MOROCCO
The Alawi Dynasty
ORDERS & DECORATIONS
The Order of Muhammadiya - Grand Collar
The Order of Independence - First class, breast badge.
The Order of Fidelity - Grand Cordon, breast star.
Wissam al-Arch (the Order of the Throne): founded by King Muhammad V on 16th November 1955 as a general award of merit for distinguished services of a civil or military natue. Modified by by King Hassan II on 16th May 1963. Awarded in and exceptional class (Grand Cordon – limited to twenty recipients at any one time) and four ordinary classes (1. First Class or Grand Officer – sixty recipients, 2. Second Class or Commander – three hundred and fifty recipients, 4. Third Class or Officer – one thousand recipients, and 4. Fourth Class or Knight – limited to ten thousand recipients).
The Order of the Throne - Grand Cordon, breast star (L) and Commander, neck badge (R).
The Sharifan Order of Military Merit
Wissam al-Istihkak al-Askari (the Order of Military Merit): founded by King Hassan II on 12th April 1976 to replace the senior classes of the older Order of the Military Medal on its re-organization. Conferred for eminent and meritorious military services by officers of the armed forces including positions of command, training or the preparation of national defence. Awarded in and exceptional class (Grand Cordon – limited to ten recipients at any one time) and four ordinary classes (1. First Class or Grand Officer – thirty recipients, 2. Second Class or Commander – one hundred and fifty recipients, 3. Third Class or Officer – five hundred recipients, and 4. Fourth Class or Knight – limited to five thousand recipients). The fourth class may be conferred on NCOs, ordinary soldiers and agents of the police and auxiliary service for acts of bravery in the course of security operations or the maintenance of law and order. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
The Order of Military Merit - Grand Cordon, sash and badge (L) and breast star (R)
Wissam al-Istihkak al-Watani (the Order of National Merit): founded by King Hassan II on 18th January 1983 to recognise long and distinguished services by civil or military functionaries and certain exceptional personalities of the kingdom. Awarded in an exceptional class (in gold – limited to six thousand recipients at any one time) and and two ordinary classes (1. First Class in silver – ten thousand recipients, and 2. Second Class in bronze – twenty thousand recipients). Recipients of the exceptional class are eligible for admission to the Fourth Class of the Order of the Throne after a period of five years.
The Order of Civil Merit - Second Class, breast badge.
Wissam al-Rida (the Order of Civil Merit): founded by King Hassan II on 14th December 1966 to recognise meritorious services of a civil nature by Moroccan citizens. Awarded in an exceptional class (in gold – limited to one thousand recipients at any one time) and and two ordinary classes (1. First Class in silver – ten thousand recipients, and 2. Second Class in bronze – twenty thousand recipients). Recipients of the exceptional class are eligible for admission to the Order of the Throne after a period of five years).
Copyright© Christopher Buyers
The Sharifan Order of Alawi - Grand Cordon, breast star, Type III (L) and sash badge, Type IV (R).
Wissam al-’Awi al-Sharifi (the Sharifian Order of Alawi): founded by Sultan Yusuf on 11th January 1913 to replace the Wissam al-Hafidian and to recognise outstanding and meritorious services of a civil or military nature. Awarded in five classes, each limited in number (1. Grand Cordon – limited to forty recipients at any one time, excluding members of the Sharifan House of Alawi, 2. Grand Officer – eighty recipients, 3. Commander – four hundred recipients, 4. Officer – one thousand and five hundred recipients, and 5. Knight – three thousand recipients). The Medal of Satisfaction of the order was instituted by Sultan Mulay Yusuf bin Hassan on 14th November 1914 to recipients of the dahir of satisfaction, being NCOs or other ranks of the military service and equivalent ranking civil functionaries, auxiliaries and agents of the protectorate administration. The order was modified several times thereafter and came under the purveu of the French colonial orders administration, during the period of the French protectorate. The medal was made obsolete 16th May 1963 and awards discontinued. The order was finally reorganized on 14th December 1966 as a dynastic order, and is now limited to the five senior classes only with awards being made on the personal initiative of the King rather than the council of ministers.
Copyright© Christopher Buyers
The Order of Protection - Grand Cordon, breast star (L) and Commander, neck badge (R).
