Established on 02.14.1735 by the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Karl Friedrich (Karl Friedrich, Herzog zu Holstein-Gottorp, 04.30.1700-18.06.1739) in honor of his wife Anna Petrovna, the eldest daughter of Peter I, on the day of the tenth anniversary of their wedding. After the death of Karl Frederick, the ducal throne passed to his son Karl Peter Ulrich, who in 1742 was declared by Elizabeth Petrovna the heir to the Russian throne, transported to Russia and baptized under the name of Peter Fedorovich (future emperor Peter III). From that moment on, Russian subjects began to be awarded the Holstein Order of St. Anne, and the first award took place on 02/05/1742.

The Order was introduced into the Russian award system on 04/05/1797, on the day of the coronation of the son of Peter III, Paul I. At the same time, it was divided into three degrees, but subsequently the order signs underwent various changes. The fourth degree of the order was established on December 28, 1815 by Emperor Alexander I and was worn on arms, receiving the unofficial nickname “cranberry” because of its appearance.

The first Russian statute of the Order was adopted only in 1829 under Emperor Nicholas I, and the next statute was approved in 1845.

Order of St. Anne 1st class

A large gold cross measuring 52x52 mm at the right hip was worn on a ribbon 10-11 cm wide over the left shoulder, on the right side of the chest was attached a silver forged or embroidered star with a diameter of about 95 mm. By the way, the Order of St. Anne was the only award whose star was worn not on the left side of the chest, but on the right.

Below is a description of the insignia of the Order of St. Anne from the 1892 edition of the Code of State Institutions (Book VIII, Section II, Chapter 8).

“A large gold cross, covered with red enamel; along the edges of the cross there are gold borders, in the corners of the connection of this there are gold through decorations; in the middle of the obverse, on a white enamel field, also surrounded by a gold border, is the image of St. Anne, and on the reverse, on the same field, a Latin blue monogram of the initial letters of the order's motto, under the crown. "

“A forged silver star with a red cross in the middle; around the cross, in red enamel, Latin motto: Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem, i.e. Those who love Truth, Piety, Loyalty. This motto is borrowed from the original letters of the name and family of the Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna: A.I.P.F. (Anna, Imperatoris Petri Filia, Anna of the Emperor Peter's Daughter) ”.

The order ribbon is red with yellow stripes along the edges.

Order of St. Anne, 2nd class

A smaller cross (approximately 44x44 mm) was worn on a neck ribbon 45 mm wide.

Until 14.02.1874, the insignia of the order of the 1st and 2nd degrees could be awarded with the imperial crown as an “elevation of dignity” (from 1829) and without it. The holders of the Order with the crown, however, retained the right to wear it after the Imperial decree.

Order of St. Anne 3rd degree

A small cross measuring about 35x35 mm was worn on the chest on a 22 mm wide ribbon or in a buttonhole. In 1828-1855. to the order, awarded for merit on the battlefield, a bow from the order ribbon was relied on to distinguish military personnel from civilian gentlemen. However, already in December 1857, the bow was restored as a sign of distinction between military personnel and civilian officials who were awarded the Order with Swords for military service in the war.

Order of St. Anne, 4th degree (the so-called "cranberry")

A cross on the hilt of a personal cold weapon, a lanyard from an order ribbon.

“Red enamel cross, in a golden field, enclosed in a red enamel circle; there is a golden crown above the cross. This sign is attached to a military sword, saber, semi-sable, broadsword, dagger (to the latter at the top of the handle). When rewarding them for military exploits, an inscription is added on the hilt (at the dagger across the handle of the arc): For bravery [This award was called “Order of St. Anne of the 4th degree with the inscription“ For bravery ”- author's note]. Such an inscription also complains to those who, having already this fourth degree of the order for other, non-military distinctions, will again perform a military feat. Those granted by this sign are signed with the inscription: For bravery, they wear lanyards made of the ribbon of the Order of St. Anne with silver tassels, according to the approved samples ”.

