The Order of St Andrew, also known as the Imperial Order of the Apostle St Andrew the First Called, was the highest order or decoration in the age of Imperial Russia. Reserved for those who displayed outstanding civilian or military merit, the order was established by Peter the Great in 1698. Over t.mes , several changes were made concerning awarding regulations. In 1804, under the reign of Emperor Alexander I, knights who received the order of St Andrew, but had not yet received the orders of St Alexander Nevsky and St Anne also became de facto knights of the other two orders.

It seems that Peter I was inspired to create the order following a seventeen-month-long visit to western Europe the previous year during which he encountered the English Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, which shared the same patron saint. Peter saw this order as a means to shift the award system away from gifts of land and money and towards a less expensive method that would also aid in his efforts to Europeanise Russia, which were at the t.mes being met with strong opposition. Indeed, Peter I’s visit to western Europe was cut short because of the Streltsy Uprising in which the Moscow Streltsy regiments rebelled against the Tsar’s progressive innovations. Given the order’s motto, За вѣру и вѣрность (‘for faith and loyalty’), it is unsurprising that the first recipients of the prestigious award came from Peter I’s inner circle of friends and military men who assisted him in his efforts to modernise Russia.

Aside from individuals who had earned the title, members of the imperial family were automatically awarded the order at varying stages: Grand Dukes upon their baptism; blood Princes when they came of age; and empresses at their coronation. Under the reign of Paul I, the consort of the emperor was added to this list. In 1797, a distinction between earned orders and automatically granted orders was made – Russian Grand Dukes who had been awarded the order at their baptism were instead given diamond-covered insignia.

As with other orders, recipients of the Order of St Andrew were required to give a charitable donation by way of redemption fee and to participate in charitable activities. These included aiding the needy, visiting institutions such as hospitals, prisons and educational institutions, and overseeing the management of the latter. Knights would send their recommendations and suggestions to the sovereign after conducting such visits.

Insignia and Cost.mes

The Order of St Andrew is the only order which includes a collar chain in its insignia. The badge itself is two-sided and features a black enamelled double-headed eagle. Imposed over the eagle is St Andrew bound to the distinctive X-shaped cross (St Andrew declared himself unfit to be crucified on the same type of Latin cross that Jesus had been). At each of his hands and feet is a letter which collects ively read ‘SAPR’ for Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae, ‘Saint Andrew, Patron of Russia’. On the verso, it is inscribed with the order’s motto.

The badge hangs from a gold and red enamel crown with blue enamelled ribbons which connects it to a collar comprised of seventeen medallions of three alternating designs. Seven of these medallions are a black enamelled double-headed eagle holding an orb and sceptre between its talons with a centrepiece emblazoned with an image of St George mounted on a white horse and plunging his lance into the dragon who lies below him. The figures are surmounted by a red crown and blue ribbons. Six medallions are red enamelled gold radiant suns over which is a blue X-shaped cross for St Andrew at ‘SAPR’ between each arm of the cross. The remaining four medallions are the gold monogram of Peter the Great over a blue enamel ground which sits centrally in the medallion between green and white enamelled gold flags and beneath a red enamelled crown. The eight-pointed breast star was worn with a light blue sash.

Initially, a knight was entitled to ask the treasurer of the order to embellish his insignia with his own precious stones, though this tradition was ended by Paul I in 1797 after these privately embellished insignia were too often confused with officially diamond-covered sets. A knight could also add the insignia of the order to their family coat-of-arms.

The full cost.mes of the order, which was to be worn at prescribed gatherings, constituted a dark green, velvet mantle with a white taffeta lining and collar tied together with silver tassels, a white brocade tunic bearing a gold cross on its chest, a hat of black velvet with white and red ostrich feathers and a blue X-shaped cross. This was worn with the collar and badge. The blue sash and breast star were worn separately.