Spiritual Cross of Merit
The Spiritual Cross of Merit was donated on November 23, 1801 by Emperor Franz II in his capacity as Austrian monarch and was intended to honor field chaplains who were able to perform extremely strict and dangerous duties in military pastoral care on the battlefield, or otherwise excelled in peacetime .
Order classes
The order decoration was awarded in gold (1st class) and in silver (2nd class). From December 13, 1916, the award for brave and successful behavior in front of the enemy could also be given with swords on the ribbon.
Order decoration
The sign of the order is a Brabant cross with a medallion enamelled blue on both sides , in the middle of which the two-line inscription PIIS MERITIS (For pious merits) can be read. From 1859, the Golden Cross of Merit received a white enamelled medallion.
Ribbon and way of wearing
The award was worn on a red and white striped triangular ribbon on the left side of the chest. By changing the statutes on May 9, 1911, the award for merits in peace received a white ribbon.
See also
literature
- Johann Stolzer, Christian Steeb: Austria's order from the Middle Ages to the present. Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt Graz, Graz 1996, ISBN 3-201-01649-7 .
- Meyer's Large Conversation Lexicon. 6th edition, 1905-1909.
Web links
- Image Spiritual Cross of Merit 2nd class with swords ( Memento from June 18, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
