Faleristics
Encyclopedia
Faleristics is an auxiliary science of history
which studies orders
, medals, decorations and their systems (system of awards in differing countries, such as the British honors system). The field also studies the medals' accessories, such as ribbon bar
s, award certificates, and statutes. It studies the historical, sociological and art history dimensions. It also defines the study of badges and pins created for civilian usage. Finally, the term defines the field of collecting.
The word comes from the Ancient Greece
ta phalara (Greek
: τὰ φάλαρα), meaning "small round" or "crescent". It referred to the shape of medallions that were given as recognition for outstanding military service or bravery on the battlefield; originally, phálara were hung round horses' necks, but as their importance grew, they were transferred to the fighter's chest.
Later, both the related customs and the term (Latin: falerae
, phalerae) were adopted by the Romans
.
soldier, collector and theoretician Oldřich Pilc. This was important as to distinguish falersitics from numismatics
and heraldry
. However, there had been several earlier scholars of faleristics, such as the 19th century Russian phalerist Julius Iversen
.
Although established as a scientific sub-discipline of history, faleristics usually studies orders and decorations "detached from their bodies"; thus faleristics has somewhat lost its connection to other historical research substantially.
Auxiliary sciences of history
Auxiliary sciences of history are scholarly disciplines which help evaluate and use historical sources and are seen as auxiliary for historical research...
which studies orders
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
, medals, decorations and their systems (system of awards in differing countries, such as the British honors system). The field also studies the medals' accessories, such as ribbon bar
Ribbon bar
Ribbon bars are small decorations that are worn by military, police, and fire service personnel or by civilians. Ribbon bars are mainly used when wearing either full decoration, or when wearing medals is considered inappropriate or impractical. Each military force has its own rules on what ribbons...
s, award certificates, and statutes. It studies the historical, sociological and art history dimensions. It also defines the study of badges and pins created for civilian usage. Finally, the term defines the field of collecting.
Origin of the word "Faleristic"
Awards were common in ancient times, but these were strictly military awards. These awards presented real wages for certain services. They differed significantly from the later medieval and modern orders, which represented above all a sign of belonging to a particular organization, although there were also rewards for outstanding deeds.The word comes from the Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
ta phalara (Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
: τὰ φάλαρα), meaning "small round" or "crescent". It referred to the shape of medallions that were given as recognition for outstanding military service or bravery on the battlefield; originally, phálara were hung round horses' necks, but as their importance grew, they were transferred to the fighter's chest.
Later, both the related customs and the term (Latin: falerae
Phalera (military decoration)
A phalera was a gold, silver, or bronze sculpted disk worn on the breastplate during parades by Roman soldiers who had been awarded it as a kind of medal. Roman military units could also be awarded phalerae for distinguished conduct in action. These awards were often mounted on the staffs of the...
, phalerae) were adopted by the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
History
Faleristics was established as a separate scientific discipline in 1937, thanks to the efforts of the CzechCzech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
soldier, collector and theoretician Oldřich Pilc. This was important as to distinguish falersitics from numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
and heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
. However, there had been several earlier scholars of faleristics, such as the 19th century Russian phalerist Julius Iversen
Julius Iversen
Julius Gottlieb Iversen was a Russian phalerist .Iversen was born in Tallinn, Estonia on April 5, 1823. He studied at Tartu University from 1842 to 1846. In 1850 he received the title of Candidate of Philosophy and in that same year arrived in St...
.
Although established as a scientific sub-discipline of history, faleristics usually studies orders and decorations "detached from their bodies"; thus faleristics has somewhat lost its connection to other historical research substantially.
See also
- Ribbon barRibbon barRibbon bars are small decorations that are worn by military, police, and fire service personnel or by civilians. Ribbon bars are mainly used when wearing either full decoration, or when wearing medals is considered inappropriate or impractical. Each military force has its own rules on what ribbons...
- OrderOrder (decoration)An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
- List of military decorations
- List of prizes, medals, and awards