Order of the Lion and the Sun

Order of the Lion and the Sun
Officer's Medal of the Order
Awarded by Head of the Iranian Imperial Family
Type	Dynastic Order
Royal house	House of Pahlavi
Sovereign	Crown Prince Reza of Iran
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cordon, Knight/Dame Grand Officer, Knight/Dame Commander, Knight/Dame Officer, Knight/Dame, Companion
Former grades	Knight Grand Cross with Collar
Statistics
Established	1808 - 1926 (National Order of Humayoun) 1926 - 1979 (National Order of the Lion and the Sun) 1979 - present (House Order)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Aqdas
Next (lower)	Order of the Crown Order of the Pleiades
Ribbon of the Order

The Imperial Order of the Lion and the Sun was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials (later extended to Persians) who had rendered distinguished services to Persia. In 1925, under the Pahlavi dynasty the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with new insignia, though based on the Lion and Sun motif. This motif was used for centuries by the rulers of Persia, being formally adopted under Mohammad Shah.

The order was senior to the Order of the Crown. It was issued in five grades.

Major-General Sir John Malcolm was the first foreign recipient in 1810. Other foreign recipients include:

Sir Francis Michie Shepherd, (1892-1962), British Ambassador to Persia, 1950-1952.