Wilhelm Order
The Wilhelmsorden was founded on August 20, 1851 by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I of Hessen-Kassel .
It emerged from the three lower ranks of the House Order of the Golden Lion and a new Grand Cross in four classes.
history
The order had a long history. It emerged from the Order of the Golden Lion, founded on August 14, 1770. This was donated by Landgrave Friedrich II of Hessen-Kassel as a house order. Until January 1, 1818 it was only one class and was expanded to four classes as a new order by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I. It was created in memory of the grandfather as the "Electoral Wilhelms Order".
After the electoral house of Hesse went out, the order was no longer awarded, but it was still possible to wear it.
Order classes
- Grand Cross
- Commander 1st and 2nd class
- Knight
- IV class
Order decoration
A golden, red enameled eight-pointed St. John's cross with a white border and small golden balls on the cross tips is covered with a round medallion on the front of the cross. The blue enamelled medallion shows a golden Hessen lion in the middle . A red enamelled ring, set in gold, surrounds the medallion. The ring shows the motto of the order Virtute et fidelitate in gold.
The reverse, also enamelled in blue, shows the golden intertwined initials WK . On the upper cross arm of the grand and commander's crosses there is an openwork golden royal crown and the round central shield is surrounded by rays of a small eight-pointed star.
Two swords were attached to the military for decoration. The fourth class had to be content with a silver medal execution.
Ribbon and way of wearing
The ribbon was red with white stripes on both sides of the ribbon.
Grand cruisers wore the medal on a sash over the right shoulder to the left hip. In addition, a silver breast star was part of it. The star is made up of eight rays with a silver cross edged with gold, resembling the large decoration and with a round central shield within a golden hoop. The Hessian lion is depicted on a blue enameled background.
The breast star for the commanders only has the silver cross without a star.
The lower classes were worn as neck medals (commanders I and II classes) and in the buttonhole or as chest decorations (knights and IV classes).
See also
The Wilhelm Order should not be confused with the Wilhelm Order , which was founded on January 18, 1896 by the Prussian King Wilhelm II .
literature
- Maximilian Gritzner : Handbook of the knight and merit orders. Leipzig 1893.
- Kaspar Friedrich Gottschalck: Almanac of the knight orders. Volume 3. published by Georg Joachim Goeschen, 1819.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Description of all orders, the images of which are included in the color printing work: The orders, coats of arms and flags of all regents and states ., Author:?, Leipzig 1883–1887.