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Category: Germany

The Military Order of St. Henry

The Military Order of St. Henry is a military order of the Kingdom of Saxony and the oldest military order of the German Empire.

The Military Order of St. Henry (or Militär-St. Heinrichs-Orden in German) is a military order of the Kingdom of Saxony, and the oldest military order of the states of the German Empire.

It was founded on October 7, 1736 by Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. The order underwent several more revisions over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and became obsolete with the fall of the Saxon monarchy in the wake of Germany’s defeat in World War I.

The order came in four classes: Grand Cross (Großkreuz), Commander’s Cross 1st Class (Kommandeurkreuz I. Klasse), Commander’s Cross 2nd Class (Kommandeurkreuz II. Klasse) or sometimes just Commander, and Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz). Generally, the rank of the recipient determined which grade he would receive.

The Military Order of St. Henry Design

The badge of the Order of St. Henry is a gold Maltese cross with white enameled edges.

Around the center medallion in the obverse there is a blue-enameled gold ring bearing on the obverse the words “FRIDR AUG D G REX SAX INSTAURAVIT“. The reverse shows the motto “VIRTUTI IN BELLO” (“Bravery in War”). On the obverse, the medallion is yellow-enameled with a painted portrait of St. Henry, the last Saxon Holy Roman Emperor. On the reverse, the medallion bore the Saxon coat of arms (alternating horizontal black and gold stripes with a diagonal rue crown).

Between the arms of the cross were green-enameled rue crowns, a symbol of Saxony. The badge was suspended from a royal crown. 

The star of the order is a silver eight-pointed star featuring a larger version of the medallion with St. Henry of the obverse of the cross, but with the text of the ring of the reverse. 

The ribbon of the order is light blue with yellow stripes near each edge. 

The Order of the Rue Crown

The Order of the Rue Crown is a dynastic order of knighthood of the Kingdom of Saxony created in 1807 by Frederick Augustus I.

The Order of the Rue Crown (or Hausorden der Rautenkrone in German), also known as the Order of the Crown of Saxony is a dynastic order of knighthood of the Kingdom of Saxony created in 1807 by Frederick Augustus I, the first King of Saxony, to be the civil counterpart to the Military Order of St. Henry.

The order takes its name from the green floral crown of rue (crancelin) found in the coat of arms of Saxony. It occupies the highest rank of the former Saxonian honour system.

The order was originally limited to 24 knights, although exceptions were made for members of ruling houses and those whose membership in the order would add to its prestige. The Order of the Rue Crown was presented in a single grade, Knight.

The Order of the Rue Design

The badge of the order is a gold Maltese cross enameled in green with a white border.

The white center medallion features in the obverse the crowned monogram of Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, encircled by a green crown of rue. Between the arms of the cross is a golden crown of rue.

The star of the order is made of silver, and has eight points. The center of the star bears a gold medallion with the motto of the order, PROVIDENTIÆ MEMOR, inside a ring of green rue leaves.

The badge of the order is borne on a ribband of grass green, worn over the right shoulder.

The Order of Theresa

The Order of Theresa is an Kingdom of Bavaria order for noble ladies founded in 1827 by Queen Therese of Bavaria, wife of King Ludwig I.

The Order of Theresa is an Kingdom of Bavaria order for noble ladies founded December 12, 1827 by Queen Therese of Bavaria, wife of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. It continues to function today as an honorary society to which belong the princesses of the House of Wittelsbach as well as other ladies from Bavarian noble families.

Queen Therese established an endowment which paid an annual pension to twelve unmarried noble ladies, six of whom received 300 guilders and six of whom received 100 guilders. The pension ceased when a member married; if, however, the marriage was according to the rank of the member, then the lady was permitted to continue to wear the insignia of the order and be known as an Ehrendame (Lady of Honour).

Various other ladies also held the rank of Ehrendame including all the princesses of the House of Wittelsbach. Bavarian ladies paid a reception fee of 55 guilders while foreign ladies paid 220 guilders.

The Order of Therese Design

The insignia of the order is worn on the left breast and consists of a blue-enameled Maltese cross with a wide white edge, over which is placed a gold royal crown. In the four angles of the cross are lozenges with the blue-and-white arms of Bavaria.

At the centre of the cross in the obverse is a gold bordered white circular medallion decorated with the letter T. On the reverse of the medallion is the year 1827 and the motto of the order “Unser Leben sey Glaube an das Ewige” (Our life is Faith in Eternity).

The ribbon of the order is white with two sky-blue stripes at the edge, the inner stripe being narrower than the outer stripe. The sash of the order is a similarly-coloured broad ribbon, worn diagonally from the right shoulder to the left hip.

The Order of Saint Elizabeth

The Order of Saint Elizabeth was an all-female chivalric and charitable order established in 1766 in the Kingdom of Bavaria.