"Class officials who have been awarded the Order of St. Anne of the fourth degree for the distinction rendered under enemy shots are assigned a lanyard from the ribbon of this order without the inscription on the sword: For bravery."

When awarding the Order of a higher degree, the insignia of the lower degrees were not worn, with the exception of the insignia of the Order of the 4th degree on melee weapons.

From 08/09/1844, when the Order was awarded to persons of non-Christian faith, the image of St. Anne and the cross was replaced by the state emblem of the Russian Empire - a two-headed black eagle.

By the highest decree of 08/05/1855, when awarding an order for military merit, crossed swords were added to the star and cross, passing through the middle of the star or cross. In the event that the Order of a higher degree complained for other differences, and the cavalier by this time already had a junior degree of the Order for a feat of arms, then the swords were attached on top of the cross or on the upper ray of the star.

According to the statute of the award, “The Order of St. Anne may also be awarded, at the Highest discretion, to foreigners who are not in the service of His Imperial Majesty” (clause 466 of the Second Division “On Merits Awarded with the Order of St. Anne” from the aforementioned Code).

Foreigners-holders of the Order who were not in the Russian service, along with some other categories of Russian subjects, were exempted from paying a lump sum penalty to the Order's treasury. For all the rest, the contribution to the Chapter of the Order “for charitable deeds” was 150 rubles. (1st degree), 35 rubles. (2nd degree), 20 rubles (3rd degree), 15 rubles. (4th degree). At the same time, when awarding swords to the Order, only half of the mentioned amount was collected from the knight.

The first Russian holders of the Order of St. Anne corresponded to the Holstein Statute of 1735, according to which the award could only be given to a military or civilian official with a rank older than a colonel or a collegiate adviser corresponding to him in the civil service. The holders of the order in Russia were, as a rule, of the rank not lower than a major general or an actual state councilor. The Grand Duke and heir Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich was awarded the order at baptism - on September 25, 1754, together with the Orders of St. Andrew the First-Called and St. Alexander Nevsky, as later his children: Alexander Pavlovich (December 20, 1777) and Konstantin Pavlovich ( May 5, 1779), and already in the Statute of the Russian Order of Cavalry in 1797, Paul 1 legalized this tradition: “All Our Grand Dukes receive the Russian Order of all names<...>at holy baptism; The princes<...>upon reaching the age of majority established for them. " In addition to them, the insignia of the Order of St. Anne of the 1st degree began to be awarded after that to all foreigners who were awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

During the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, 80 people were awarded (according to the lists of N.N.Bantysh - Kamensky in 1814), including three people who were awarded during her coronation, and under Peter III, in seven months - 23 people, including March 19, 1762 the court architect FB Rastrelli (1700-1771) for completing the construction of the Winter Palace. Under Catherine II, 319 insignia of the order were awarded. During the coronation of Catherine II on September 22, 1762, 18 people were awarded, including the Moscow commandant, major general and the Georgian prince Athanasius (1707-1784).

The Order of St. Anne of three degrees became a junior class established by Paul in 1797 as the Russian Cavalier Order, or Order: “The Russian Cavalry Order is divided into the following names or classes: first, St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle; the second, for female persons, St. Catherine the Great Martyr; the third, St. Alexander Nevsky, and the fourth, St. Anna. "

During the coronation on April 5, 1797, Paul 1 presented 36 insignia of the 1st degree and 7 insignia of the 2nd degree. It should be noted that if among the cavaliers of the 1st degree all were in the rank of equal to major generals or higher, then the first awards with the 2nd degree testify to the still unsettled status of this award: among them were lieutenant generals, real state advisers, one rear admiral (A.S. Shishchkov), as well as two majors and three collegiate advisers. Among the first knights of the 3rd degree from 1797 to 1801, there were mainly colonels and several major generals. The first cavalier of the 3rd degree was Colonel Pavel Sergeevich Lanskoy (1757-1832), who retired in 1798 with the rank of state councilor. Later, under Alexander 1, when the Status of the Order was established in accordance with the Table of Ranks, the Order of the 4th degree (Annensky arms) was awarded, as a rule, to chief officers from second lieutenant to captain. The Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree could be received by a lieutenant (in the civil service - a collegiate secretary).

By the highest decree of 1847, the Order of St. Anne of the 3rd degree began to be awarded to civil officials "for blameless service in one position not lower than the eighth grade." For the military, he was given for eight years of service in the rank of not lower than a staff captain (respectively, a head captain in the cavalry and a lieutenant in the navy). The owner of a Moscow silk factory, merchant Yakov Semenovich Loktev (1795-1851) - supplier of order ribbons in 1832-1851. - was awarded in 1838 the badge of the order of the 3rd degree "for the exceptional and constant supply of order ribbons." According to the Statute of 1845, the 3rd degree of the order could be awarded to merchants who built at their own expense a hospital, a church, an almshouse or a school attached to a church “for at least twenty people, and the maintenance of this or that institution, for at least seven years, will strengthen the existence of onago. " Not only military men, officials or merchants, but also home teachers could be awarded the order according to the Statute of 1845, but also home teachers: "Home tutors, according to the testimony of their superiors, who performed with particular zeal" their responsibilities: family nobles - for fifteen years, personal noblemen - twenty years, and the rest - in the course of twenty-five years.

Interestingly, the famous Odessa millionaire Grigory Grigorievich Marazli (1831-1907), who was the mayor from 1878 to 1895, was awarded three degrees of the Order of St. Anna - 3rd and 2nd degrees for charitable activities (in 1858 and 1871 biennium), and received the 1st degree as a mayor in 1882. Let us recall that until 1826 the receipt of any degree of the order gave the right to hereditary nobility. After that, such a right was given only by the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, all other degrees - personal nobility, and the merchant received the title of honorary citizen. The second degree of the order (the so-called "Anna on the neck") was received by those who were listed in ranks above the VIII class (from collegiate assessor to state councilor or from major and lieutenant commander to colonel and captain of the 1st rank).

Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov received in 1828 the rank of state councilor (V grade) and Anna of the second degree, adorned with diamonds, having returned from Persia with the Turkmanchay peace treaty. A very interesting remark on the presentation of the insignia of the order of the 2nd degree is placed in the Pavlovian Statute of 1797: "To this degree, the order is also intended to be one of the scientists who, by their science, bring excellent benefits to the Fatherland." We can name several such cavaliers: for example, the famous historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, who was awarded the 1st degree of the order in 1816 for the "Note on Ancient and New Russia." V.M. Golovnin (1776-1831), appointed quartermaster general of the fleet, headed the shipbuilding and artillery departments in 1823. Under his leadership, over 200 warships were built, including the 10 first steamers in Russia. On September 4, 1830, Vasily Mikhailovich "for the successful production of shipbuilding" became a Knight of the Order of St. Anna, 1st degree.

The president of the Medical-Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg, Peter Alexandrovich Dubovitsky (1815 - 1868), wrote about 30 scientific works of current importance. One of the undoubted merits of Petr Aleksandrovich is the system of training scientific and teaching personnel developed by him. Thus, the Medical Institute, founded by him in 1858, whose idea still lives on in the form of postgraduate studies, gave Russia many outstanding figures in Russian biology and medicine (for example, the Nobel laureate Academician Ivan Petrovich Pavlov). In 1867, he headed the Main Military Medical Directorate of the Russian Empire. For his work in the scientific and pedagogical field, his contribution to the development of practical medicine and the training of medical personnel for the Russian army, Peter Alexandrovich Dubovitsky was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 2nd and 1st degrees.

