Order of Elizabeth

The Elisabeth Order was founded on September 17, 1898 by Emperor Franz Joseph I as the first and only women's Order of Merit of Austria-Hungary in honor of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. At the same time he served the memory of the murdered in Geneva on September 10, 1898 Empress Elisabeth. He was able to all women, regardless of their status or religion, whether married or single, to be as a reward for services that have been acquired in a variety of professions or other means for the common good in the religious, charitable and philanthropic sector, awarded.

Order of classes

The order consisted of the following classes and was awarded as follows:

The first big cross, whose foundation was intended originally for 2 December 1898 ( 50 years reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I. ), was already on 17 September of the year awarded to Countess Irma Sztáray, last maid of honor of Empress Elisabeth.

Order decoration

The religious character is an equal- golden cross, whose arms are stylized lily blossoms. Each flower has three parts, the two outer leaves are red and the middle white enamelled. Between the arms of the cross rose twigs of green enameled leaves and red flowers are embedded. In the white medallion of the cross can be seen on the front of the bust of St. Elizabeth facing right and at the back a golden rose with the initial E ( Elizabeth).

Others

After the death of Beliehenen the religious character and the statutes had to be returned to the religious law firm.

With the end of the monarchy in 1918, the Order has gone out.