Order of Theresa (Bavaria)
The Theresien Order was founded on December 12, 1827 by Therese von Bayern , the wife of King Ludwig I of Bavaria , as an order of women and was intended to provide a pension to poor, noble, but Christian and legitimate women who had remained unmarried and thus enable a befitting life.
Conditions for registration
Originally only twelve women were to be accepted into the order, later this number was increased to eighteen. Six of these received an annual pension of 300 guilders each and the other six 100 guilders each . In 1876 this amount was converted to the imperial currency . If one of these women married or if she was given a greater fortune, she would lose the suspended pension. If the marriage was befitting, the lady was able to carry on the decoration of the order and ranked as a lady of honor of the Theresa Order.
In addition to these so-called pre-qualified nuns, other women could also find acceptance. Foreign women had to pay an admission fee of 220 guilders and domestic women of 55 guilders. These ladies then carried the title of honorary lady.
Order decoration
The medal consists of a gold-framed, blue-enamelled St. John's cross with a wide white border, above which the golden royal crown is located. In the corners of the cross there are two white and two blue alarm clocks taken from the coat of arms . A gold-rimmed medallion contains a T on a white background , around which a gold-rimmed diamond cross winds. On the back of the medallion, the year 1827 is surrounded by the motto OUR EARTH LIFE SEY FAITH IN ETERNITY .
The order has also been awarded with diamonds since 1834, primarily to the wife of sovereigns . In addition to the cross on a silver crown, which, like the T in the medallion, is set with diamonds, they have an equally ornate cipher.
Carrying method
The medal was usually worn on a lady's bow on the upper left side of the chest. The exception to this was wearing a gala at the royal court. Then the award was decorated on a sash from right to left shoulder. When the cipher was awarded, it was worn on the lady's bow and the medal was worn on a sash.
The band is white with two sky blue stripes on the edge, the inner one being narrower than the outer one.
Award numbers
The order continued to be awarded as a house order even after the end of the monarchy in 1918 . Up to this point in time the following award numbers can be documented:
- Ladies of honor
- Cross with crown and cipher in diamonds - 108 awards
- Cross with the cipher in diamonds - 237 awards
- Simple cross - 750 awards
- Prepared ladies
- Simple cross - 72 awards
Well-known owners
- Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (1792–1854), Queen of Bavaria
- Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1817–1886)
- Marie of Prussia (1825–1889), Queen of Bavaria
- Isabella von Croÿ (1856–1931)
- Gisela of Austria (1856–1932)
- Maria Theresa of Spain (1882–1912)
- Maria Adelgunde von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1921–2006), wife of Konstantin Prince of Bavaria
- Irmingard of Bavaria (1923-2010)
literature
- Georg Schreiber: The Bavarian orders and decorations. Prestel-Verlag, Munich 1964.
- Arnhard Graf Klenau: Order in Germany and Austria. Volume II: German States (1806–1918). Part I: Anhalt – Hanover. Offenbach 2008, ISBN 3-937064-13-3 , pp. 142-145.
