Decoraţiile, instrument de guvernare în timpul domniei lui Carol I
Decorations, instrument of government during the reign of Charles I

Summary/Abstract: Our paper aims to analyse the functions fulfilled by the orders and medals in the Romanian state under the reign of Carol I. The decorations were a symbol of sovereignty, and for that precise reason it was difficult for the Romanian state to institute such awards before gaining the Independence. In the diplomatic field, the decorations were a powerful tool, required by the expectations of the foreign politicians and diplomatic practices of the time. The wars fought by Romanian army have as a consequence the creation of new awards, dedicated especially to the military merits. Other function of the decorations came from the necessity to fixate major events in public conscience, or to create a link between the king and his subjects. The most important function was to reward the services rendered to the state and the nation; it was also the most controversial, because of the potential abuse by officials in distributing honours. It was essential for modern states to reward meritorious citizens, by doing so they are transformed in examples for other to follow. In the early years of the Romanian system of awards the attention is focused on the political and social elite, as demonstrated by the founding of two orders in rapid succession. Starting with the end of the 19th century, the award system becomes more democratic, more inclusive, materialized by the establishment of several medals aimed at diverse socio-professional groups.

• Details
• Contents