Order of Charles III

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Order of Charles III
Star of the Order of Charles III
Awarded by His Majesty The King of Spain
Type	Civil Order of Merit
Motto	Virtuti et mérito
Awarded for	Actions in benefit to Spain and the Crown
Grand Master	Juan Carlos I
Established	19 September 1771
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Golden Fleece
Next (lower)	Order of Isabella the Catholic
Ribbon of "Collar" / of the Order

Sash and badge of the order

The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III (Spanish: Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III) was established by the King of Spain Carlos III by means of the Royal Decree of 19 September 1771, with the motto Virtuti et mérito. Its objective is to reward people for their actions in benefit to Spain and the Crown. Since its creation, it has been the most distinguished civil award that can be granted in Spain, despite its categorisation as a military order. It was formally converted to a civil order in 1847.

The Order was later regulated in an Royal Decree of 2002^[1] (in which was set the objective of "rewarding the citizens who, with their effort, initiative and work, have brought a distinguished and extraordinary service to the Nation") and by an Order of 8 May 2000.^[2]

Today the Grand Master of the order is King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

The Grand Cross

The Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III is reserved for those who, having completed relevant service to Spain, having been Presidents of the Congress of Deputies, the Senate, the Constitutional Court of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, Ministers or other senior officials of the state. The maximum number of Grand Crosses are limited to one hundred, not counting those accorded to Ministers.

Knights Collar and Knights Grand Cross of the Order are entitled to be addressed with the style His/Her Excellency in front of their name.^[3]

Classes

The Order's Collar.

The orders is currently conferred in the following classes:

• Collar (Collar) – restricted to 25 Spanish citizens.
• Grand Cross (Gran Cruz) – restricted to 100 Spanish citizens (limit excludes government ministers).
• Commander by Number (Encomienda de Número) - restricted to 200 Spanish citizens (limit excludes government ministers).
• Commander (Encomienda).
• Knight's Cross (or Dame's Bow) (Cruz de Caballero or Dama de Lazo).

There are no restrictions on the number of foreigners that may be appointed to any of the classes.^[1]

Ribbon bars
Collar	Grand Cross	Commander by Number	Commander	Knight's Cross / Dame's bow

References

1. ^ ^{a b} (Spanish) Royal Decree 1051/2002, 11 October, by which the Regulation of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III is passed
2. ^ (Spanish) Order of 8 May 2000 by which the Regulation of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III is adapted to the current circumstances and conditions.
3. ^ Satow, Ernest Mason, Sir - A Guide to Diplomatic Practice, page 249

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