Vietnam / Indochina – Imperial Annan / French Protectorate of Annan: Imperial Order of the Dragon, Knight 5th Class, in silver, gilt and enamels, complete with crown and enamelled dragon suspension, original red ribbon with gold borders indicating an Imperial award bestowed by the Emperor, and pre-1945. Unmarked but of French manufacture, circa 1930’s. Scarce.
Condition: enamel work good, Good Very Fine
The order was created in 1886 by Emperor Dong Khanh as a civil and military award and was also awarded by French Colonial government.
The badge was an eight pointed star charged with a central medallion of blue bearing the legend "Đồng Khánh hoàng đế" ('Emperor Đồng Khánh'); in Chinese (Seal script) with four radiant suns surrounded by a red band, all suspended from an imperial crown surmounted by a green dragon.
The Kingdom of Annam was founded in 2874 BC. The modern Kingdom was unified in 1788 by the King of Hue, titled The Emperor of Annam since 1802. The Imperial Order of Dragon of Annam was created on 14th of March 1886 in the ancient Vietnamese city of Hue, by His Majesty, The Imperial Emperor of Vietnam, Emperor Dong-Khanh, ancestor of the current Grand Master, His Imperial Highness Prince Regent Nguyen-phuc Buu Chanh of Vietnam.
The Order was originally created to reward and acknowledge those outstanding individuals who had performed both military and, non-military services to the Imperial Vietnamese House of Annam. In 1976, after the fall of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Order was abolished by the Communist government of the day, however it was never a communist award and the "fons honorum" always rested with the Imperial House of Annam. At times during its honoured and revered history the Order of the Dragon of Annam was also bestowed by the French Colonial Government, and later the Republic of South Vietnam. However, the Order always was, and to this day remains the real, personal and dynastic property of the Imperial Vietnamese House of Annam.
