Order of the Aztec Eagle
The Order of the Aztec Eagle
Awarded by  Mexico
Type	Seven-grade award. The grades are: Collar Cross Band Medal Placard Venera Insignia
Eligibility	Given only to foreigners
Awarded for	Services given to Mexico or to humankind
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	December 29, 1933
Ribbon of the Order of the Aztec Eagle

The Order of the Aztec Eagle (Spanish: Orden del Águila Azteca) is the highest decoration awarded to foreigners in Mexico.

It was created by decree on December 29, 1933, as a reward to 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.

Ranks

The ranks are, in descending order:

• Collar (awarded to heads of state);
• Cross (awarded to prime ministers and other heads of government);
• Band (awarded to government ministers, secretaries, and ambassadors);
• Medal (awarded to government undersecretaries or equivalent, plenipotentiary ministers);
• Placard (awarded to ad hoc business representatives and equivalent servants of embassies in Mexico);
• Venera (a type of insignia, awarded to ad interim business representatives and other members of diplomatic missions); and
• Insignia proper (awarded under the Council's discretion).

Notable people awarded

• Alexandra Kollontai - Soviet Politician (1944)
• Dwight D. Eisenhower - Collar (1945)
• Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia - Collar (1954)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - Collar (1964)
• Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent - Collar
• Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Collar (1973)
• King Olav V of Norway - Cross
• King Juan Carlos I of Spain - Collar
• Queen Sofia of Spain - Sash
• Emperor Akihito - Collar
• King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden - Collar (2004)
• Bill Gates - Placard (2007)
• Melinda Gates - Insignia proper (2007)
• Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva - Collar (2007)
• Michelle Bachelet - Collar (2007)
• Queen Margrethe II of Denmark - Collar (2008)
• Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark - Sash (2008)
• Ted Kennedy - Sash (2008)

References

• Mexican Chamber of Deputies. Ley de premios, estímulos y recompensas civiles (Law of civilian prizes, stimuli and awards). Text of the law as of June 30, 2006. (Pdf, in Spanish).

External links

• http://www.medals.org.uk/mexico/mexico001.htm
• http://www.blasoneshispanos.com/Ordenes/OtrasOrdenes/AguilaAzteca/AguilaAzteca.htm

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