Order of the White Eagle
The Order of the White Eagle is Poland's highest decoration.
Since 1921, it has consisted of a red enamel and white outlined gold Maltese cross with ball finials and golden rays between the arms. A white enamel crowned eagle with spread wings, facing left is superimposed on the cross.
It was officially instituted on November 1, 1705 by August II, though it was probably created by Ladislaus I in 1325, for the wedding of his son, who would become Casimir the Great.
The Order of the White Eagle was, in 1705, originally a red enamel oval. This was replaced by a cross in 1709. By 1713 it was worn from the neck, with a sash and a star.
After the first partitioning of Poland in 1795, the Order was abolished, though it had been renewed by 1807 and was the highest decorations of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and of the Kingdom of Poland during their existances.
In 1830, after an uprising against Imperial Russia, to which Poland belonged at the time, the Order was modified to more closely resemble Russian decorations. It remained like this until the Russian Revolution of 1917, in which Poland achieved independence.
The Order of the White Eagle officially became Poland's highest decoration by act of Parliament of February 4, 1921.
After the 1948, when the People's Republic of Poland came into existence, the Order of the White Eagle was no longer awarded, but it was never officially abolished.
Following the collapse of communism, the Order was once again reinstated on October 26, 1992.
The Polish president is always the Grand Master of the Order.
