The Nichan Iftikhar or Nichan al Iftikhar (Arabic: نيشان الافتخار, from Turkish İftihar Nişanı, that is to say, Order of Pride/Gratification) was created somewhere between 1835 and 1837 by Moustapha Bey and was finally formalized in beginning of the reign of his son and successor Ahmed I Bey (Bey of Tunis from 1837 to 1855). This first Tunisian order due to its date of creation is awarded to reward civil and military services to both Tunisian and foreign nationals. It is awarded until the abolition of the Husseinite monarchy on July 25, 1957.
The order was reorganized several times, in 1843, 1855, 1861 (first written statute of the order) and (under the French protectorate) by beylical decree of January 16, 1898 (23 chaâbane 1315) published in the Tunisian Official Journal.
The Bey of Tunis has always remained the grand master but from 1881 (the date of the establishment of the French protectorate) nomination proposals are formulated not only by the grand vizier for Tunisian subjects, but in all other cases by the Resident General of France in Tunisia who de facto holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country.
This order, in addition to having been awarded to Tunisian subjects until the deposition of the monarchy and the proclamation of the Republic on July 25, 1957, was awarded to people of French nationality, cities such as Verdun or other foreign personalities linked to Tunisia.
Law No. 59-32 of March 16, 1959 (6 Ramadan 1378) published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic reorganizing the Order of Independence, by its article 21, abolishes this order, as well as all the monarchical orders prior to the independence, and, at the same time, prohibits its wearing to Tunisian citizens (but not to foreigners in Tunisia, who can therefore continue to wear the Nichan Iftikhar decorations which were previously conferred on them).
The order was reorganized several times, in 1843, 1855, 1861 (first written statute of the order) and (under the French protectorate) by beylical decree of January 16, 1898 (23 chaâbane 1315) published in the Tunisian Official Journal.
The Bey of Tunis has always remained the grand master but from 1881 (the date of the establishment of the French protectorate) nomination proposals are formulated not only by the grand vizier for Tunisian subjects, but in all other cases by the Resident General of France in Tunisia who de facto holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country.
This order, in addition to having been awarded to Tunisian subjects until the deposition of the monarchy and the proclamation of the Republic on July 25, 1957, was awarded to people of French nationality, cities such as Verdun or other foreign personalities linked to Tunisia.
Law No. 59-32 of March 16, 1959 (6 Ramadan 1378) published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic reorganizing the Order of Independence, by its article 21, abolishes this order, as well as all the monarchical orders prior to the independence, and, at the same time, prohibits its wearing to Tunisian citizens (but not to foreigners in Tunisia, who can therefore continue to wear the Nichan Iftikhar decorations which were previously conferred on them).
The number of classes has varied over time to finally be modeled on the order of the Legion of Honor but with a structure of six classes in fine whereas the Legion of Honor has five grades. At its inception, the order consisted of four classes; a fifth class was added in 1855. Towards the end of the 19th century, the order finally had six classes.
The first insignia of the order in use between 1837 and 1857 were made of gold and diamonds. But, faced with the ruinous cost of this manufacture weighing on the beylical cassette, a second type of badge was created in 1857: these new badges, which lasted until 1957, were made of silver and enamel. Each of the reigning beys having placed his monogram on the center of the decoration it is possible to determine the period of each insignia.
The first insignia of the order in use between 1837 and 1857 were made of gold and diamonds. But, faced with the ruinous cost of this manufacture weighing on the beylical cassette, a second type of badge was created in 1857: these new badges, which lasted until 1957, were made of silver and enamel. Each of the reigning beys having placed his monogram on the center of the decoration it is possible to determine the period of each insignia.
Insignia of the order before 1857.
The insignia is composed of an oblong gold medallion, in the center of which appears the monogram of the reigning bey set with fine stones, bordered by an oval of diamonds and surmounted by the star and the crescent, also set with diamonds. The size of the medallion, the number of jewels and their value differed according to the four classes of the order then in force.
The ribbon is pure green with two red borders on each side.
It should be noted that the holder had to return the decoration when he passed to the higher rank.
Insignia of the order after 1857.
The insignia becomes a ten-pointed silver star decorated with sometimes pierced "diamond points", the branches of which alternate with another superimposed ten-pointed star. If necessary, the bail is formed by a silver knot. The center bears the monogram of the reigning bey.
The ribbon remains green with two red borders on each side, but the pure green becomes a green-yellow in order to avoid any confusion between this order and the Order of Agricultural Merit.
The badges of each class have the following differences:
Knight 2nd Class, insignia of plain metal without any enamel fitted with a ribbon and worn on the left chest;
Chevalier de 1re classe, identical insignia, but whose center is enamelled in green;
Officer, insignia whose branches of the 2nd star are alternately enamelled in green and red, worn on the left chest, with a rosette ribbon;
Commander, insignia worn as a saltire with a tie consisting of a cut of ribbon, the branches of the second star of which are enamelled alternately in green and red;
Grand officer, plate representing the insignia without its bail worn on the right side;
Large cord, cord passed from the right shoulder to the left hip bearing a jewel at the end, as well as a plate representing the badge without its bail worn on the left side.
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