- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Institution: 1099 AD
- Country: Germany (Kingdom of Prussia)
The Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem (or Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem in German), also known as the Order of Saint John or the Johanniter Order, is the German Protestant branch of the Knights Hospitaller, the oldest surviving chivalry order.
The order is considered to have been founded in Jerusalem in the year 1099 AD.
It is led by its thirty-seventh Herrenmeister (“Master of the Knights” or Grand Master), Prince Oskar of Prussia. Each of its knights is either a Knight of Justice (Rechtsritter) or a Knight of Honor (Ehrenritter). There are also classes of Honorary Commander (Ehrenkommendator), given to Knights of Justice who have rendered distinguished service to the Order, and Honorary Member (Ehrenmitglieder).
Along with the Roman Catholic Sovereign Military Order of Malta, these four “Alliance Orders” represent the legitimate heirs of the Knights Hospitaller: The London-based Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Swedish Johanniterorden i Sverige, and the Dutch Johanniter Orde in Nederland.
The Order of Saint John Design
The basic insignia of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese cross. The crowned Brandenburg eagles between the arms of the crosses date from 1668; they are gold for Knights of Justice, Honorary Commanders, Commanders, and the Herrenmeister. On the crosses of Knights of Honour and Honorary Members, the eagles are enameled black with only the tiny crowns on each eagle’s head left enameled gold.
The cloak of the Order is plain black with a large, white, linen eight-pointed cross on the left breast.
Excluding the crown, the cross is between 5 cm and 7cm in diameter, depending on the rank. Each cross is worn from a black-moire, 4.5-centimeter-wide ribbon worn about the neck. All members of the Order may also wear a plain, Maltese cross as a star or ‘breast badge’. A white-enameled Maltese cross in either gold or silver may be worn on the left lapel of a knight’s suit coat or sportcoat.
From the late eighteenth century, the Johanniter have had a uniform similar to the Knights of Malta. Though not abolished, this uniform has not been worn since before the Second World War.
More Prussian Orders
Throughout Prussian history, these orders played a significant role in the social hierarchy and served as tangible expressions of royal favor and recognition. They continued to be awarded even after the dissolution of the Kingdom of Prussia, remaining as enduring symbols of valor, service, and honor in German society. Here are some more about Prussian Orders:
