Order of the White Eagle with the swords

Order of the White Eagle with the swords
Орден белог орла с мачевима
Order of the White Eagle with the swords; Орден белог орла с мачевима;
Awarded by Republic of Serbia
Type	State order
Eligibility	Serbian citizens and institutions
Awarded for	Special merits in the development of the defense system of Serbia or in commanding, leading and training military units and institutions for the defense of Serbia
Status	Active
Statistics
First induction	2009
Precedence
Next (higher)	Sretenje Order
Next (lower)	Order of Merits in Defense and Security
	; 1st class; ; 2nd class; ; 3rd class; ; Ribbon bars of the order; ;

Order of the White Eagle with the swords (Serbian: Орден белог орла с мачевима, romanized: Orden belog orla s mačevima) is the fifth highest state order of Serbia. The order is awarded by the decree of the President of the Republic on special occasions, typically at the ceremonies held on the Statehood Day. It is awarded for merits in the fields of defense and military merits.^[1]

The Order of the White Eagle was a state order in the Kingdom of Serbia (1883–1918) and in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1945). It continues to be a dynastic order as well, with appointments currently made by Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia.

History

King Milan I established the Order of the White Eagle in 1883. In 1945, with the abolition of the monarchy, the order was in effect abolished. Since the end of Yugoslavia, the dynastic order continues to be awarded by Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia, as the senior representative of the Crown.^[2]

Order of the White Eagle was re-established in 2010 when the National Assembly adopted the amendments to the Law on Decorations of the Republic of Serbia. Since the order was re-introduced, the first person to receive it was General Ljubiša Diković, Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces.^[3]