The Order of Saint Anne was founded in 1735 by Duke Karl Friedrich, a German by birth. In 1725 he married the daughter of Emperor Peter the Great, Anna. Initially, the order was supposed to be a dynastic award, but later its status changed significantly.
Duchess Anna did not live long in a happy marriage and died in 1728 almost immediately after a difficult birth of the future heir to the throne. After the death of his beloved wife, Karl Friedrich decided to perpetuate her memory by passing on the image of the duchess with the help of the image on the order to the next generations of heirs to the throne. During the life of the Duke, this order was received by 15 German subjects.
Starting from that time, the rulers of Russia did not stay long in power, leaving the throne for reasons beyond their control.
Heir to Elizabeth II
The future heir to the Russian and Holstein thrones was named Karl-Peter-Ulrich. He inherited the throne after Elizabeth II, who had noown children, decided by official decree to enthrone her nephew, after which the boy was transported from the Holstein principality to Russia.
State status of the order
Since the Order of St. Anna was a dynastic award, having moved to Russia, Peter III, who became the Grand Master of this order by inheritance from his father, took the highest award of the Holstein Principality with him. After he officially ascended the throne in 1742, it was decided to raise the order to the rank of a state award in Russia as well.
New heir to the throne
The history of the Russian Empire right up to the present day is filled with tragic events, the most significant of which was an incident that left an indelible mark on modern history. It happened in 1762, when the reign of Paul III, which lasted about 6 months, was tragically cut short. This happened as a result of a conspiracy to remove from the throne, which was arranged by his own wife. After his death, pre-revolutionary Russia received a new heir to the throne - Paul I, who was born in 1754.
Reign of Catherine II
Since at the time of the death of the current emperor, Paul I was still too young to rule the throne, the entire burden of the reign fell on the shoulders of his mother, who was directly responsible for the death of his father. The history of the Russian Empire at this time receives a significant impetus to development under the leadership of Catherine II. Without a doubt the most famousempress of that time outside of Russia.
The secret meaning of the award
Despite the fact that the awards of the Russian Empire were distinguished by their special grace, Paul I had quivering feelings precisely in relation to the Order of St. Anna. It was explained quite simply. At one of the Moscow receptions arranged in 1762, Paul I was introduced to the first beauty of that time, Anna Petrovna, daughter of the local senator P. V. Lopukhin.
The emperor liked her so much that he insisted on moving her entire family to St. Petersburg. The beauty's father received a princely title and a family motto from the emperor. Since that time, the Hebrew translation of the name Anna - "grace" - has become the pride of the entire princely family of the Lopukhins.
It is from this moment that the main history of the order in pre-revolutionary Russia begins. According to the official documents of the imperial family, preserved to this day. Catherine II considered her son's reverent attitude to the order as a funny childish game, but from the time the future emperor met Anna Petrovna at a reception, he also began to carry a secret meaning. Now the order of St. Anne meant as much to him as to the founder of the order, Karl Friedrich.
Copies of the order that received state status
According to the surviving correspondence between Empress Catherine II and the tutor of Paul I, a special imperial decree was created, according to which Paul I had the legal right to award this order on his behalf to any nobleman who distinguished himself by special valor.
Butfor the recalcitrant emperor, this was clearly not enough, and he secretly decided from a formidable mother, who did not consider the Order of St. Anna a worthy reward, to create many small copies in order to unofficially reward his subjects with them. They were supposed to be worn on the hilt of the sword so that, if necessary, it could be easily hidden from prying eyes, and in the event of an armed clash, cover it from a blow with a hand.
Rejection of the German Principality
In 1773, Catherine II completely renounces all rights, privileges and titles that the Holstein throne provided her and her heirs. Since that time, the order of the 1st degree is no longer awarded to the heirs of the imperial dynasty, but since Paul I remained the official Grand Master of the order, he retained the official right to award them at his own request.
