The order was instituted in 1917 by Emir
Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca. According to correspondence between the British Foreign Office and their agent in Jeddah in 1924, When Hussein's successor
Ali was
overthrown by the Sultan of Nejd, his son
Abdullah continued to issue the award as
Emir of Transjordan. Until 1949 when the Order of Hussein bin Ali was established, the Order of the Renaissance was Transjordan's most senior award. While originally intended for those who took direct part in the Arab Revolt, it is now used as an order of merit and for senior members of the
Hashemite Royal Family. == Grades ==