The talented scientist Izmail Petrovich Semyonov (1876 -1942), the son of the famous Peter Petrovich Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky (Knight of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called), had the Order of St. Anna, 2nd degree. He graduated with honors from the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of St. Petersburg University, completed an internship abroad. His scientific specialty was meteorology - one of the most unexplored then, but which had an extremely important national economic and defense significance. He made a certain contribution to improving the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts. Before the revolution, Izmail Petrovich Semyonov was awarded four orders, the highest of which was the Order of St. Anna, 2nd degree.

The first degree of the order in the 19th century. and until 1917 received the ranks of only major general rank, which corresponded to the rank of actual state councilor of the civil service. During the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns in 1813-1814. the first degree was awarded to about 230 generals and over 50 received also diamond insignia of the order. The outstanding physician-in-chief surgeon N.F. insignia of the order of the 2nd degree and a badge decorated with diamonds, and in 1845 received the first degree of the Order of St. Anne. The famous Russian poet V. A. Zhukovsky was awarded the 1st degree of the order for the upbringing of the Grand Duke, the future Emperor Alexander II in 1835. In total, about 10 thousand people became the holders of the 1st degree of the order.

Quite a lot of foreign nationals were also awarded with the insignia of the Order of St. Anna. For example, only during the visit of Emperor Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna to Stockholm, 10 signs of the Order of St. Anna of the 1st degree, 43 signs of the 2nd degree and about 150 signs of the 3rd degree were distributed there.

Awards for the clergy.

According to the "Decree on the Russian Order of Cavalry 1797" The clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church also had the right to be awarded orders. In contrast to the laity knights, the priests were called the highest nominated to the order they were granted. The first and second degrees of the order were awarded to the abbots of the largest churches in Russia: St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel Cathedrals, the abbots of the largest monasteries. The hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, the highest ranked with the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, received at the same time the badge of the Order of St. Anna, 1st degree, if they had not been awarded the order before. Among the nineteen clergymen assigned to the order of the 1st and 2nd degree at the coronation of Paul I were his confessor, Archpriest of the Annunciation Cathedral Isidor, Archbishop Nikifor of Slavno, Archbishop Victor of Suzdal, Archbishop Athanasius of Kolomna, Roman Catholic bishop of Minnesota in Rome province Kliment Bukaty, Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk Benjamin, priest at the church of the Russian mission in London Ya.I. Smirnov (1759-1840), and also Archpriest P. Ya. Ozeretskovsky (1758-1807), appointed by Paul in 1800 as the first history of Russia chief priest of the army and navy. Subsequently, all archpriests chief priests were assigned to the Order of St. Anna, 1st degree: Ioann Semenovich Derzhavin (1807-1826), Pavel Antonovich Modzhuginsky (1826-1827), Grigory Ivanovich Mansvetov (1827-1832), Vasily Ivanovich Kutnevich ( 1832-1865), Mikhail Izmailovich Bogoslovsky (1865-1871), prot. Petr Evdokimovich Pokrovsky (1871-1888), Alexy Topogritsky (1815-1826), Nikolai Vasilievich Muzovsky (1826-1848), Vasily Borisovich Bazhanov (1849-1883), Alexander Alekseevich Zhelobovsky (1888-1910), Evgeny Petrovich Akvilonov (1910- 1911) and Georgy Ivanovich Shavelsky (1911-1917).

Order of Saint Anne- an order established in 1735 as a dynastic award and in 1797 introduced by Emperor Paul I into the award system of the Russian Empire to distinguish a wide range of government officials and the military. The full official name of the order is the Imperial Order of St. Anne. At the same time, the order of St. Anna, numbered among the state awards of the Russian Empire, never ceased to have a special status as a dynastic award of the Romanov dynasty.

Those who were awarded any degree of the Order of St. Anne automatically became hereditary noblemen, but from 1845 this position was changed. It was found that henceforth only the 1st degree of the order gives hereditary nobility, and the rest of the degrees - only personal. The exceptions were persons of the merchant class and Muslim foreigners, who, when awarded any of the degrees of the order, except for the 1st, did not become noblemen, but received the status of "honorary citizens".

