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Order · Ottoman Empire
Tasvir-i Hümayun Nişanı
(opens the image page on Wikimedia Commons)Insignia image: Józef BrandtPublic domainWikimedia Commons
Ribbon image: MimichCC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons
The Sublime Portrait or Order of the Imperial Portrait (Tasvir-i Hümayun Nişanı) is an honorary order that began to be awarded in 1832, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. The order was first conferred on Serbian Prince Miloš Obrenović.
The order is decorated with a portrait of the Ottoman ruler and a jeweled medallion. Because Islam rejected such portraits, it was awarded only to non-Muslims. This shows that the design of the order was influenced by the reforms taking place in the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Mahmud II.
Balkan rulers wore the order on their left side to demonstrate their allegiance and loyalty to the Ottoman ruler. However, they were no longer seen wearing it after gaining independence.
It was no longer awarded after 1900.
Translated from the Turkish Wikipedia (article), under CC BY-SA 4.0.