Royal Order of Mary Louisen
The Spanish Lady northern Order of Queen Maria Luisa , short Maria-Louise-religious or Maria Luisa Order , was established on 19 March 1792 or on 21 April 1792. founder was King Charles IV. Of Spain , was named the Order after his wife Queen Marie Louise of Parma .
In 1808, King Joseph Bonaparte repealed this order. Under King Ferdinand VII , this order was re-established on November 24, 1816, by the Queen , born Princess of Portugal , Maria Isabella Franziska.
The order was intended to honor noble women for loyal service. With the award an obligation was imposed. A monthly visit to public institutions such as hospitals was compulsory. Every year the nuns had to hold a soul mass for deceased nuns.
Order classes
The order has only one class and is limited to 30 members.
Order decoration
The order decoration consists of a gold cross hanging from a golden laurel wreath with small golden balls attached to the tips. In each of the two cross corners there is a jumping lion and in the other two corners a golden wall tower. All four angle elements are connected to one another by a gold chain. The cross arms are enamelled purple and bordered by a wide white border with thin gold lines. The front of the enamelled central shield shows Saint Ferdinand , the patron saint of the order. A violet gold-edged ring surrounds everything. The back of the medallion has the initials of the founder in the middle and the motto of the order " RI: Ordn. Dla. Reina Maria Louisa " as a legend .
Ribbon and way of wearing
The ribbon is white with wide purple stripes on both sides of the ribbon. The decoration is worn as a sash over the right shoulder to the left hip.
Web links
- Illustration of the decoration on medals.org.uk.