The Order of the Sun of Peru (Spanish: Orden El Sol del Perú), formerly known as the Order of the Sun, is the highest award bestowed by the nation of Peru to commend notable civil and military merit. The award is the oldest civilian award in the Americas, first being established in 1821. The imagery of the sun is associated with Inti, the Incan sun god and believed ancestor of the ruler to the Incan Empire once ruled over Peru. Source: Wikipedia (en)