Coronation of Paul the First
The coronation of Paul I fell on November 12, 1797. On this day, he officially ascends the throne, and pre-revolutionary Russia receives a new emperor in its history, one of the first decrees of which is the erection of the Order of St. Anna to the rank of state awards and its division into 3 main degrees. Now copies of the order that were made in the youth of the emperor received legal status and belonged to the 3rd degree.
Initially, it was assumed that the rulers of Russia would award this order only to officers. The appearance of the order directly depended on the degree to which it belonged. Its dimensions, depending on the degree, ranged from 3.5 cm to5.2 cm.
1. Order of St. Anne 1st class - encrusted with diamonds. This type of order was supposed to be worn on a wide red ribbon with yellow stripes running along the edges. It was awarded simultaneously with the silver star. Moreover, the star had to be thrown over the right shoulder, and the order over the left. On a golden background was an eight-pointed star, in the center of which a red cross was placed. On its circumference, the motto of the order Amantibus Justitiam Pietatem Fidem was derived in Latin letters, therefore, from the translation we can conclude that they were awarded to faithful and pious people.
The red color of the cross was achieved by coating with enamel surrounded by a thin golden border. In the center of the cross was a full-length image of Duchess Anna on a white rosette. It was also surrounded by a golden border. On the reverse side of the order was the monogram of the duchess, made with blue enamel. Two angels hovered above the face of Anna, holding the imperial crown.
In 1829, diamond inserts remained only on awards awarded to foreign citizens, and since 1874, the image of the imperial crown on orders of the first degrees was canceled.
2. Order of St. Anne 2nd class - was encrusted with rock crystal. It was necessary to wear it around the neck, fastened to a narrow ribbon. It was mainly awarded to persons who did not accept the Christian faith, and to merchants. However, on this order, the image of Anna was replaced bydouble-headed eagle. The reverse of the order, made in azure, depicts the abbreviation of the motto of the AIPF order, the purpose of which was to remind the recipients that the countess was the daughter of Peter I. The silver star was not supposed to.
3. Order of St. Anne 3rd class - is the most common variant. It was supposed to be worn on the hilt of a sword. It was a small circle, inside of which there was an enamel cross in a ring of the same material, and both parts were made in bright red.
Thirteen years after the official recognition as a state award, the rules for wearing were changed. Now it was necessary to pin it to the bow, the color of which was supposed to immediately indicate whether the recipient belongs to the military or civilians. According to the decree of 1847, it was decided to award the Order of the 3rd degree to officials who had served at least 12 years in one position of at least 13th class. From that time on, the order actually began to be relied upon as a reward for long service.
4. The Order of St. Anne, 4th degree - was established by the son of Paul I - Emperor Alexander I. This degree was awarded only to military officers. The order was supposed to be worn on weapons that are used in the type of troops where the awarded person serves.
Among the subjects of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, the order of the 4th degree was called "Cranberry". The thing is that its size did not exceed 2.5 cm and was exactly the same color as this berry. If an officer who had previously been awarded an order of the 4th degree was awarded a higherreward, they were supposed to be worn at the same time.
The name of the order of the 4th degree was changed exactly 1 year after the rule of wearing the order of the 3rd degree was changed. Now it was supposed to add the obligatory prefix "For courage" to it.
History of awards
Starting in 1857, the emperor issued a decree in which military officers were to be awarded not only the order, where the image of Duchess Anna was replaced by two crossed swords, but also a bright red bow, thanks to which the people's insight was once again confirmed, because now anyone who was seen with such an award was called “Chevalier of the Order of Cranberries” behind their backs.
The Cranberry Order was awarded until the revolution of 1917, when all awards of the tsarist empire were officially abolished by the new government.
The procedure for decorating the 1st and 2nd class orders with precious stones has been significantly changed, although this innovation did not affect the awarded foreign nationals.
Modernization of the order
At the end of the 19th century, the procedure for awarding the Order of the 3rd degree also changed. Since 1847, in order to be assigned to the award, it was required to serve in the army or as an official for at least 8 years. In addition, the appearance of the order of the 3rd degree has also changed. Since 1855, 2 crossed swords have been added to it.