The Order of Saint Elizabeth was an all-female chivalric and charitable order in the Kingdom of Bavaria.

The first Consort of the Elector Charles Theodore of the Palatinate, Elizabeth Augusta, daughter of the Palatine Joseph Charles Emanuel of Schultzbach, founded this Order for ladies in honor of her sainted patroness and namesake on the 18th October 1766, as a purely charitable institution for the poor. It was confirmed on the 31st of January 1767, by Pope Clement XII.

The Catholic religion and the Seize Quartiers (the proof of noble descent running through sixteen generations of their own or their husband’s ancestors) were indispensable conditions for candidates.

The nomination took place either on Easter or on Saint Elizabeth’s Day (19th November). There are five classes to the order: Grand Mistress Dame, Dame, Special Class Dame, 1st Class Dame and 2nd Class Dame.

The Order of Saint Elizabeth Design

The badge is a white enameled cross, representing on the obverse Saint Elizabeth dispensing charity to the poor, and on the reverse, the initials of the founder.

It is worn on the left breast by a blue ribbon with a red border. No Member can appear in public without it, except by fine of one ducat. The King appoints the Grand Mistress.

The Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art

The Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art was awarded to acknowledge and reward excellent and outstanding achievements.

The Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (or Bayerischer Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst in German) was awarded to acknowledge and reward excellent and outstanding achievements in the field of science and art and established on 28 November 1853 by King Maximilian II von Bayern.

From 1933 onwards the order was no longer awarded, until 1980 when it was reinstated by the then Minister-President of the Free State of Bavaria Franz Josef Strauß.

The Maximilian Order is preferably awarded to German scientists and artists, although it’s not restricted to citizens of Bavaria. It was instituted in one class and two sections (science and art), and is restricted to 100 living members

The Maximilian Order of Science and Art Design

The medal consists of a blue-enameled Gothic cross with a white border and four rays in the corners, surrounded by a white gold-pierced ring.

The center of the cross in the obverse forms a round medallion bordered by gold, which shows, on a white background, the upright standing Bavarian lion  surrounded by the golden inscription: For science and art.

The reverse shows the Bavarian diamond coat of arms and the foundation date: 28. November 1853. The Order is worn as a collar order on a white band with blue edging, in its place a square miniature, a blue and white held rosette or a Fraquette can be worn on the left cuff.

Munich jewellers Hemmerle have been responsible for making the medal since 1905.

The Military Merit Cross (Bavaria)

The Bavarian Military Merit Cross was the Kingdom’s main decoration for bravery and military merit for enlisted soldiers.

]The Bavarian Military Merit Cross (or Militär-Verdienstkreuz in German) was the Kingdom’s main decoration for bravery and military merit for enlisted soldiers, intended “to reward extraordinary merit by non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and lower-ranking officials.”

The cross was established on July 19, 1866 as the 5th Class of the Military Merit Order, the main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials. Civilians acting in support of the army were also made eligible for the decoration.

The first recipient appears to have been Gendarm Johann Winter, who received the Military Merit Cross in the Armee-Befehl of August 20, 1866. The Bavarian Military Merit Cross underwent three major revisions. In February 1891, awards with swords were authorized to distinguish wartime awards, whether for bravery or military merit, from peacetime awards. In 1905, the statutes of the Military Merit Order were revised and the Military Merit Cross was divided into two classes. In 1913, another revision of the statutes of the Military Merit Order divided the Military Merit Cross into three classes.

The Military Merit Cross Design

The cross is a maltese cross with a center medallion. The center medallion is enameled.

The obverse of the center medallion shows an “L” cipher of King Ludwig II in the center and the word “MERENTI” on the ring. The reverse has a Bavarian lion with the date of founding, “1866”, on the ring.

The Military Merit Order (Bavaria)

The Bavarian Military Merit Order was established in1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was the kingdom’s main decoration for bravery.

The Bavarian Military Merit Order (or Militär-Verdienstorden in German) was established on July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. The order was the kingdom’s main decoration for bravery and military merit for officers and higher-ranking officials.

Eligible for the decoration were civilians acting in support of the army. The Military Merit Order ranked below the Military Order of Max Joseph, Bavaria’s highest military honor for officers.

The order could be awarded with or without swords (which generally indicated wartime or combat awards). The Grand Cross and 1st Class always came with a breast star, but the 2nd Class could be awarded with or without the breast star. The 3rd and 4th Classes could be awarded with or without a crown. Generally, these distinctions were based on rank.

The Military Order of Merit Design

The design of the order is a Maltese cross of blue enamel with a center medallion. Between the arms of most classes are flames (in gold or silver for the 4th Class after the 1905 revisions of the order).

