Virtual visit of display
Sovereign Knights. Foreign Orders of Russian Emperors

The highest European and Oriental orders, conferred on Russian monarchs, played an important role in the process of the growth of Imperial power in the country, and served as symbols of diplomatic recognition of the Russian State by leading countries of Europe, the Middle East and Far East, Asia and America.

The development of the Moscow Kremlin museums’ collection of foreign orders was initiated in the XVIIIth century when the Armoury Chamber received regalia of the old Maltese Order (Order of Saint John of Jerusalem). After political perturbations in Russia in the early XXth century the collection was enlarged with foreign orders from the Chapter of the Russian Tsar’s and Imperial orders. Later on, in 1922-1963 the orders, which had belonged to the last Imperial family, also became the part of the museum collection.

The virtual exposition introduces the audience to the unique collection of precious decorations by distinguished foreign jewellers, which are carefully preserved in the Moscow Kremlin museums’ funds. Sections of the virtual display correspond to main themes of the exhibition and present not only the highest orders of Europe and East which are both the delicate pieces of workmanship and historical monuments, but also the portraits of Emperors, costumes and documents of the orders to reveal peculiarities of the Russian award system through several historical periods.

Have a nice trip!