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Order of Isabella the Catholic

The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: Real Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order of chivalry and honour granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations and cooperation with other nations. By law, its Grand Master is the King of Spain, and its Grand Chancellor is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Order is open to both Spaniards and foreigners.

Order of Isabella the Catholic

Order of merit, Knighthood

1815 (1815)

A LA LEALTAD ACRISOLADA
(To Proven Loyalty)
and
POR ISABEL LA CATÓLICA
(For Isabella the Catholic)

Actions in benefit to Spain and the Crown

Currently constituted

King Felipe VI

José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs

  • Knight/Dame of the Collar (CoYC)
  • Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GYC)
  • Commander by Number (CnYC)
  • Commander (CYC)
  • Officer (OYC)
  • Knight/Dame (+YC)
  • Silver Cross
  • Silver Medal
  • Bronze Medal

Order of Charles III

Order of Civil Merit

The Order was created in 1815 by King Ferdinand VII in honor of Queen Isabella I as the Real y Americana Orden de Isabel la Católica ("Royal and American Order of Isabella the Catholic") with the intent of "rewarding the firm allegiance to Spain and the merits of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation and especially in those exceptional services provided in pursuit of territories in America and overseas."[1] The Order was reorganized by royal decree on 26 July 1847, with the name "Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic", reflecting the secession of the mainland possessions in the Americas after the Spanish American wars of independence.


In the realm of services to the homeland, the Order of Isabella the Catholic is the de facto highest civil honour granted by the Kingdom of Spain, since the Order of the Golden Fleece is a dynastic award (not under the control of the State), and the Order of Charles III is primarily reserved to heads of State and high-ranking government officials (typically national Ministers and Presidents of the national government). In the realm of foreign affairs, the Order of Isabella the Catholic is Spain's highest honour.


The great prestige that the Order of Isabella the Catholic enjoys in Spain and abroad is due to several reasons. First, it has become a powerful instrument of international relations, with awardees inducted from all over the world.[2] Second, it is a highly selective and rare honour – since its creation in 1815, only 72,398 people have received the Order of Isabella the Catholic[3] (in comparison, the also prestigious French Legion of Honour has been awarded to over 1,000,000 people over the same period of time,[4] and the Order of the British Empire has over 100,000 living members[5]). Third, it is one of the only Spanish civil honours, the other being the Royal Order of Carlos III, that confers personal nobility, with the right to an individual coat of arms (with heraldic mantle and pavilion), an official style of address (The Most Illustrious Sir / Ilustrísimo Señor), and full membership in nobiliary corporations (e.g., the Real Asociación de Hidalgos).[6]

First Class

The king of Spain (currently Felipe VI) is grand master.[7] The grand chancellor is the minister of foreign affairs.[8] All deeds granting decorations of the Order must bear the signatures of both.[9] Members of the order at the rank of knight and above enjoy personal nobility and have the privilege of adding a golden heraldic mantle to their coat of arms. Knights at the rank of Grand Cross and Knight of the Collar receive the official style of "His or Her most Excellent Lord".[10] Knights at the rank of commander and commander by number receive the style of "His or Her Most Illustrious Lord".[10] There are currently the following grades:


The original statutes of the order of 24 March 1815 established the order in three classes. The structure of the order has varied several times since then. The following is a summary of the history of the various grades and medals of the order:


Women appointed to an applicable grade are not called Knights (Caballeros). Women are instead appointed as Dames of the Collar (Damas del Collar), Dames Grand Cross (Damas Gran Cruz) or Dame's Cross (Cruz de Damas).[11]

Recipients[edit]

Dedicated article: Members of the Order of Isabella the Catholic