Bulgaria (Pricipality & Kingdom)

Order of St Alexander 1881-1891 (1st Type)

The Order was established by Alexander I 25th December 1881 and named after the Russian hero Alexander Nevsky. This was the second Bulgarian Order to be founded. It was to be awarded for loyal and meritorious service to the State in general. The suspension was in the form of the Early Royal Crown with flowing pendelia.

Badge of the Order of Saint Alexander 1881-1891 (1st Type)

This example is of the badge 5th class with swords but without crown and worn on the left breast on a ribbon
 
THE 1897-1914 ORDER CONSISTS OF FIVE BASIC CLASSES PLUS THE GRAND MASTER'S COLLAR
Grand Master's Collar The badge is suspended from the neck on a chain

1st Class This badge is worn suspended from a sash. There are three devisions of this Order. 1st Class without Swords, 1st Class with Swords. and 1st Class with Surmounted Swords and in addition a Breast Star which is without the crown and with a pin back to be worn on the left breast. (There are two types of Breast Star, an early one and a later design)

2nd Class This badge is worn suspended from a neck ribbon. There are again three devisions of this Order. 2nd Class without Swords, 2nd Class with Swords. and 2nd Class with Surmounted Swords and in addition a Breast Star which is without the crown and with a pin back to be worn on the left breast. (There are two types of Breast Star, an early one and a later design)

3rd Class This badge is worn suspended from a neck ribbon. There are again three devisions of this Order. 3rd Class without Swords, 3rd Class with Swords. and 3rd Class with Surmounted Swords, but it is not awarded with the Breast Star.

4th Class This badge is worn suspended from ribbon on the left breast. There are again three devisions of this Order. 4th Class without Swords, 4th Class with Swords. and 4th Class with Surmounted Swords,

5th Class This badge is in silver and worn suspended from ribbon on the left breast. There are again three devisions of this Order. 5th Class without Swords, 5th Class with Swords. and 5th Class with Surmounted Swords,

Also one further class in three divisions for NCO's (The Cross to the Order)
1st Class The cross is similar to the 4th class Order but with no enamel silver and worn suspended from ribbon on the left breast. There are again three devisions of this Order. 5th Class without Swords, 5th Class with Swords. and 5th Class with Surmounted Swords,