Crown of Deliverance

The Crown of Deliverance was the highest military and civil decoration which could be awarded by the Golden Empire. Alone among the Empire's awards, it could only be awarded personally by the hand of the Sovereign.

Criteria and description
The Crown of Deliverance was "awarded to a citizen who intentionally performs an action [above and beyond the call of duty], in the face of the enemy, which delivers victory to an army or fleet which would otherwise have been captured or destroyed".

The bracketed text in the criteria was not originally included. Initially envisioned as an award for a line soldier, Rin Sakaros had her fallen apprentice Keltrayu in mind when she created the decoration, and expected it to be awarded for similar actions as Keltrayu's self-sacrifice at the Battle of Tizgo V. Her military advisors eventually questioned whether it could be awarded to a Legate or other commanding officer; Rin compromised by clarifying that the action meriting the award had to be made on the officer's own impetus (i.e., a Legate ordered into battle who thereafter saved a fleet would not be eligible, as he was following orders). She had the words "above and beyond the call of duty" added to the award's description to make her point.

Uniquely among the military decorations of the Empire, the Crown of Deliverance could theoretically be awarded to civilians.

Also uniquely, the Crown of Deliverance was the Empire's only coronal order; that is, it was worn as a bronze circlet. The circlet had overlapping pieces shaped like the feathers of the Abstalian Phoenix, and was a five-sixths crown; snugly fitted to the head and resting on the ears, it extended to but did not cross the forehead.

Privileges
Recipients of the Crown of Deliverance enjoyed several unique privileges. From the date of receipt, they were exempt from taxation for the rest of their lives. Recipients had the right to sit in the presence of the Sovereign without being invited to do so. They were styled "Sir" or "Lady" and entitled to the CD.

Nominations
Any member of the saved army or fleet could nominate his deliverer for the Crown, although it could also be recommended by the Prime Legate or a Royal Executor. The Sovereign alone had the right to approve the award.

From the inception of the Empire until at least 149 ABY, the Crown of Deliverance was never awarded. In 143 ABY, Captain Torin Saedrin of the Sith Star led a campaign, backed by numerous other captains of the Prime Fleet, to have Jira Seezhli awarded the Crown of Deliverance for her use of to defend the Prime Fleet during the Vagaari War. Centurions of the Order of Keltrayu had historically been exempt from receiving military decorations, but Tariun Sakaros took up the campaign and argued strongly for an exception to be made for the Crown of Deliverance.

Sakaros and his captains were opposed by Eskol Kaartinen, Prefect of the Order, who felt that permitting a Centurion to receive any decoration, even the most prestigious, compromised the humility and service of the Order that led to the ban in the first place. The long and often acrimonious debate was joined by Sorrik, the new Prime Legate; Legates Salome Hrek and Tarse Medrego; and Praetors Kieran Sapphire and Breek Zagrev. Eventually, Rin Sakaros herself interceded and commanded that the ban would remain in effect even for the Crown of Deliverance, stating, "Nothing is above or beyond the call of a Centurion's duty".

Behind the scenes
The Crown of Deliverance is based in part on the, a Roman award, although the Grass Crown could be awarded only to a general.