- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Institution: 30 April 1815
- Country: Netherlands
The Military William Order (also known as Military Order of William or Militaire Willems-Orde in Dutch, abbreviated MWO), is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Order’s motto is Voor Moed, Beleid en Trouw (For Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty). The chivalric order was established on 30 April 1815 by King William I and was presented for feats of excellent bravery on the battlefield and as a meritorious decoration to senior military officers. Comparable with the French Légion d’Honneur but far less often awarded, the Military William Order is a chivalry order of merit open to everyone regardless of rank and nobility, and not only to Dutch military but also foreigners. To date membership of the Order is extremely rarely awarded and only for excellent bravery in battle. Most knighthoods of the Military Order of William were awarded in 1815 and shortly afterwards to military of the Allies that fought Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, in total over 1,000 knighthoods were awarded at this time.
By 1945, the following classes of the Military William Order were in existence.
- Knight Grand Cross – wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
- Commander – wears the badge on a necklet, plus an identical breast cross on the left chest;
- Knight 3rd Class – wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
- Knight 4th Class – wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
The oath to be taken by the accolade to the Military Order of William states: “I swear that I shall conduct myself as a faithful and valiant Knight, to stand ever ready to defend King and Country with my Life, and with all my Powers to always strive to be worthy of this Distinction, which the King has bestowed upon me. So help me God almighty.”
The Military Order of William Design
The badge of the Order is a white-enameled Maltese Cross, in silver for the 4th Class and in gilt for higher classes; a green enameled Burgundy Cross appears between the arms of the Maltese Cross.
The obverse bears a golden firesteel at the center, and the motto Voor Moed – Beleid – Trouw (For Bravery – Leadership – Loyalty) on the arms of the Maltese Cross. Both the Burgundy Cross and the firesteel were symbols of the House of Valois-Burgundy during their lordship of the Netherlands and probably are meant to recall its crucial unifying role in the history of the Netherlands. The reverse central disc bears a crowned monogram “W” (for King William I) surrounded by a laurel wreath. The badge hangs from a royal crown.
The star of the Grand Cross is a silver, 8-pointed star with straight rays; the obverse of the badge of the Order, minus the crown, appears at its centre. The breast cross of the Commander is completely identical to the obverse of the badge of the Order. The ribbon of the Order is orange (Royal House of Orange) with blue (Nassau-blue) stripes near the border.
