- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Institution: 1702
- Country: Germany (Kingdom of Württemberg)
The Order of the Württemberg Crown (or Orden der Württembergischen Krone in German) was a prestigious chivalric order in the Kingdom of Württemberg.
Initially established in 1702 as the St.-Hubertus-Jagdorden (Hunting Order of St Hubert), it was renamed the Ritterorden vom Goldenen Adler (Knightly Order of the Golden Eagle) by Frederick I in 1807.
On September 23, 1818, King William I renewed and restructured the order, naming it the Order of the Württemberg Crown and initially organizing it into three classes: Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. The order underwent further expansions and modifications in 1889 and 1892.
The Order of the Crown Criteria and Classes
The motto of the order was ‘Furchtlos und treu’ (‘Fearless and Loyal’). Until 1913, the higher ranks of the order were restricted to the nobility. The ranks, in descending order, were:
- Knight Grand Cross, Special Class (for sovereigns)
- Knight Grand Cross
- Knight Commander (since 1889)
- Commander
- Cross of Honour (Ehrenkreuz; since 1892)
- Knight (since 1892 with golden lions, and since 1864 also with a crown, as a special honour)
- Gold service medal (Verdienstmedaille)
- Silver service medal (Verdienstmedaille, abolished in 1892)
The Order of the Crown Design
The order’s cross was a white enameled Maltese cross with gold lions in its four angles. The lions were standard for the Grand Cross and Commander but were a special honor on the Knight’s crosses. A golden crown was secured on the upper arm by two gold bands, from which the cross hung, except in the case of the Honor Cross in its fixed form. The medallion featured the golden initials of King Frederick I and a crown on the front, and a golden crown on red on the back. Since 1866, all grades could be awarded with swords, and after 1890, swords were only granted in awards of a higher class. From 1892, the lowest grades also featured the special honors of a golden lion and, since 1864, a lion added.
The Grand Cross featured a silver 8-pointed star with a reduced cross in a medallion at its center, surrounded by the circular motto. Sovereigns received the star in gold. The Commander had a 4-pointed silver star with rays extending through the cross angles.
The ribbon was carmine red with black stripes and carmine borders. Members of reigning houses received the Grand Cross insignia with a scarlet ribbon.
