The Order of the Zähringer Lion

• Time Period: Pre-WW1
• Institution: 1812
• Country: Germany (Baden)

It remains a very high-level award, sitting just above the Commander’s Cross (a neck order) and the Knight’s Crosses (1st and 2nd Class).

The Grand Duchy of Baden was formed in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. Its location on France’s southeastern border led to its devastation when it opposed the French Empire. Its two final Grand Dukes were Friedrich I (1826-1907), who reigned from 1856-1907 and his son, Friedrich II (1856-1928), who reigned from 1907 to the Empire’s end in 1918.

The Order of the Zähringer Lion was awarded in five classes:

• Grand Cross;
• Commander, First Class;
• Commander, Second Class;
• Knight, First Class; and
• Knight, Second Class.

A total of 763 of this Order of the Zähringer Lion Grand Cross were awarded between 1815 and 1918.

The Order of the Zähringer Lion Design

The order’s insignia measures 39.7 mm and consists of a green enameled cross with four arms of equal length, whose angles are filled out with golden clasps. The gold-edged medallion shows the tribal symbol of the Zähringers in coloured enamel. Around the circle is the order’s motto, FÜR EHRE UND WAHRHEIT (German for “FOR HONOUR AND TRUTH”). On the back, the Zähringer lion is portrayed on a red background. The order’s ribbon is green with orange-yellow stripes along the edges.

For special awards, the order was granted with oak leaves and from 1866, it could also be awarded with crossed swords for military services. The oak leaves originally carried an “L” cipher, which went out of use in 1866. Moreover, in exceptional cases, the grand cross award could also be covered in diamonds