History

The Order of Gediminas was established by the Lithuanian government in 1927 in honour of the Grand Duke Gediminas, the famous ruler and founder of the Lithuanian capital. It was suppressed during the Soviet occupation, but it was officially re-instated in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet regime and the declaration of the Republic of Lithuania.

It is conferred upon Lithuanian civilians and foreigners in recognition of exceptional civil service.

There are two versions of the III Class Cross awarded in the Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940) that differ in size.

The Order has not undergone any changes in design, although manufacturers may have changed between periods. It is also listed in the Orders of the Republic of Lithuania (1991-).