LEGAL REGULATION

The legal foundations of the functioning of the Chair of Order of Vitéz were established by the following regulations:

Decree No. 1820/1917.M.E. regarding acts of valor and wartime leases
Decree No. 4420/1918.M.E. on the supplement to civil law rules concerning real estate
Decree No. 6650/1920.M.E. on the land of Vitéz's

At its third meeting in November 1920, the Chair of Order of Vitéz decided that the community of the inaugurated vitéz and the members of the Chair of Order of Vitéz would henceforth be called the ORDER OF VITÉZ.

The Order of Vitéz was registered at the Budapest Metropolitan Court in continuity under registration number 4227 on February 3, 1992.

The Order of Vitéz operates as an association under current Hungarian laws, with vitéz János Molnár-Gazsó serving as the Captain-General.

Oreder of Vitéz (United Kingdom) Bank account details:

Hungarian English Cultural Society
sort code: 30-96-26
account no: 58611268
IBAN: GB60LOYD30962658611268
BIC: LOYDGB21446

“A plant of the Order of Vitéz is rooted in the blood-soaked soil of Hungary; may God grant that it takes firm hold. May it grow into a mighty oak forest... and if needed, also a keenly cutting sword.”

The Grand Emblem of Vitéz

On December 11, 1920, the Vitézi Szék announced a competition for designing the Vitézi emblem. The competition stipulated that "Only those entries will be considered for substantial evaluation that, in addition to expressing the motif of valor, provide the emblem with a certain Hungarian unity." The submitted designs were evaluated on February 6, 1921, by a three-member jury with the personal participation of the Regent. The jury members were: Dezső Csánky, Director General of the National Archives; Dr. László Fejérpataki, Director General of the National Museum; and Professor Róbert Nádler, President of the Association of Artists. The first prize was awarded to József Szilasi, an industrial artist, and his design was selected for implementation by the decision of the Vitézi Szék.

What symbols does the Vitézi emblem carry?

The Vitézi emblem is shaped like a shield, symbolizing protection and the defense of the homeland. At its center lies a sword, representing uncompromising struggle and the instrument of achieving victory. The emblem of Hungarian unity is depicted by the small coat of arms placed on the shield. The Holy Crown sits atop this coat of arms, symbolizing the legal authority of the Order and its supreme protector, as well as the connection between the Doctrine of the Holy Crown and the Order of Vitéz. In the background, the sun's disc with its rays illuminates the Holy Crown and makes the Hungarian plains fertile, symbolized by the wheat ear depicted on the shield. The shield also features oak leaves, representing the reward for those who bravely defend the homeland. It can be said without exaggeration that our emblem is one of the most beautiful and expressive.

The Code of the Vitézi Rend

Organisational and Operational Regulations – Approved and issued by the General Assembly of the Vitézi Rend on December 2, 2023

The previous IX edition of the Code has rendered all prior regulations of the Vitézi Rend invalid. This regulation contains the specific operational and enforcement rules of the Vitézi Rend as outlined in the Statutes. In cases not specified in the Statutes, the provisions of this regulation shall apply.

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The Use of the
"Vitéz" Title Today

The Constitutional Court, during its plenary session on October 24-25, 2011, reviewed and dismissed a petition seeking the annulment and declaration of unconstitutionality of Sections 3 (1) and (2) of Act IV of 1947, which abolished certain titles and ranks.

The petition was based on alleged violations of Article 8 (2) and Article 54 (1) of the Constitution.

The petitioner argued that the general, undifferentiated statutory prohibition on the use of noble titles violates the requirement of legal certainty and the right to human dignity.

The Constitutional Court concluded that the challenged legal provision does not infringe the constitutional right to bear one’s own name, derived from the right to human dignity. The law addresses the abolition of noble ranks and the expiration of permissions to use titles, primarily serving civil registry and state record-keeping purposes.

As a result, while the omission of noble titles and ranks is expected in official records and interactions, their use in private communication is not prohibited.

Judges Dienes-Oehm Egon and Pokol Béla added concurring opinions to the ruling. Thus, the use of the "vitéz" title is legally permissible in everyday life.