Wissam al-Hafidian (the Order of Protection): founded by Sultan Mulay ‘Abdu’l-Hafiz on 7th August 1910. Awarded for outstanding services of a civil or military nature, in five classes (1. Grand Cordon, 2. Grand Officer, 3. Commander, 4. Officer, and 5. Knight). Replaced by the Sharifian Order of Alaoui on 11th January 1913.
The Order of the Star of War.
Wissam al-Najm al-Harbi (the Order of the Star of War): founded by King Hasan II on 12th April 1976 to recognise the services of those mentioned in dispatches for exemplary courage and brave conduct under fire on the battlefield. Awarded in a single class, a bronze star of four rays, 55mm high and 41mm wide, worn from a green moiré 37mm wide with a yellow central stripe and yellow border stripes 2mm wide. The different levels of ‘mentions’ are signified by small emblems worn on the medal ribbon (1. National leval – palm over crown, 2. Royal Armed Forces command (army) level – crown, 3. Crops level – gilt star, 4. Division level – silver star, 5. Brigade level – bronze star). Recipients of of four mentions are eligible for admission to the Fourth Class of the Order of the Throne.
The Order of National Recompense - Officer, breast badge and buttonhole.
Wissam al-Mukafaâ al-Wataniya (the Order of National Recompense): founded by King Muhammad V. Awarded in three classes (1. Commander, 2. Officer, and 3. Knight).
Wissam as-Shugl (the Order of Labour): founded by King Hasan II on 18th December 1968 to reward meritorious services of a civil nature for the ministries of labour and social affairs to reward exceptional services by employees in their professional work. Awarded three classes (1. First Class in gold. 2. Second Class in silver, and 3. Third Class in bronze).
Wissam al-Kafaâ al-Fikria (the Order for Intellectual Competence): founded by King Hassan II as a reward for those distinguished in the fields of education, scholarship, literature, poetry, academic and scientific endeavour. Awarded three classes (1. First Class in gold. 2. Second Class in silver, and 3. Third Class in bronze).
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The Order for Intellectual Competence - Third class, breast badge.
Wissam al-Wazil (the Order of Zealous Service): founded by King Hasan II. Awarded three classes (1. First Class in gold. 2. Second Class in silver, and 3. Third Class in bronze).
Wissam al-Inqad (the Lifesaving Order): founded by King Hasan II. Awarded three classes (1. First Class in gold. 2. Second Class in silver, and 3. Third Class in bronze).
Wissam al-Izdihar (the Order of Prosperity): founded by King Hasan II. Awarded three classes (1. First Class in gold. 2. Second Class in silver, and 3. Third Class in bronze).
Wissam ar-Riadi
(the Order of Merit for Sport): founded by King Hassan II on 8th October 1970 for the ministries of youth, sport and social affairs to recognise services in the fields of physical education and sports. Awarded in an exceptional class (in gold – limited to five awards in any one year on those who have served sport or physical education for ten years and held the first class for a minimum of five years) and and two ordinary classes (1. First Class in silver – ten awards per annum, and 2. Second Class in bronze – fifteen awards per annum).
The Order of the Green March.
Wissam al-Massira al-Khadra (the Order of the Green March): founded by King Hassan II on 17th November 1975 to recognise those who served during the "Green March" into the Western Sahara to re-establish Moroccan control in that territory, following the Spanish withdrawal. Awarded in a single class.
Wound Medal: instituted by King Hasan II on 12th April 1976 to to recognise those members of the Moroccan Armed Forces wounded during active operation, who die from their wounds or killed in war. Awarded in a single class, a crowned circular bronze medal 46mm in diameter, worn from a moiré ribbon 37mm wide, striped red and white in diagonals). Copyright© Christopher Buyers
The Star of Merit, Third class (R).
The Star of Merit: instituted by King Muhammad V in 1939 as a reward for civil services. Awarded in three classes (1. First class in silver gilt, 2. Second class in silver, and 3. Third class in bronze).
Congo Medal for Courage and Engurance: instituted by King Hassan II in 1962 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Royal Guard and Regular Army who participated in the trying UN operations in the Congo 1960-1961.
Algerian-Morocco War Campaign Medal: instituted by King Hassan II in February 1964 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Morrocan military forces in the Algerian Moroccan "Sand War" of 1963-1964.
The Middle Eastern Commemorative Medal (L) and The Volunteers' Medal (R).
