Jonas Arnell-Szurkos

Jonas Henry Arnell-Szurkos, previously Arnell, born February 28, 1969, in Örebro, Sweden, is a Swedish phaleristician and heraldist. Since January 1, 2023, he is Herald at the Chancery of the Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood.

Biography
Arnell-Szurkos was raised in Eskilstuna and has a degree of Bachelor of Education from Linköping University and a degree of Bachelor of Social Science from Stockholm University. Between 1995 and 2014 he worked in the education, research and culture field, mostly as Political Advisor in the Parliament Chancery of the Christian Democrats. Between 2015 and 2023, Arnell-Szurkos worked in the defence sector, mostly as Deputy Secretary-General for the Swedish Soldiers Homes Association. He was elected Member of the Royal Swedish Society Pro Patria in 2019.

Phaleristics
Arnell-Szurkos has been committed to phaleristics since 1990, since 1998 as a phaleristics writer and lecturer in Sweden and abroad. One aspect has been to support and promote genuine orders of chivalry, a work for which Arnell-Szurkos has received several awards.

In 1999 Arnell-Szurkos launched a lobby campaign via e-mails to the MPs of the Parliament of Sweden to undo the Orders Reform of 1975 (which reserved the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star for foreign and stateless citizens and put the Order of the Sword and the Order of Vasa dormant). This contributed to his subsequent employment at the Parliament Chancery of the Christian Democrats. Arnell-Szurkos was active in this question for almost 20 years. Different Christian Democratic MP's made motions on his drafts 1999–2001, 2004–2007, 2009–2011 and 2014. No motion carried, as a majority of Parliament votes could not be reached. The recurring motions was instead a way to keep life in the matter, until the Awards Reform.

In 2017, Arnell-Szurkos was one of three taking initiative to found the Swedish Phaleristics Association and in 2020 he was elected member of the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry. Since January 1, 2023, Arnell-Szurkos is Herald in the Chancery of the Swedish Royal Orders of Knighthood, after being Amanuensis 2018–2022.

Heraldry
Arnell-Szurkos is also committed to heraldry and has been the Herald Pursuivant for the Swedish Heraldry Association 2002–2008 and member of the Vapenbilden editorial board 2008–2013, 2023–. He was elected member of the Heraldic Society in 2004.

Selected awards and decorations

 * 🇸🇪 King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal IV in gold (September 15, 2023)
 * 🇸🇪 The Royal Patriotic Society's large medal in gold (2015) for significant acts, 25 years as a phaleristician
 * 🇸🇪 The Swedish Numismatic Society's medal of merit in silver (2023)
 * 🇸🇪 The Swedish Federation for Voluntary Defence Education and Training badge of merit in gold (2023)
 * 🇫🇮 Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (The Finnish state visit April 23, 2024)
 * Cross of Merit with Silver Star of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre motu proprio (2017, Cross of Merit 2011 )
 * Fellow of The Society of Sciences in Lund (2021)
 * Honorary Member of the Student Union of the Faculty of Philosophy, Linköping University (2021)
 * Scholarship from the Sten Lewenhaupt fund in Arla Coldin/The Order of Coldinu (2022) for research on Swedish orders
 * Associate Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (2013)
 * Kentucky Colonel (2023)

Printed Articles

 * Arnell-Szurkos, Jonas (red.) (2024). När och hur bör utmärkelser bäras [When and How Should Decorations be Worn]. Borås: Kungl. Maj:ts Orden. ISBN 9789198949803
 * Arnell, J. (2013) Ordensväsendet genom historien och idag [Orders of Chivalry and Merit Through History and Today]. In: Acta Locumtenentiae Sueciae Ordinis Equestris sancte Sepulchri Hierosolymitani (6): 35–39. ISSN 1652-8263
 * Arnell, J. (2006) Order of the Seraphim; Order of the Sword; Order of the Polar Star; Order of the Vasa. In: World Orders of Knighthood and Merit. Vol I. 373-379; 505-510; 510-515; 515-520. London: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage.
 * Arnell, J. (2006) Order of Charles XIII; Vadstena Noble Maiden Diocese; Grand Order of the Amaranth; Order of Innocence. In: World Orders of Knighthood and Merit. Vol II. 1744-1747; 1809. London: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage.