This section needs translation into English.
This section is written in a language other than English. If it is intended for readers from the Language language community, it should be contributed to the Wikipedia in that language. See the list of Wikipedias. Please see this article's entryonPages needing translation into English for discussion. If the section is not rewritten in English it may be removed. |
The Order of Ouissam Alaouite (Arabic: الوسام العلوي الشريف) or the Sharifian Order of Al-Alaoui[citation needed] is a military decoration of Morocco which is bestowed by the King of Morocco upon those civilians and military officers who have displayed heroism in combat or have contributed meritorious service to the Moroccan state. The decoration was established on 11 January 1913 in replacement of the Order of Ouissam Hafidien. It is awarded in five classes: Grand Cordon (Grand Cordon), Grand Officer (Grand Officier), Commander (Commandeur), Officer (Officier) and Knight (Chevalier).[1]
Order of Ouissam Alaouite الوسام العلوي الشريف | |
---|---|
Awarded by The King of Morocco | |
Established | 11 January 1913 |
Royal house | Alaouite |
Religious affiliation | Islam |
Awarded for | Displaying heroism in combat or contributing meritorious service to the Moroccan state |
Status | Currently constituted |
Sovereign | King Mohammed VI |
Grades | Grand Cordon Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of Muhammad |
Next (lower) | Order of Fidelity |
Ribbon bar of the Order |
The Order of Ouissam Alaouite is similar to the Legion of Merit, awarded by the United States military.
The order of Ouissam Alaouite was created during the colonial period. The French authorities in Morocco considered it necessary to have the power to bestow an official honour or decoration in response to loyal service; and they wanted to avoid over-burdening the bureaucracy of the order of the Légion d'Honneur in Paris.[2] The ribbon of the order during this period was a shade of orange[3] or pumpkin-coloured.[4] In 1934, a white stripe was added on each side of the ribbon.
During the Second World War, the Order of Ouissam Alaouite was bestowed frequently on United States military personnel who had participated in the planning and execution of Operation Torch, the invasion of French Morocco. Morocco was a protectorate of France from 1912 to 1956, and the decoration was bestowed frequently on French military officers during that period.
After Moroccan independence in 1956, the Alawid Order became a prerogative of the Alawid King and his heirs. The Order continues through the present day, the original medal and the 1934's ribbon unchanged.
Ribbons (1913–1934) | ||||
Knight | Officer | Commander | Grand Officer | Grand Cordon |
Ribbons (1934–present) | ||||
Knight | Officer | Commander | Grand Officer | Grand Cordon |
Samuel Clarkson Ellis, MD
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
1916
1922
1926
1929
1930
1931
1941
1943
1945
1946
1950
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1962
1970
1980
1987
1988
1990
1992
1993
1994
1996
1997
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2019
2020
2021
2023
2024
1933
1952
1954
1955
1999
2002
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
1919
1920
1922
1926
1937
1948
1950
1953
1955
1970
1971
1995
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2020
2021
2022
2024
1927
1975
1978
1992
1994
1995
1999
2001
2002
2004
2005
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2020
2021
1931
1933
1955
2002
2007
2012
2013
2014
2017
In the opening scene of the film Patton, George C. Scott, portraying then-Major General Patton, is shown receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite. This was no mere Hollywood contrivance. Under Patton's command, Allied forces took Casablanca after only four days of fighting. So impressed was the Sultan of Morocco that he presented Patton with the special Order of Ouissam Alaouite, with the citation:『Les Lions dans leurs tanières tremblent en le voyant approcher』(The lions in their dens tremble at his approach).[375] Patton wryly described the ceremony as a "non-military activity,"[376] but in his memoirs, he does not fail to note the Operation Torch staff officers who were similarly honored on that occasion.[4]