Order of the Black Eagle (Albania)

Order of the Black Eagle
*Urdhëri i Shqiponjës së Zezë*
Order of the Black Eagle; Urdhëri i Shqiponjës së Zezë;
Awarded by the Principality of Albania
Type	Silver medallion, partly gilded and enameled
Established	26 March 1914
Country	Albania
Motto	Besë e Bashkim (English: Fidelity and Union)
Criteria	Deserving military and civil deeds
Classes	Grand Cross; Grand Officer; Commander; Officer; Knight
Statistics
Total inductees	10
	; Ribbon of the Order; ;

The Order of the Black Eagle (Albanian: Urdhëri i Shqiponjës së Zezë) was the highest title that could be bestowed on a citizen of the Principality of Albania. The order was established by Prince Wied in 1914 on the example of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle. The order had a black eagle and around the words Besë e Bashkim (English: Fidelity and Union).^[1]

Since the Principality of Albania was short-lived, the order was awarded very few times, and is considered today very rare for collectors. It is also considered to be the first award ever given in modern Albania.

^ Brunga, Mark (September 27, 2012). "Urdhri i Shqiponjes se Zeze dekorata e pare e shteti shqiptar". Gazeta e Durresit. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.

[Gazeta_e_Durresit-1] Brunga, Mark (September 27, 2012). "Urdhri i Shqiponjes se Zeze dekorata e pare e shteti shqiptar". Gazeta e Durresit. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.

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