Order grades and wearing rules

I degree- Cross on a ribbon 10 cm wide over the left shoulder, a star on the right side of the chest; 350 or 200 rubles. annual pension;

II degree- A smaller cross on the neck with a ribbon 4.5 cm wide ("Anna on the neck"); 150 or 120 rubles. annual pension;

III degree- An even smaller cross on the chest on a 2.2 cm wide ribbon; 100 or 90 rubles. annual pension;

IV degree- A cross on the hilt of a cold weapon and a lanyard from the Order ribbon ("Cranberry"); 50 or 40 rubles. annual pension.

When the order is awarded for military exploits, the signs of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees are joined by two swords, lying crosswise in the middle of the cross and a star, an inscription on the hilt is added to the sign of the 4th degree "For bravery".

Rules for wearing degrees of the Order of St. Anna (from left to right from 4th to 1st)

Unlike all other Russian orders, the star of the Order of St. Anna was worn not on the left, but on the right side of the chest.

When the order of the highest degree is awarded, the insignia of the lower degrees are not worn (with the exception of insignia with swords and insignia of the order of the 4th degree on melee weapons).

orders

Extracts from the Institution of Orders and Other Insignia, ed. 1892:

Star to the Order of St. Anne

Star with a crown to the Order of St. Anne

• The Imperial Order of St. Anne was established as a reward for feats performed in the field of public service.

• The Order of St. Anne is divided into four grades. Signs are its essence:
  • FIRST DEGREE. Large gold cross, covered with red enamel; along the edges of the cross there are gold borders, in the corners of the connection therewith there are gold through decorations; in the middle of the obverse, on a white enamel field, also circled with a gold border, is the image of St. Anna, and on the reverse, on the same field, a Latin blue monogram of the initial letters of the order's motto, under the crown. It is worn on a red ribbon with a yellow border, two and a quarter inches wide, over the left shoulder, with a forged silver star on the right side of the chest, in the middle of which there is a red cross; around the cross, on red enamel, the Latin motto: Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem, that is, Those who love Truth, Piety, Faithfulness. This motto is borrowed from the original letters of the name and family of the Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna: A. I. P. F.(Anna, Imperatoris Petri Filia, Anna Emperor Peter's Daughter).
  • SECOND DEGREE. A cross, similar to the one established for the first degree, but of a lesser size, is worn around the neck, on a ribbon one inch wide.
  • THIRD DEGREE. The cross is even smaller; worn in a buttonhole, on a half-top ribbon.
  • FOURTH DEGREE. Red enamel cross, in a golden field, enclosed in a red enamel circle; there is a golden crown above the cross. This sign is attached to a military sword, saber, semi-sable, broadsword, dagger (to the latter at the top of the handle). When awarding them for military exploits, an inscription is added on the hilt (at the dagger on the diameter of the handle of the arc): for bravery... Such an inscription also complains to those who, having already this fourth degree of the order for other, non-military distinctions, will again perform a military feat. Granted by the sim sign with the inscription: for bravery, wear lanyards made of ribbon of the Order of St. Anne with silver tassels, according to the approved samples.
    • Officers awarded the Order of St. Anna of the fourth degree are supplied with only order insignia, so that those who receive them themselves attach them to swords or sabers.
    • Inscription for bravery on golden broadswords and naval sabers, it is made, following the example of cavalry sabers, on two rims of the hilt.
    • Class officials who have been awarded the Order of St. Anne of the fourth degree for the distinction rendered under enemy shots are assigned a lanyard from the ribbon of this order without an inscription on the sword: for bravery.
    • The Order of St. Anna of the fourth degree is not withdrawn even with the highest degrees thereof.

• To the signs of the Order of St. Anna, when he complains about the military, against the enemy, exploits, are joined by two, lying crosswise, swords: in the middle of a cross and a star.

• On the star and on crosses of all degrees, acclaimed to non-Christians, the images of St. Anna and the cross are replaced by the image of the Imperial Russian eagle.

