The Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Wisam al-Nahda) is the middle Jordanian royal order; the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali is the highest order while the Order of the Star of Jordan and the Order of Independence are the third and fourth highest, respectively.
It was created in 1917 by the then Emir Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca as a form of commemoration for the Arab Revolt that began in 1916. It was not first handed out until the end of the conflict in 1918. Initially, it was only supposed to be distributed to those who had taken part in the Arab Revolt.
The Supreme Order of the Renaissance is divided up into six classes. These are the Special First Class Grand Cordon with Brilliants, First Class Grand Cordon, Second Class Grand Officer, Third Class Commander, Fourth Class Officer and Fifth Class Knight. Additionally, a medal is also handed out.
The original equal black, green and white version of the order, which was distributed from 1917 to 1952, had a slim red stripe down the centre of the green on the ribbon. In its current form, the colours are the same; however, the narrow red stripe is now located on the white part of the ribbon.
Various royals from across the globe have been granted the Supreme Order of the Renaissance in its different classes. Some of those who have received the order include Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven (husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and uncle to King Willem-Alexander), Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, the Duke of Kent and the Crown Prince of Bahrain.
It is now handed out by Jordan’s current monarch, His Majesty King Abdullah II.