Order of the Westphalian Crown

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gem of the Order of the Westphalian Crown
Jerôme with star and commander's cross
Collane of the Grand Commander

The Order of the Westphalian Crown was founded by King Hieronymus I von Westphalen , better known as Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte , on December 25, 1809 in Paris.

Order classes

The medal could be awarded for military as well as civil services. It consisted of three classes and the number of holders, with the exception of the princes of the house and foreigners, was limited as follows:

In August 1812 a fourth class, knights second class, was set up, with an upper limit of 500 members. From this point on, this represented the initial stage of the religious career.

Order decoration (gem)

On the front of the medal was the words CHARACTER UND AufRICHTIGUNGEN and on the back XXV. DEC. MDCCCIX written.
The ribbon was dark blue.

The order was unofficially disrespectfully called "La Menagerie" because it united a number of animals: the Hessian lion and the Lower Saxony horse support a crowned imperial French eagle that hovers over them. In the middle there are, back to back, an eagle armed with a scepter and a lion under a royal crown. With the breast star, the group of animals is still surrounded by a snake biting its tail (as a symbol for eternity).

Medal bearer

Grand Commander

commander

Others

The king was grand master of the order. An annual pension was associated with the award. This appanage was paid for from the income of the Quedlinburg Abbey, the Magdeburg provost and the former properties of the dissolved Order of Malta in the kingdom . Grand commanders received between 6,000 and 12,000 francs, commanders 2,000 francs, knights 250 francs. and knight second class 120 frs. yearly.

With the end of the Kingdom of Westphalia and the transition of large parts of it as a province to Prussia , the wearing of the order in Prussia was prohibited by a law of February 26, 1815.

literature

  • Militairische Blätter 4/1823, Part 2, S.126ff List of Westphalian military and medal winners
  • Law bulletin of the Kingdom of Westphalia 1809, Volume 3, No. 52 p. 603ff on the foundation of the order
  • Jac. Christoph Carl Hoffmeister, historical-critical description of all Hessian coins, medals and brands that have become known up to now , p.231f

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Veit Veltzke (ed.): Napoleon: tricolor and imperial eagle on the Rhine and Weser , Böhlau, Cologne, 2007, ISBN 978-3-412-17606-8 (p 352)

Web links

Commons : Order of the Westphalian Crown  - Collection of images, videos and audio files