Order of the Aztec Eagle

Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle
Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle ;
	The Order of the Aztec Eagle (Star)
Awarded by Mexico
Type	Order
Established	1933; 91 years ago
Awarded for	Services given to Mexico or to mankind
Status	Currently awarded
Grades	Grand Cross with Collar; Grand Cross, Special Class; Grand Cross; Grand Officer; Commander; Member
	; Ribbon of the Order of the Aztec Eagle; ;

The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle (Spanish: Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca) forms part of the Mexican Honors System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners.

History

It was created by decree on December 29, 1933, by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to the services given to Mexico or humankind by foreigners. It corresponds to similar distinctions given to Mexican citizens such as the Condecoración Miguel Hidalgo or the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor. It is given by the office of the foreign minister on the instructions of a Council established for this purpose headed by the President. Its naming is partially taken from the Imperial Order of the Mexican Eagle, which was created by Maximilian I of Mexico on January 1, 1865.

Design

There is some design similarity of the order with the coat of arms of Mexico, particularly the golden eagle holding a rattlesnake, which is associated with the Aztec civilization.

Classes

Since 2011

Since the reform of March 2011,^[1] the classes are :

Collar ("Collar"), awarded to heads of state;
Sash of Special Category ("Banda en Categoría Especial"), awarded to prime ministers and heads of government, hereditary princes(ses), consorts of heads of state, or to people whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Sash ("Banda"), awarded to government ministers, secretaries, members of royal families, ambassadors, or individuals whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Plaque ("Placa"), awarded to government undersecretaries, plenipotentiary ministers, consuls general, brigadier generals, rear admirals, as well to those whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Venera (a type of insignia), awarded to ad hoc business representatives, colonels and lieutenant colonels, captains of a ship, equivalent servants of embassies in Mexico, as well to those whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Insignia, awarded to ad interim business representatives and other members of diplomatic missions; captain, navy lieutenant, as well to those whose category is tantamount to the previous and to those cases the Council considers pertinent.

All grades except the collar may be awarded, at the Council's discretion, to distinguished foreigners.

Before 2011

Prior to the 2011 reform, the classes were, in descending order:

Collar ("Collar"), awarded to heads of state;
Grand Cross ("Cruz"), awarded to prime ministers and heads of government
Sash ("Banda"), awarded to government ministers, secretaries and ambassadors
Medal ("Medalla"), awarded to government undersecretaries, plenipotentiary ministers, as well to those whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Plaque ("Placa"), awarded to ad hoc business representatives, colonels and lieutenant colonels, captains of a ship, equivalent servants of embassies in Mexico), as well to those whose category is tantamount to the previous;
Venera (a type of insignia), awarded to ad interim business representatives and other members of diplomatic missions;
Insignia proper, awarded at the Council's discretion; and
Honorable Mention ("Mención Honorífica").

Notable recipients

Royalty

Name	Class	Nationality	Year Appointed	Reference
Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia	Collar	Ethiopian Empire	1954
Emperor Hirohito of Japan	Collar	Japan	1962
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	Collar	United Kingdom	1964
King Rama IX of Thailand	Collar	Thailand	1972
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom	Collar	United Kingdom	1973
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester	Sash; Sash Special Category	United Kingdom	1974; 2015
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent	Grand Cross	United Kingdom
Emperor Mohammed Reza of Iran	Collar	Imperial State of Iran	1975
King Olav V of Norway	Grand Cross	Norway		^[2]
King Juan Carlos I of Spain	Collar	Spain
Queen Sofía of Spain	Grand Cross	Spain
Emperor Akihito of Japan	Collar	Japan
King Albert II of Belgium	Collar	Belgium		^[3]
King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden	Collar	Sweden	2004
Queen Silvia of Sweden	Sash	Sweden	2004^[4]
King Mohammed VI of Morocco	Collar	Morocco	2005	^[5]
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark	Collar	Denmark	2008	^[6]
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark	Sash (2008); Sash Special Category (2016)	Denmark	2008; 2016	^[7]^[8]
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands	Collar	Netherlands	2009	^[9]
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands	Sash	Netherlands	2009	^[10]
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands	Sash	Netherlands	2009	^[11]
Felipe VI of Spain	Sash (1996); Collar (2015)	Spain	1996; 2015	^[12]
Queen Letizia of Spain	Sash (2008); Sash Special Category (2015)	Spain	2008; 2015	^[13]^[14]
King Charles III of the United Kingdom	Sash Special Category	United Kingdom	2015	^[15]
Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom	Sash	United Kingdom	2015	^[15]
Prince Andrew, Duke of York	Sash	United Kingdom	2015	^[15]
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh	Sash	United Kingdom	2015	^[15]
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester	Sash	United Kingdom	2015	^[15]
Frederik X of Denmark	Sash Special Category	Denmark	2016	^[16]
Queen Mary of Denmark	Sash	Denmark	2016	^[16]
Prince Joachim of Denmark	Sash	Denmark	2016	^[16]
Princess Marie of Denmark	Sash	Denmark	2016	^[16]
Princess Benedikte of Denmark	Sash	Denmark	2016	^[16]
Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Collar	Kuwait	2016	^[17]
King Salman of Saudi Arabia	Collar	Saudi Arabia	2016	^[18]