Ernst August Order
The Ernst August Order was founded on December 15, 1865 by King George V of Hanover as a general order of merit and was awarded to military and civilians alike.
Order classes
The order consisted of five classes and an affiliated Cross of Merit in two classes:
- Grand Cross
- Commander 1st and 2nd class
-
Knights 1st and 2nd class
- Golden Cross of Merit
- Silver Cross of Merit
Order decoration
The sign of the order is a gold-rimmed Maltese cross with gold-rimmed balls on the eight points and gold royal crowns in the angles , with a red medallion , the gold-rimmed blue circlet on the front the golden motto of the king SUSCIPERE ET FINIRE(undertake and lead to the end) and on the back DEN XV DECEMBER MDCCCLXVbears the golden date of foundation . The initials of King Ernst-August can also be seen on the front and King George V's on the back.
In the case of the second class knight's cross, the otherwise common gold decoration is made of silver.
A silver star was awarded to the Grand Cross and the Commander's Cross 1st Class, which was worn on the left chest.
The ribbon is scarlet red with dark blue, parallel stripes on the edges.
Award numbers
Although the medal officially expired with the annexation of the Kingdom of Hanover by Prussia in 1866, it was still awarded by the exiled King George V and his son Ernst August until 1900.
| Order class | Period | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Cross | 1866-1900 | 42 |
| Commander first class | 1866-1877 | 45 |
| Commander II class | 1866-1878 | 95 |
| Knight 1st class | 1866-1878 | 213 |
| Knight II class | 1866-1878 | 409 |
| Golden Cross of Merit | 1866-1875 | 34 |
| Silver Cross of Merit | can not be determined |
literature
- Arnhard Graf Klenau: Order in Germany and Austria. Volume II: German States (1806–1918). Part I: Anhalt – Hanover. Offenbach 2008. ISBN 3-937064-13-3 . Pp. 220-223.
- Karl Hermann von Heyden : Marks of honor (war memorial, merit and seniority mark) of the extinct and prosperous states of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Meiningen 1897.
- Franz Rudolf Zankl : Grand Cross and Ribbon of the Royal Hanoverian Ernst-August Order , in which. (Ed.): Hanover Archive , sheet H 38