The obverse of the center medallion had a gold crowned “L” cipher (for the founder King Ludwig II) on the black-enameled center and the word “MERENTI” on a ring of white enamel edged in gold (later silver-gilt).

The reverse shows a gold Bavarian lion on black enamel with the date of founding, “1866“, on the white-enameled ring. Most of the various classes of the order were of different sizes and worn differently, as sash badges over the shoulder, as neck badges, or as breast badges suspended from a ribbon.

The Order of Saint Michael (Bavaria)

The Order of Saint Michael was founded by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, as a Military order in 1693.

The Order of Saint Michael (or Orden zum Heiligen Michael in German) also known as Royal Merit Order of Saint Michael (Königlicher Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael) was founded by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, as a Military order in 1693.

The Royal Bavarian Order of St. Michael was originally instituted as an award for Catholics. After falling into disuse near the beginning of the 19th century,
it was revived in 1857 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, as a merit order in three classes to honor devotion to the crown by both Bavarians and foreigners. The Order underwent various further statutory changes in 1855, 1887, 1894, and finally in 1910.

The Order of Saint Michael Design

The Order badge of the first three classes consists of a golden, azure-blue enameled cross with eight wide points, surmounted by a king’s crown.

In the middle of the obverse, prominently portrayed in gold, is St. Michael in martial armor with the motto QUIS UT D~US on his shield; on the reverse appears the word VIRTUTI.

On the Order badge for the two divisions of the Second Class the figure of St. Michael is surrounded on all sides with golden rays and the four arms of the cross bear the gold letters P.F.F.P. denoting PRINCIPI FIDELIS FAV~RE PATRIAE.

The Order badge for the Fourth Class is the same as for the Third, with the exception that it is of silver, as are the crown and the figure of St. Michael.

The ribbon of the Order is dark blue for two-thirds of the width and one-third rose colored, with the latter color divided equally on the two outside edges. The Grand Cross alone is worn on a ribbon which is rose colored for two-thirds of the width, and one-third dark blue, with the dark blue on both outside edges in equal proportions.

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown (Star)

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown is an order of merit of the Kingdom of Bavaria established by King Maximilian Joseph I.

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown (or Verdienstorden der Bayerischen Krone in German) is an order of merit of the Kingdom of Bavaria established by King Maximilian Joseph I on 19 March 1808. The order was awarded in several grades: Grand Commander, Grand Cross, Commander, Knight, and medals in gold and silver.

The motto of the order is Virtus et Honos (‘Courage and Honour’). King Maximilian I Joseph founded the order to reward civil servants of the state of all classes and other foreigners who were deserving of recognition of the Kingdom of Bavaria. Both the orders brought non-noble recipients in the collection of personal nobility with the title “Ritter von”.

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown Design

The order is a silver eight-pointed multi-rayed star in silver gilt and enamels and the inscription Virtus et Honos (‘Courage and Honour’), the motto of the order, in red, green, white and blue enamel.

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown measures 53 mm (or 80 mm including the crown suspension). The ribbon is light blue with white stripes.

The Military Order of Max Joseph

The Military Order of Max Joseph was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria.

The Military Order of Max Joseph (or Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden in German) was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria and was the highest military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

The order came in three classes: Grand Cross (Großkreuz), Commander’s Cross (Kommandeurkreuz) and Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz). Individuals who received the order and were not already members of the nobility were ennobled and would add the title of “Ritter von” to their family name.

The order became obsolete in 1918 with the collapse of the Bavarian monarchy on Germany’s defeat in World War I although the orders chancery continued to process outstanding award recommendations to at least 1922.

The Military Order of Max Joseph Design

The badge of the order is a white-enameled gold Maltese cross with balls at each cross point.

In the obverse, the center medallion, in blue enamel and edged in gold, features the monogram of Max Joseph (a cursive “MJK“). On the reverse it displays the Latin motto of the order, “Virtuti pro patria” (“Bravery for the fatherland”), both in gold. Above the cross is a gold crown.

The badge of the Knight’s Cross is much smaller than that of many other military orders and decorations, measuring only 28-mm in width (and 50-mm in height including the crown and ring). It was worn from a ribbon on the officer’s medal bar ahead of other decorations or, typically, separately worn through the buttonhole. The badge of a Commander’s Cross was somewhat larger (38-mm by 55-mm) and worn from a ribbon around the neck. The Grand Cross was still larger (68-mm by 100-mm), with golden rays between the arms of the cross.

The star of the order, which only came with the Grand Cross, was a silver eight-pointed star (with each point made of five rays). The center of the star featured a badge of the order, but with an oversized medallion, bearing the motto “Virtuti pro patria”.

The ribbon of the order was black moiré with inner white and outer blue edge stripes.