Order class
Under Order class understands Medal Kundler (Phaleristiker) the gradation of an order or in the broadest sense, a distinction. The purpose is to achieve a difference in the level of appreciation through the grading. For this purpose, the order decorations are made of different materials, but at least different in size and put on in different ways and worn by the order member or the honoree.
In many religious foundations, membership of a class was dependent on the nobility or only possible at all. Many perks, especially financial ones, were dependent on the religious class. The founder often made himself grandmaster .
The bearers in the religious classes were often limited to a certain number. Each class has its own name. Orders are not always awarded in all classes, or the order has been structured in this way (deviating for example the Iron Cross ). A difference between the classes was also possible in terms of clothing (order mantle).
The names of the classes are usually:
Often the classes were simply numbered, for example: " Red Eagle Order IV Class".
There are also distinctions between
- Peace class
- Military class
(for example at Pour le Mérite ).