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Josef Graf Radetzky wearing the Grand Cross's star and the sash of the Military Order of Maria Theresa

Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, the rank of Grand Cross may come after another even higher rank, e.g. Grand Collar. In rare cases, solely the actual insignia is referred to as the "grand cross".

In international relations, in many times the class of Grand Cross is typically reserved for royalty, heads of state and equivalent.

Sometimes a holder of the highest class or grade are referred to as "Commander Grand Cross"^{[A 1]}, "Knight Grand Cross" or just "Grand Cross".

In the United Kingdom, the rank entails admission to knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the honorific "Sir" (male) or "Dame" (female) as a style before his or her name, while entitled "Knight Grand Cross" or "Dame Grand Cross". This stands in contrast to the typical practice in other countries where knighthood is conferred at the initial, lowest rank of the order, typically "Knight".

Denomination "Grand Cordons"

The orders in which the highest rank (or second after "Collar") is named "Grand Cordons" include the following orders:

• 
   Belgium: Grand Cordons of the Order of Leopold (highest)


• 
   Cameroon: Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (Cameroon) (2nd)


• 
   Cameroon: Grand Cordon of the Order of Valour (highest)


• 
   Denmark: Grand Cross with Diamonds of the Order of the Dannebrog (2nd)


• 
   Egypt: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Nile (highest)


• 
   France: Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour (highest)


• 
   Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  


• 
   Guinea: Grand Cross of the Kola-tree National Order (2nd)


• 
   Guinea: Grand Cross of the National Order of Fidelity and People (highest)


• 
   Guinea: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (Guinea) (highest)


• 
   Guinea: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Campaign of Independence (highest)


• 
   Italy: Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (highest)


• 
   Japan: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (2nd after Collar)


• 
   Japan: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Precious Crown (highest)


• 
   Japan: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun (highest)


• 
   Jordan: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Star of Jordan (highest)


• 
   Lebanon: Grand Cordons of the Order of Merit (Lebanon) (highest)


• 
   Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross Military William Order (highest)


• 
   Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross Order of Orange-Nassau (3rd)


• 
   Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross Order of the Netherlands Lion (2nd)


• 
   Niger: Grand Cross of the National Order (Niger) (highest)


• 
   Niger: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Niger) (2nd)


• 
   Persia: Grand Cordons of the Order of the Lion and the Sun
  


• 
   Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword
  


• 
   Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal) (2nd)


• 
   Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion (Senegal) (highest)


• 
   Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
  


• 
   Togo: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (2nd)


• 
   Togo: Grand Cross of the Order of Mono (highest)


• 
   Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (highest)


• 
   Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit (3rd)


• 
   Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of the 7th November 1987 (4th)


• 
   Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic (2nd)

Gallery

Illustration of typical insignia, as in the case of the Legion of Honour of France.

Explanatory notes

References

Footnotes

See also

• Order of chivalry


• Order (distinction)


• Phaleristics

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