• The sizes of the signs were approximately: 1st Art.- 52 × 52 mm; 2nd Art.- 44 × 44 mm; 3rd Art.- 35 × 35 mm

Insignia of the Order of St. Anne

Anninsky medal on both sides, 1810s

Insignia of the Order of St. Anne or Anninsky medal- an award for the lower military ranks of the Russian Empire for length of service and for special, non-military merits. It was a gilded silver medal with an image of the order badge (red wax paint).

Established on November 12, 1796 by Emperor Paul I for non-commissioned officers and privates who served irreproachably 20 years. Those awarded the medal were exempted from corporal punishment. Prior to the establishment of the Insignia of the Order of St. George (St. George's Cross) in 1807, the Anninskaya medal was awarded to the lower ranks and for military merit.

On July 11, 1864, in connection with the reduction of the service life from 25 to 7 years, according to the new regulation, the medal began to be awarded “ for special feats and merits, not in combat»Both in peacetime and in wartime, as well as for 10 years of extra-urgent service. A special merit was, for example, the capture of an important state criminal. Those awarded for special merit were supposed to wear a medal on the Anninsky ribbon with a bow, awarded for length of service - without a bow.

The Anninskaya medal was awarded simultaneously with the appointment of a lump sum of money, from 10 to 100 rubles, depending on the merit. The same badge, but without a ribbon from the order and no cash issue, was awarded to non-commissioned officers for 10 years of extra-urgent service in combat units.

Annin's weapon

Annin's weapon- a service edged weapon of an officer or official (sword, saber, dagger) with the sign of the Order of St. Anne of the 4th degree attached to its hilt. Unlike the award Golden Weapon (see Golden Weapon "For Bravery"), the knight of the Anninsky weapon was awarded only the badge of the order and had the right to attach it to the hilt of his sword or saber.

Anninskoe arms - Order of St. Anne of the 4th degree "For Bravery". The times of the Russian-Turkish war, 1877-1878

The history of the Anninsky award weapon dates back to the years when the future Russian emperor

Images of the signs of the Order of St. Anne:

1 tbsp. Order of Saint Anne in the middle of the cross, on a medallion, on a white field, there is an image of St. Anna. On the reverse side of the medallion, on a white field, there is a blue enamel monogram from the initial letters of the motto: A. J. P. F. Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem, i.e. Those who love Truth, Piety, Loyalty. This motto is borrowed from the original letters of the name and family of the Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna: A. I. P. F. (Anna, Imperatoris Petri Filia, Anna of the Emperor Peter Dshcher). The ribbon of the order is red with a yellow border.

Until 1829 "Pavlovsk" awards were made of gold (bronze with dense mercury gilding) and dark red polished glass. In addition to the "lattice" with diamonds between the sides of the cross, they were distinguished by three characteristic rings for inserting diamonds or, much more often, aquamarines on each of the tops of the cross. The author of the design drawing of these signs was N.A. Lviv.

From 1797 to 1829, the orders of the 1st and 2nd century, decorated with diamonds around the entire perimeter of the cross and medallion (as opposed to the "statutory" ones), were issued as a higher degree of the same awards by the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty. After 1829, only foreigners were awarded with diamonds, for Russian subjects, instead of diamond jewelry, to increase the degree of the award, imperial crowns were established over crosses of the 1st and 2nd Art. (the crowns to the signs and the star were abolished in 1874).

The star of the order is silver, eight-pointed. Worn on the right side of the chest. In the central medallion there is a star, on a golden field - a red cross, around it on a red enamel background - a motto.

2nd degree. - the same cross as 1 st., but smaller. It was worn around the neck, on an order ribbon 4.5 cm wide. The star was not supposed to be.

3 tbsp. - the same cross as 2 tbsp., but smaller. It was worn in the buttonhole of a uniform or on the left side of the chest on a 2.2 cm wide ribbon.In 1828, for the 3rd century, issued for military exploits on the battlefield, a badge of distinction in the form of a bow from the order ribbon was installed (like the hordes. St. Vladimir 4th degree).

