hanover, who retained such titles following the formation of the Kingdom of Hanover. They are addressed as “My Lord / Lady”.
[/list]
[*][b] Viscount [/b]
[list]
[*] Is the fourth highest rank of peerage, following that of a Count. Viscounts are primarily comprised of the nobles from the feudal Electorate of Hanover, who retained such titles following the formation of the Kingdom of Hanover. They are addressed as ‘My Lord / Lady’.
[/list]
[*][b] Baron / Baroness [/b]
[list] Is the fifth and lowest rank of peerage, following that of a Viscount. Barons primarily comprised of the nobles from the feudal Electorate of Hanover, who retained such titles following the formation of the Kingdom of Hanover. They are addressed as ‘Your Lordship / Ladyship’.
[*]
[/list]

[/list]

[size=175][anchor=orders][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Order[/b] [/color][/anchor][/size][hr]

[center][table][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]The Royal Guelphic Order
[img]https://i.imgur.com/zwewCDu.png[/img][/td][td] KH/KCH/GCH
[/td][td] [i]"Awarded for services towards Hanover and the Crown"[/i] [/td][/tr]

[tr][td]The Order of St. George
[img]https://i.imgur.com/wU6M7EO.png[/img][/td][td] OSG [/td][td][i]"Awarded for services towards science, religion, the humanities, and the arts"[/i][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]The Order of Ernst August
[img]https://i.imgur.com/EBb59j4.png[/img][/td][td] KEA/KCEA/KGCEA [/td][td][i]"Awarded for services in government, diplomacy, the military and the civil service"[/i][/td][/tr]


[/table][/center]

[size=175][anchor=decorations][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Decorations[/b] [/color][/anchor][/size][hr]

[size=145][anchor=military][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Military[/b] [/color][/anchor][/size]

[size=125][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Personal Decoration[/b] [/color][/size] (In Order)

[center][table][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Hanover Cross
[img]https://i.imgur.com/D51MEQI.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for acts of exceptional bravery or gallantry during military service with risk to life and personal safety."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Memorial Star
[img]https://i.imgur.com/GL2kqtC.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded posthumously to those who are killed or fatally wounded by direct result of hostile action or an act perpetrated by an enemy, opposing armed force, hostile belligerent or other party, involving the use of firepower or other lethal weapon, while in military service.”[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Distinguished Service Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/nzyc7Bk.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for distinguished leadership, resource or devotion to duty during military service." [/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Long Service Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4dEtNPA.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for the completion of 15 years of service."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Good Conduct Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/RJXw1tt.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for the completion of 5 years of honourable service, with good and proper conduct."[/i][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]War Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/0bEaVf6.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for service in the Austro-Prussian War, the War of the Austrian Succession, the Great War, and the Second World War, and in other warlike conflicts."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]International Service Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/WWUME2G.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for overseas operational service outside the borders of Hanover."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Peacekeeping Service Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/JP1mnnd.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for service on an overseas peacekeeping operation outside the borders of Hanover."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Waterloo Medal
[img]https://i.imgur.com/37HizSw.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for service as a member of the Hanoverian forces at the battles of Waterloo or Quatre Bras, or for service in the Wars Against Napoleon"[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table][/center]

[size=125][color=#4f4e4e] [b]Unit Decoration[/b] [/color][/size] (In Order)

[center][table][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]

[tr][td]Unit Citation for Distinguished Service
[img]https://i.imgur.com/1u8akfk.jpg[/img][/td][td][i]"Awarded for distinguished and outstanding service at a unit level."[/i][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table][/center]