Order of the Black Eagle

The High Order of the Black Eagle was the highest Prussian order. It was donated by Elector Frederick III. of Brandenburg on January 17, 1701, the day before his self- coronation in Königsberg on 18 January 1701.

History

The Statutes of the Order dated January 18, 1701. The Black Eagle Order of Merit was not like the Order Pour le Mérite, but first a knightly order of a limited size. The motto of the Order was " suum cuique ". Originally, the number of Prussian awardees, not counting the royal princes, amount to only 30. Until 1848 have had people from not rich princely birth, which should get the award, to prove their descent from eight noble ancestors and reached the age of 30. With the re-release of the statutes by Friedrich Wilhelm IV on February 20, 1848 not noble knights of the Order received with the receipt of a coat of arms insignia letter, which she raised to the hereditary peerage. The Prussian Prince received the Order, although their birth, put the insignia but only after their confirmation, and after the re-release by Friedrich Wilhelm IV together with her first officer's uniform to the age of ten years old at. Also, women could receive the order, so for example, the Queen of Prussia and German Empress Victoria.

Insignia

Gem

The religious character of the einklassigen Order is a blue enamelled Maltese Cross with Black-crowned eagles in the cross angles. In the middle is a golden medallion in the entwined initials of the founder FR ( Fridericus Rex ). Under Friedrich Wilhelm II (r. 1786-1797 ) the medallion featuring the monogram FWR ( Fridericus Wilhelminus Rex ). The religious character could also be awarded in diamonds.

Star

The medallion of the eight-pointed silver star medal shows the black Prussian eagle on an orange background within the Order Currency suum cuique (English: " To each his own ") and a laurel branch. Until the mid-19th century, the Order star was embroidered and sewn on the uniform. As of 1810, the first stars were awarded the Order of metal and Friedrich Wilhelm IV decreed in 1858 that only silver medal Stars are to lend. The Silver Star Medal was how the gem also be awarded with diamonds. Knight of the Black Eagle, who were also knights of the English Order of the Garter could enclose the star of the Black Eagle with the Garter.

Band

The jewel was worn on a plain, orange sash from the left shoulder to right hip. The orange ribbon was a tribute to the House of Orange and Frederick Dutch mother. It also looked forward to the inheritance of the childless William III Prince of Orange. of England expression.

Chain of orders

As a special honor, the Order could be imparted with the Collar of ( chain of orders ) (eg, Otto von Bismarck, who was awarded the Order also in diamonds ). The chain is composed of two kinds of links: a black enamelled eagle wearing golden thunderbolt in its claws and a blue enamelled circlet at the sides of the four royal crowns are attached. Inside the hoop is a white- enameled medallion with a painted religious motto. The hoop is attached to the medallion by the golden initial letters of the founder F R.

Find out more

The Knights of the Order of the Black Eagle contributed from 1861 always the Grand Cross of the Red Eagle as a neck decoration.

Today the Order is star sign of the Military Police Force of the Armed Forces and commemorates the establishment of the Military Police Corps by Frederick II in 1740. It is taken as a badge worn on the beret in oak leaves.

The Masonic Lodge At the Black Eagle in Berlin leads alongside the Order star the motto of the Order suum cuique in their Bijou and thus recalls the founding of Freemasonry in Prussia by Frederick II in 1740.

The Articles of Association, wrote that the Order had to be worn daily. In the first failure of the compulsory wearing of the Knights had 30 Thaler, pay at the second 100 dollars to the Royal Orphanage in Königsberg. The third failure, the order was withdrawn.

King Frederick II granted the Order of any general who had been a prisoner of war, so also not the kingdom of Count Friedrich Ludwig Finck von Finckenstein after 55 years of service. General Ernst Ludwig of slough was 1786, the last, which was awarded by Frederick II with the Black Eagle. Frederick II sent his confidant the Order with the hand written words: " my love and honest cesspool ".

Ceremonies

By the end of the monarchy in November 1918, the Order was awarded a total of 1,341 times. In addition, 92 awards were made with diamonds. From the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. received on April 7, 1805 at the same time Napoleon I., Murat, Talleyrand, Duroc, Berthier, Bernadotte and Cambacérès the Black Eagle. The Swedish King Gustav IV Adolf, who had received the Order in 1792, sent him back then in 1805, as he did not want to be put on a par with a usurper generals and civil origin as the legitimate king of God's grace.

Since 1919, the award is only awarded to members of the House of Hohenzollern. By 1934, made 13 awards. Until the death of the last emperor, Wilhelm II in 1941, the religious Festival, July 11 (Birthday Frederick I ), each year was celebrated in Doorn. Permanent guest was there August von Mackensen.

Knight of the Order

The first twenty Teutonic Knights were awarded on the day of the foundation: