All civilians or military personnel owing allegiance or service to the Kingdom of Stormwind. Conspicuous Service Cross. It is formally lead by the Monarch of Stormwind who holds the position of Knight-Marshal, but this duty is mostly ceremonial. The order is only ceremonial in nature and is not a military force. It was formed to recognize dutiful service to the kingdom by military personnel and select civilians. Membership is not granted for a specific event or act, but rather an accumulation of commendable service and dedication to the nation.
The Order of the Lion was once a lower order of knighthood, tracing its origins from centuries prior to a primary military order. However, with the onset of the First and Second Wars , the order was elevated in status when the Brotherhood of the Horse was revived into a militaristic knightly order, and the Order of the Lion became strictly merit-based without a military function.
While the Monarch of Stormwind is the ceremonial head of the order, the Stormwind Awards and Honours Committee is responsible for the issuing of the order on behalf of the King or Queen.
Following the ascension of King Varian Wrynn , the Order was reorganized to house a smaller civilian service section. While it is not as large or ceremonial as the military section, it is nonetheless an important honour for any civilian who is awarded a membership in it. The civilian section may commemorate outstanding service to the Kingdom of Stormwind, or to the House of Wrynn. With the on-going issuing of the Cross of Tiffin , this has made the civilian section lacking in membership, with the Order receiving most of its new arrivals through the military section.
As such, there are a number of key eligibility requirements which a military officer may receive membership, though it is often due to rank seniority or greater service. The civilian service mostly holds Cross of Tiffin recipients, who usually hold membership at a Companion level, and are so, entitled to wear the order ribbon on ceremonial occassions. Despite this, they are not permitted to wear the sash or any other order accoutrements.