4 degree - ( order of saint anne originally had three degrees, since 1815 it has been divided into four). - a red enamel cross on a gold field, enclosed in a red enamel circle, above the cross - a gold imperial crown. Worn on the hilt of military edged weapons: swords, sabers, half-sabers, broadsword, dagger. Since 1815, awards of the 4th Art. began to be made of tombak and issued from the Chapter without edged weapons, the cavaliers themselves had to attach it to their service weapon. When awarded with the sign of 4 Art. For military exploits since 1829, the inscription "For courage" was engraved on the arches of the hilt or across the dagger. Since March 1855, for the "more visible distinction" awarded the 4th Art. for military exploits, they had to wear a lanyard made of a red-gold medal ribbon with silver tassels at the Annensky weapon "For Courage".

In 1913, those awarded with the Golden St. George's Weapon received the right to attach a small St. George's white cross to it. At the same time, the Knight of St. Anne of the 4th Art. could simultaneously attach the Annensky red cross to the same weapon.

The Cavalier Duma was established in 1829 on the model of the analogous dumas of St. George and St. Vladimir. She sat at the order church - the temple of the Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess in St. Petersburg. Order holiday - February 3. The first art. in the XIX century. and until 1917 received the ranks of only major general rank, which corresponded to the rank of actual state councilor of the civil service. In total, about 10 thousand people became Cavaliers of the 1st degree.

The Order of St. Anne was founded in 1735 by Duke Karl Friedrich, of German descent. In 1725 he married Anna, the daughter of Emperor Peter the Great. 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 the difficult birth of the future heir to the throne. After the death of his beloved wife, Karl Friedrich decided to perpetuate her memory by transferring the image of the duchess with the help of the image on the order to the next generations of the heirs to the throne. During the duke's lifetime, 15 German subjects received this order.

From that time on, the rulers of Russia did not stay in power for long, 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 no children of her own, officially decided to elevate her nephew to the throne, 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 elevate the order to the rank of a state award in Russia.

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, tragically ended. 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, born in 1754.

The 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 reign fell on the shoulders of his mother, who was directly responsible for the death of his father. The history of the Russian Empire received at this time a significant impetus to development under the leadership of Catherine II. Without a doubt, she was the most famous empress 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 special grace, Paul I felt reverent feelings precisely in relation to the Order of St. Anna. This was explained quite simply. At one of the Moscow receptions held in 1762, 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 father of the beauty received a princely title and a family motto from the emperor. From that time on, the Hebrew translation of the name Anna - "grace" - became the pride of the entire princely family of the Lopukhins.

It is from this moment that the main history of the order begins in pre-revolutionary Russia. According to the official documents of the imperial family that have survived to this day. Catherine II considered her son's reverent attitude to the order as a funny child's play, 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 it did 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 with special valor.

But for the rebellious emperor, this was clearly not enough, and he decided secretly from the formidable mother, who did not consider the Order of St. Anna to be a worthy reward, to create many small copies in order to informally reward his subjects with them. They were supposed to be worn on the hilt of a sword so that, if necessary, it could be easily hidden from prying eyes, and in the event of an armed collision, to cover it from a blow with a hand.

Refusal he of the German principality

In 1773, Catherine II completely renounces all the rights, privileges and titles that the Holstein throne provided to 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 in 1797. On this day, he officially ascends to 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 dividing it into 3 main degrees. Now copies of the order, which 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 only award officers with this order. 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 to 5.2 cm.

1. Order of St. Anna 1st degree - inlaid with diamonds. To wear this type of order relied on a wide red ribbon with yellow stripes running along the edges. It was awarded at the same time as the silver star. Moreover, the star had to be thrown over the right shoulder, and the order over the left. On a gold background was an eight-pointed star, in the center of which was placed a red cross. The motto of the order Amantibus Justitiam Pietatem Fidem was derived along its circumference in Latin letters, therefore, from the translation, it can be concluded that they were awarded to faithful and pious people.

