Order of St. Olav

Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden
Grand Cross set of the Order (1st type)
Awarded by King of Norway
Type	Chivalric order with five degrees
Established	21 August 1847; 176 years ago (1847-08-21)
Motto	RET OG SANDHED (Justice and Truth)
Criteria	Remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Master	King Harald V
Grades	Grand Cross with Collar Grand Cross Commander with Star Commander Knight 1st Class Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)	Medal for Outstanding Civic Service
Next (lower)	Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
Riband of the Order of St. Olav

The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (Norwegian: Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or Sanct Olafs Orden, the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav.^[1]

Just before the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the Order of the Norwegian Lion was instituted in 1904 by King Oscar II, but no appointments were awarded by his successor, King Haakon VII. The Order of St. Olav thus became the kingdom's only order of chivalry for the next 80 years. The Grand Master of the order is the reigning monarch of Norway. It is used to reward individuals for remarkable accomplishments on behalf of the country and humanity. Since 1985, appointments to the order has only been conferred upon Norwegian citizens, though foreign heads of state and royalty may be appointed as a matter of courtesy.