Reussian Cross of Honor

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Reussian Cross of Honor

The Princely Reussian Cross of Honor was an order of merit of the Principality of Reuss younger line . After the regency of the Principality of Reuss older line was taken over by Heinrich XIV. The younger line, the order was extended to the entire Principality of Reuss in 1902 as the house order of the Princely House of Reuss .

history

On May 24, 1869, Prince Heinrich XIV. Reuss younger line donated the Princely Reussian Cross of Honor . The order was awarded for particularly loyal services and in recognition of outstanding achievements. It originally had three classes and could be awarded to nationals and foreigners. In 1885 the statutes were extended by a class and in 1897 a gold medal of merit was donated.

In 1902 Heinrich XIV also took over the reign of the heir to the throne, Heinrich XXIV. Of the Principality of Reuss older line, who was not able to rule, and expanded the order for the entire Principality of Reuss. Heinrich XXVII. added silver and gold crossed swords in 1909 and added a crown to the medal as a special distinction. At the same time, an officer's cross was donated, which could also be awarded with a crown and swords. In 1915, during the First World War , Heinrich XXVII. also the war ribbon, which could be awarded for patriotic services in the war without the recipient being at the front.

decoration

The medal consists of a gold-bordered, white-enameled, eight-pointed cross with rays of polished gold in the angles. The obverse of the black enameled medallion, which is surrounded by a golden ring, shows the coat of arms of the House of Reuss and on the reverse an H raised by a crown (for Heinrich as the donor).

The first and second grades differ only in size. The first class could be awarded with a crown over the cross as a special award. The III. Class has silver instead of white enamel and golden edges and rays. The fourth grade has no rays.

The medal of merit bears the inscription for merit on the obverse within a wreath of oak leaves and the name H on the lapel . All crosses and medals were carried on an amaranth red ribbon. The order of the 1st class was worn around the neck, all others on the left breast or in the buttonhole.

With the war ribbon created from 1915, there were 38 different decorations for this order.

literature

  • Günther Damerau (Ed.): German Soldier Yearbook 1994–42. German soldiers calendar. Schild-Verlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-88014-107-X .
  • Maximilian Gritzner : Handbook of the knight and merit orders. (Reprint of the edition of 1893). Reprint-Verlag, Leipzig 2000, ISBN 3-8262-0705-X .

Web links