Until the middle of the 19th century, every person assigned to the award,received in addition certain benefits for orders. So, in addition to any degree of the order, a noble title was also supposed, however, due to the high prevalence of those awarded, this rule was changed, leaving the title of family nobility only for people awarded the order of the 1st degree. The rest received the sole title of nobility, which did not pass to the heirs.
In the event that merchants or persons who did not accept Christianity were awarded, they became honorary citizens of the Russian Empire without receiving a noble title.
Most famous people awarded with the order:
- General Lieutenant Vasily Ivanovich Suvorov - awarded by Elizaveta Petrovna.
- Generalissimo Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov - received the Holstein Order of St. Anne.
- Kutuzov, who received the Order of St. Anna as her first award in 1789.
Lifetime Achievement
Insignia of St. Anna, or Anninsky medal, established in 1796 by Paul 1 and was a gilded medal, in the center of which was a red cross. It was awarded to the military, whose length of service exceeded 20 years.
In addition to the award, there was also a monetary reward, the amount of which directly depended on the merits and status of the recipient and could reach 100 rubles.
Order of the 3rd or 4th degree without a bow and monetary reward was awarded to non-commissioned officers whose length of service was more than 10 years.
Awards of the Russian Empire
- Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - established by Peter I in 1698. They were awarded for bravery andloy alty to the motherland and the emperor. According to legend, Peter the Great, who returned from a trip to England, wanted to have an order in Russia similar to what he had seen.
- Order of Liberation - founded by Peter the Great in 1713. During the life of Peter I, this order was received from the hands of the emperor only by his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna. The memorable event took place on November 24, 1714.
In the future, they were awarded to the wives of prominent Russian figures for useful social activities. It was originally conceived as a reward for the worthy behavior of the imperial wife during the unsuccessful Prussian campaign in 1711.
According to legend, after the Russian troops were surrounded by the Turks, Catherine donated her jewelry to bribe the Turkish commander, thanks to which the troops managed to achieve peace and return to their homeland. Eyewitnesses of this event did not confirm the transfer of jewelry as a bribe, however, the worthy behavior of the pregnant empress was noted by all the military. The order had 2 degrees, distinguished by different decoration with precious stones. The first degree was encrusted with diamonds, and the second with rock crystal.
- Order of Alexander Nevsky - established by Catherine I in 1725. Intended for rewarding middle government officials. For the first time, this order was awarded on the wedding day of Peter I to Catherine I. 18 people received the award.
- Military Order of St. George - established by Catherine II in 1769. was awardedwarriors who showed special courage in the course of hostilities. He had four degrees of distinction.
- Order of Prince Vladimir - established by Catherine II in 1782. Employees of middle ranks and officers were awarded. There was no limit to the number of awardees. Made in four different grades.
- Order of St. Anna and the M altese Cross - established by Paul I and his son Alexander I, who supplemented the Order of St. Anna 4th degree in 1797. Awarded to military and civilians who equally distinguished themselves before the emperor. The Order of the M altese Cross appeared when Napoleon, who captured Egypt and directly M alta, offered Emperor Paul I to accept the rank of Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
- The Order of the White Eagle, the Order of St. Stanislaus and the Order of Virtuti Militari - established by Nicholas I in 1831. These orders became part of the Russian orders after the annexation of Poland to Russia. Awarded to Polish soldiers for bravery in battle. Moreover, these orders could be awarded only within five years from the date of the end of hostilities.
- Order of Princess Olga - established by Nicholas II in 1913. Awarded to women for public service. This order could be awarded either by the emperor himself, or by a person who had a special imperial letter in his hands.
At the end of this article, I would like to once again emphasize the invaluable contribution of the ruling dynasty of pre-revolutionary Russia to the creation of a modern state, the entirethe history of the formation of which until the revolution of 1917 can be traced by the orders received by the most prominent personalities of that time.
