The appearance of the third Russian order was also linked with the name of Peter the Great. He decided to institute a military award in memory of Prince Alexander Nevsky famous for his victories over the Swedes. However, officially the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky was instituted on May 21, 1725 directly after the death of Peter the Great. Catherine I instituted the Order, the motto of which was "For Feats and the Motherland", as a reward for military feats and civil service to the Homeland. The Order's insignias, adorned with diamonds, signified its highest class. The bearer of this Order with diamonds was the famous ataman of the Cossack Don Army M. I. F4atov, who had been awarded the same order but without diamond decorations for the 1806-1807 campaign.
However, the idea about the award presented for combat feats persisted and 45 years later Catherine II decreed the statute of the highest military order of the Russian Empire. The Order of St. George was instituted on November 26, 1769 in St. Petersburg. During a festive ceremony Catherine If awarded herself wizh the first class of this order, the most honoured in pre-Revolutionary Russia. The four-class Order of St. George with the motto "For Service and Courage" was intended exceptionally for decorating officers in wartime for valour and courage displayed in battle. The Order was named in honour of St. George the
Victor, who from time immemorial was looked up to as the protector of Russian troops. In early Rus the picture of St. George on horseback with a spear was attached to the helmets, shields, banners and seals. The Order included a gold cross covered with white enamel with a picture of St. George in the centre, a gold star bearing the Order's motto and a black and orange ribbon. The statute forbode to decorate the insignias with precious stones. The Order was awarded starting with the fourth class upwards. Over the 150 years from the day of its, institution and until 1917 only 25 people were awarded with the Order of St. George first class. Heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 Generals M. I. Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly and somewhat later general Field Marshals I. F. Paskevich and I. I. Dibich were awarded Orders of all the four classes. Instituted in 1807 was a combat award for soldiers and non-commissioned officers-a sign of favour of the Military Order-a silver cross with the picture of St. George.
