- Time Period: Pre World War I
- Institution: 1750
- Country: Austria, Austro-Hungarian Empire
The Imperial and Royal Decoration of Elizabeth and Theresa (or Elisabeth-Theresien-Orden in German) was a decoration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, created in Vienna in 1750 by Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, widow of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, in her testament, to reward the deserving officers who distinguished in battles.
The number of awarded officers reached hardly 20 originally. Those had to serve faithfully in the army of the House of Austria for 30 years and have reached at least the rank of colonel, and had to be inscribed in the Court Council of War, but without distinction of fatherland, birth, or religion. The Order only has one rank: Knight.
The Order was granted with 16,000 florins of annuity to be divided among the recipients. There were originally three grades of annuity: 1000, 800, and 500 florins.
The Imperial and Royal Decoration of Elizabeth and Theresa was revised in 1771 by her daughter Empress Maria Theresa I, as the Elizabetho-Theresian Military Foundation (Elisabeth-Theresianische Militärstiftung). The yearly pension amount was reviewed and the number of maximum members was settled in 21.
The Order was canceled by the Austrian Republic in 1918.
The Order of Elizabeth and Theresa Design
The decoration consists of a star of gold with eight triangles enameled in half-red, half-silver and supported by the imperial crown. It’s charged with an oval shield in the heart with the initials of the two empresses (“ECMT” for Elizabeth Christine Maria Theresa), all topped by a crown, surrounded by the legend: “MARIA THERESIA PARENTIS GRATIAM perennem VOLUIT”.
The ribbon of the Order is black. The decoration was hanging from a triangular knot of that black ribbon on the left chest.
