Knight's Cross

Knight's Cross of the Order referred to in a level or class of customer orders and decorations. Usually, the lowest grade of merit is hereby designated internationally (apart from the " affiliated " medals ), which is usually worn as an award at the band at the ( left ) breast.

Development

As a role model for today's most common division of the Order of Merit in five stages ( Knight - Officer - Commander - Grand Officer - Grand Cross ) applies that system, first pioneered in 1802 in France by Napoleon Bonaparte in the foundation of the Legion of Honor ( Légion d' honneur ) has been introduced. At the foundation of many other Merit in the 19th and 20th century, this pattern was often assumed, thus attaining global distribution. Merit with three levels ( Ritter - Commander - Grand Cross ) existed since the mid 18th century, such as the Hungarian Order of St. Stephen's.

Position within the religious hierarchy

Carrying method

Examples

  • The Order of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • The first stage ( Chevalier ) of the French Legion of Honour
  • A stage of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
  • The Knight's Cross of the Franz- Joseph- Order
  • The Knight's Cross of the Order pro Merito Melitensi Order of Malta
  • The Knight's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa
  • The Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max Joseph
  • The Knight's Cross of the Order of the Lion Zähringerplatz
  • The Knight's Cross of the Military Karl- Friedrich Merit
  • The Knight's Cross I. / II. Class of the Order of Henry the Lion
  • The first stage of the Order El Sol del Perú

Exceptions

Known exceptions that do not conform to today 's more common scheme of classification of the Order of Merit in five stages, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross and honorary Knight and the right Knight's Cross of the Order of St. John, the name identified at the "Knights Cross", are but are likely to be classified as Komturkreuze according to the international classification. A non-governmental, private award was the 1919 Alfred von Randow donated German Knights Cross, which was awarded only in one stage.

  • Medals and Decorations
Knight Commander Order of Franz Joseph
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