The Civil Order of Saxony

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Institution: 7 June 1815
Country: Germany (Kingdom of Saxony)

The Civil Order of Saxony, also known as the Saxon Order of Merit, is a general order of merit established on 7 June 1815 by King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony for the royal subjects of the Kingdom of Saxony for distinguished civic service and virtue.

Upon its founding in 1815, the order was divided into seven classes of merit:

Knight Grand Cross
Commander First Class
Commander Second Class
Knight
Small Cross
Gold Civil Medal
Silver Civil Medal

With an amendment of 18 March 1858, the Small Cross became the Cross of Honour, eventually becoming Knight Second Class on 31 January 1876. The decree also replaced the gold and silver medals with civilian crosses of distinction, in gold and silver. The classes of the order thus became:

Knight Grand Cross
Commander First Class
Commander Second Class
Knight First Class
Knight Second Class
Golden Civil Cross
Silver Civil Cross

The Civil Order of Saxony Design

The insignia is a gold Maltese cross with white enameled arms and with green enameled fleur-de-lis between the arms of the cross. It measures 41.63 mm wide x 41.37 mm high and weighs 17.3 grams.

The obverse of the order shows a center white enameled medallion with a Saxon crowned royal monogram painted on the obverse, circumscribed “FRIED.AUG. K. V. SACHSEN. D. 7 JUN. 1815”.

The reverse hjas the inscription “Für Verdiesnt und Treue” (For Merit and Loyalty) within a laurel wreath.

Yisela

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