The red color of the cross was achieved by covering it with enamel surrounded by a thin gold border. In the center of the cross was a full-length image of the Duchess Anne on a white rosette. It was also surrounded by a golden border. On the reverse side of the order was the duchess's monogram, made with blue enamel. Two angels hovered over the face of Anna, holding the imperial crown in their hands.

In 1829, diamond inserts remained only on awards awarded to foreign citizens, and from 1874 the image of the imperial crown on orders of the first degrees was canceled.

2. Order of St. Anne 2nd degree - inlaid with rock crystal. It had to be worn around the neck, fastened to a narrow ribbon. Mainly awarded to persons who did not accept the Christian faith and merchants. However, in this order, the image of Anna was replaced by a two-headed eagle. On the reverse of the order, made in azure color, the abbreviation of the motto of the AIPF order is depicted, the purpose of which was to remind the recipients that the countess was the daughter of Peter I. The silver star was not relied on.

3. Order of St. Anne 3rd degree - the most common option. It was worn on the hilt of a sword. It was a small circle, inside which was an enamel cross in a ring made of the same material, and both parts were made in bright red.

13 years after the official recognition as a state award, the wearing rules were changed. Now it was necessary to pin it to the bow, the color of which should immediately indicate whether the awarded person belonged 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 grade. From that time on, the order actually began to rely as a reward for length of service.

4. Order of St. Anna, 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, the Order of the 4th degree was named "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 was previously awarded the order of the 4th degree was awarded a higher award, 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 for wearing the order of the 3rd degree was changed. Now it was supposed to add the obligatory prefix "For courage" to it.

Award history

Beginning in 1857, the emperor issued a decree in which military officers were to be awarded not only an order, where the image of Duchess Anna was replaced with two crossed swords, but also a bright red bow, thanks to which the people's insight was once again confirmed, because now anyone, those who were seen with such an award were called “Knight of the Order of the Cranberry” behind their backs.

The Cranberry Order was awarded until a year, when all awards of the tsarist empire were officially canceled by the new government.

The procedure for decorating orders of the 1st and 2nd degree with precious stones was significantly changed, although this innovation did not affect the awarded foreign subjects.

Modernization of the order

At the end of the 19th century, the order of awarding the Order of the 3rd degree also changed. Already from 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, each person assigned to the award received, in addition, certain benefits for the order. So, in addition to any degree of the order, the title of nobility was also supposed, however, due to the high prevalence of those awarded, this rule was changed, leaving the title of tribal 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 the awards were given to merchants or persons who did not convert to Christianity, they became empires without receiving a noble title.

The most famous personalities awarded with the order:

• Lieutenant General Vasily Ivanovich Suvorov - awarded by Elizaveta Petrovna.
• Generalissimo Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov - received the Holstein Order of St. Anna.
• Kutuzov, who received the Order of St. Anna as her first award in 1789.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The insignia of St. Anna's medal, or Anninskaya medal, was established in 1796 by Paul 1 and was a gilded medal with a red cross in the center. 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 awarded and could reach 100 rubles.

The order of 3 or 4 degrees without a bow and monetary encouragement was awarded to non-commissioned officers, whose length of service was more than 10 years.

Awards of the Russian Empire

• The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - founded by Peter I in 1698. They were awarded for their courage and loyalty to the homeland 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.
• The Order of the Liberation - founded by Peter the Great in 1713. During the life of Peter I, only his wife received this order from the hands of the emperor. A memorable event took place on November 24, 1714.

In the future, it was 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 conclude peace and return to their homeland. Eyewitnesses of this event did not confirm the transfer of jewelry as a bribe, but the dignified behavior of the pregnant empress was noted by all the military. The order had 2 degrees, differing in different decorations with precious stones. The first degree was inlaid with diamonds, and the second - with rock crystal.

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 entire history of the formation of which up to the 1917 revolution can be traced back to the orders received by the most prominent personalities of that time.