}}|caption=The Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland| presenter = the President of Poland| country = {{POL}}|type=Five grade order|eligibility=|awarded_for=Service in improving relations between nations|campaign=|status=Currently awarded|description=|clasps=|established=10 April 1974 (Revised 16 October 1992)|firstawarded=|lastawarded=|total_awarded=|total_awarded_posthumously=|total_recipients=|individual=|higher=Order of the Cross of Independence|same=Cross of Valour (Poland)>Cross of Valour|related=|image2= POL Order Zaslugi RP kl5 BAR.svg|image2_size= 120px|caption2= Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ribbon}}The Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland () is a Polish order of merit created in 1974, awarded to persons who have rendered great service to Poland. It is granted to foreigners or Poles resident abroad. As such it is sometimes referred to as a traditional "diplomatic order".

History

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Sir Edmund Hillary wearing the Commander's Cross in 2004

The order was established by an act of 10 April 1974, as the Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic (Order ZasÅ‚ugi Polskiej Rzeczypospolitej Ludowej).WEB, Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic, Repetski, Ilja, World Awards, 8 May 2021,weblink The need for the new order had arisen since the Order of the White Eagle had fallen into disuse after the foundation of the People's Republic. Reflecting this history, the two orders utilized similar colors and designs.BOOK, Sainty, Guy Stair, Heydel-Mankoo, Rafal, World Orders of Knighthood and Merit, 2, 2006, Burke's Peerage & Gentry, Wilmington, 978-0-9711966-7-4,weblink 1481, en, The Order of Merit of the Polish People's Republic was awarded in five classes: Grand Cordon of the Order, Commandery with Star, Commandery, Gold Badge of the Order, and Silver Badge of the Order. It was awarded by the Polish Council of State.

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The People's Republic of Poland version of the order (5th class)

After the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, it was decided to retain the order, with necessary changes. Without a formal change of the 1974 act or the name of the order, the insignia were changed to the present ones by a presidential decree of 16 April 1991. The abbreviation "PRL" was changed to "RP," the Eagle was given a crown in accordance with Poland's new coat of arms, the date "1974" was removed from the reverse, and the color of the ribbon was changed from light cobalt blue to dark cobalt.Under an act of 16 October 1992, the order was reestablished under the name Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (Order ZasÅ‚ugi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej).Under the 1992 act, the order is awarded to foreigners or Poles resident abroad for distinguished contributions to international cooperation or cooperation between Poland and other countries. It is awarded by the President of Poland. Unlike the other national orders of Poland, it does not have a chapter.WEB, KapituÅ‚y orderÃ³w, Prezydent.pl, 20 July 2009, 8 May 2021,weblink pl, 30 April 2019,weblink dead, WEB, Order ZasÅ‚ugi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Prezydent.pl, 20 July 2009, 8 May 2021,weblink pl, 13 December 2021,weblink dead, Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, the highest award of the class, have included Queen Elizabeth II, Henry Kissinger, and Edward Mosberg."Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of September 14, 2022 on the commemoration of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}WEB,weblink Kissinger receives Poland's top decoration, AP NEWS,

Degrees

From 1974 to 1991 the Order was awarded in following classes:

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1st class
1st class â€“ Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
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2nd class
2nd class â€“ Commandery with Star of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
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3rd class
3rd class â€“ Commandery of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
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4th class
4th class â€“ Gold Badge of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
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5th class
5th class â€“ Silver Badge of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland

Since 1992 the Order is awarded in the following classes:{{efn|In 1991â€“1992 period the names of the classes were:Polish Law of 16 April 1991 (Dz.U. 1991 nr 43 poz. 190) {{in lang|pl}}.

1st class â€“ Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
2nd class â€“ Commandery with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
3rd class â€“ Commandery of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
4th class â€“ Gold Badge of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
5th class â€“ Silver Badge of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland}}
70px|1st class 1st class â€“ Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
70px|2nd class 2nd class â€“ Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
70px|3rd class 3rd class â€“ Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
70px|4th class 4th class â€“ Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
70px|5th class 5th class â€“ Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

Notes

References

Polish Law of 16 October 1992 (Dz.U. 1992 nr 90 poz. 450) {{in lang|pl}}
Polish Law of 10 November 1992 (Dz.U. 1992 nr 90 poz. 452) {{in lang|pl}}

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Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

History

Degrees

See also

Notes

References

Further reading