“On the occasion of the state visit, HM the King has appointed HE president Alexander Stubb to knight of the King. The Order of the Seraphim,” the Swedish royal house writes on its website.
It is about Sweden’s highest and foremost award, instituted in 1748 by the king Frederick I of the Hessian family. In addition to members of the Swedish royal house, the Order of Seraphim is awarded “preferably to heads of state or persons of equal status in connection with state visits”.
Stubb becomes the third Finn in the 21st century to receive the Seraphim Order after the previous presidents Tarja Halonen (2000) and Sauli Niinistö (2012).
The recipients also include the former presidents Martti Ahtisaari, Mauno Koivisto, Urho Kekkonen, JK Paasikivi, Kyösti Kallio, Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Lauri Kristian Relander and Gustaf Mannerheim.
Mannerheim received the award in his capacity as prime minister when he paid Finland’s first official state visit to Sweden in February 1919.
The Finnish-born count also belonged to the recipients of the Order of Seraphim Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (1757–1814), King Gustav III’s favorite.
Royal Order of the Seraphim.Jonas Borg/Royal Court States
The insignia is a white-enamelled golden cross with a dark blue medallion bearing the monogram IHS, which stands for (Jesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus the Savior of Mankind), crowned with a closed crown. Between the cross arms are golden seraph heads. Seraphim are six-winged angels in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
The order has only one class, since 2023 named knight. When a knight is awarded the order, “proposals for a heraldic coat of arms must be submitted to the chapter of the order for the painting of a coat of arms”. The shield is hung in the Riddarholm church in Stockholm only after the knight’s death.
Former President Martti Ahtisaari was among those awarded the Order of Seraphim. When Ahtisaari was buried in November 2023, Seraphim ringing was organized in Riddarholm Church in Stockholm.Jessica Gow/Lehtikuva-TT
Efforts for Sweden
Wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb at the same time received the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the North Star. It too was established in 1748, and intended “as a reward for personal efforts for Sweden or for Swedish interests, especially in public activities, as well as for well-executed public duties and missions”.
Suzanne Innes-Stubb and Queen Silvia at the gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Tuesday evening.Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva
The insignia of the order is a white-enamelled golden cross with a dark blue medallion bearing the order’s motto “Nescit occasum” (It knows no decline), crowned with a closed crown. Between the cross arms are open crowns. The Order of the North Star has five classes, of which Innes-Stubb received the highest.
Several Finns have been awarded the Order of the North Star over the years. Among them are, for example Jörn Donner, Henrik Meinander, Matti Klinge, Åke Lindman, Jenni Haukio, Veronica Thörnroos and Johan Ludvig Runeberg.
Commander of the Order of the North Star.Markku Koivumäki/Studio Kamera-Boden
Sources: Swedish Royal House, National Encyclopedia
