In sixteenth century England, gold and silver decorations were awarded to prominent governmental and naval officers to commemorate military victory. By the seventeenth century, decorations were awarded for participation in a military campaign, and for specific acts of bravery.
1588 年，英國海軍打敗西班牙無敵艦隊，女王伊莉莎白以金、銀製成的勳章，頒授給有功的文武官員，是大量授勳之始。