The Middle Eastern Commemorative Medal: instituted by King Hassan II on 30th August 1975 as a campaign medal to recognise the services in the Morrocan contingent sent to fight in the Ramadhan War of 8th October 1973, particularlarly for services on the Egyptian and Syrian fronts. Awarded in a single class, a crowned circular bronze medal 43mm in diameter, worn from a 37mm wide moiré ribbon of green, white and red.
The Volunteers' Medal: instituted by King Hassan II on 30th August 1975 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Moroccan military volunteers during the Ramadhan War of 8th October 1973. Awarded in a single class, a crowned circular bronze medal measuring 43mm in diameter, worn from a green moiré ribbon 37mm wide.
Lebanon Campaign Commemorative Medal: instituted by King Hassan II in 1976 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Morrocan military forces in the Lebanon.
The Zaire Campaign Commemorative Medal: instituted by King Hassan II on 9th November 1979 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Morrocan military forces during the FLNC invasion of Shaba province in Zaire. Awarded in a single class, a gilt bronze reverse trapezoid measuring 40mm, worn from a moiré ribbon 7mm wide in the Moroccan and Zairean national colours.
Operation al-Qadr Commemorative Medal (incorrect ribbon).
Operation al-Qadr Commemorative Medal: instituted by King Hassan II on 18th January 1983 as a campaign medal to recognise the services of Morrocan military forces and civilians who participated in operation al-Qadr on 18 Ramadan 1399 AH in order to secure the territorial integrity of the kingdom, particularly ad-Dakhla and al-Argub. Awarded in a single class, a bronze double inverted trapezium crowned by the Royal parasol and worn from a moiré green ribbon measuring 37mm wide, with two red horizontal stripes of 3mm each with a 9mm gap inbetween.
The National Medal for Civil Protection: instituted by King Muhammad VI on 10th May 2000 to recognise important services by officers and members of the National Civil Protection Corps and also by civilians who have rendered important services towards the protection of people and goods.
TThe Sharifan Order of Alawi Medal of Satisfaction (L) and The Sharifan Medal for Civil Merit (R).
The Sharifan Medal for Civil Merit: instituted by Sultan Mulay Yusuf bin Hassan on 1st May 1924 as the Sharifan Order of Civil Merit to recognise signal meritorious and valuable services to the Sharifan government by those exercising public functions or during the exercise of a mandate in the public interest. Recipients had to be aged at least thirty years, with a minimum of ten years service. Awarded in a single class, a circular solver medal measuring 35mm in diameter, worn from a blue moiré ribbon 37mm wide, with orange edge stripes 5mm wide, 3mm from each edge. Made obsolete 16th May 1963.
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The Sharifan Police Medal of Honour - Type I obverse (L), Type II First Class reverse (C) and obverse (R)..
The Sharifan Police Medal of Honour: instituted by Sultan Mulay Yusuf bin Hassan on 1st March 1924 to reward long, distinguished and meritorious services of not less than twenty years by uniformed and civilian employees of the Royal Moroccan Police Force. Originally awarded in a single class, a circular silver medal 37mm in diameter. Modified and reorganised 27th January 1932 into a decoration of two classes (1. First Class in silver and semi-enamelled, 2. Second Class in bronze).
The Medal of Honour for the Customs Service: instituted by Sultan Mulay Yusuf bin Hassan to reward long service and good conduct by employes of the customs service. Awarded on three classes.
The Medal of Honour for the Prisons Service: instituted by King Muhammad V on 4th September 1931 to reward courage or exceptional services by employees of the Sharifan Prisons Service, of not less than twenty years for men and fifteen by women. Awarded in two classes class, a circular medal in silver and a circular medal in bronze.
The Medal of Honour for the Posts, Telephones and Telegraph Service: instituted by King Muhammad V on 9th February 1938 to reward courage or exceptional services by employees of the Sharifan postal, telephones and telegraphic service. Awarded on three classes.
The Medal of Honour for the Fire Service: instituted to reward long, distinguished and meritorious services of not less than twenty years by members of the Moroccan Fire Service. Awarded in a single class, silver medal. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
The Order of Guidance - Grand Cordon, sash and sash badge (L) and breast star (R).
The Military Order of Loyalty, 2nd class.
The Hasanian Order - G rand Officer, breast star (L) and Commander, neck badge (R).