Ludwig Order

Order of the Grand Duchy of Hesse


title: "Ludwig Order" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["orders-of-chivalry-of-germany", "orders,-decorations,-and-medals-of-hesse", "establishments-in-the-grand-duchy-of-hesse", "awards-established-in-1807", "1807-establishments-in-the-confederation-of-the-rhine"] description: "Order of the Grand Duchy of Hesse" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Order" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Order of the Grand Duchy of Hesse ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox order"]

FieldValue
titleLudwig Order
Ludwigsorden
image[[File:Ludwigsorden.jpg
captionThe badge of the Grand Cross
awarded_by[[File:Wappen-HD.png
typeOrder
mottoGott Ehre Vater Land
eligibilitysoldiers and civilians
formerit
statusdefunct
head_titleSovereign
headGrand Duke of Hesse
gradesGrand Cross
Commander 1st Class
Commander 2nd Class
Knight 1st Class
Knight 2nd Class
date1807
last_induction1918
higherNone
lowerOrder of Philip the Magnanimous (before 1875); Order of the Golden Lion (after 1875)
image2[[File:Ludwig Order (Hesse) - ribbon bar.png
caption2Ribbon bar of the order
::

|title = Ludwig Order Ludwigsorden |image = [[File:Ludwigsorden.jpg|180px]] |caption = The badge of the Grand Cross |awarded_by = [[File:Wappen-HD.png|20px]] The Grand Duke of Hesse |type = Order |motto = Gott Ehre Vater Land |day = |eligibility = soldiers and civilians |for = merit |status = defunct |head_title = Sovereign |head = Grand Duke of Hesse |house = |chancellor = |commander = |grades = Grand Cross Commander 1st Class Commander 2nd Class Knight 1st Class Knight 2nd Class |former_grades = |date = 1807 |first_induction = |last_induction = 1918 |total = |recipients = |individual = |higher = None |lower = Order of Philip the Magnanimous (before 1875); Order of the Golden Lion (after 1875) |image2 = [[File:Ludwig Order (Hesse) - ribbon bar.png|100px]] |caption2 = Ribbon bar of the order |}} The Ludwig Order (), was an order of the Grand Duchy of Hesse which was awarded to meritorious soldiers and civilians from 1807 to 1918.

History

The order was founded by Ludwig I, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine as an order of merit without name or statute on 25 August 1807. On 14 December 1831, under the auspices of Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, statutes were adopted for the order, giving it its formal name, that of the Ludwig Order, dividing it into five classes, and setting the terms for award. It was to be awarded to meritorious soldiers and civilians "von den obersten Stufe bis auf die unterste" (from the highest level to the lowest). The statutes were supplemented on 9 March 1854 and again on 30 March 1912, when the grade of Knight's Cross 1st class was replaced with a pinback breast decoration dubbed the Honour Cross. Whilst the grade of Knight's Cross 2nd class was simplified to just Knight's Cross.

The order became obsolete with the abdication of the last Grand Duke of Hesse in November 1918.

Classes

The order was divided into five classes:

  • Grand Cross, worn on a sash with an eight-pointed silver star.
  • Commander 1st Class, worn on a necklet with a four pointed star
  • Commander 2nd Class, worn on a necklet without a breast star
  • Knight 1st Class, at first worn on the left breast suspended from a ribbon, later replaced by a pinback version similar to the Iron Cross 1st Class
  • Knight 2nd Class, worn suspended from a ribbon on the left breast

Grand Crosses

Commanders 1st Class

Commanders 2nd Class

Other Classes

References

References

  1. (1858). "The book of orders of knighthood and decorations of honour of all nations".
  2. Großherzogliche Ordenskanzlei: ''Großherzoglich hessische Ordensliste 1914'', Staatsverlag, Darmstadt 1913, p.4.
  3. (1858). "The book of orders of knighthood and decorations of honour of all nations".

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orders-of-chivalry-of-germanyorders,-decorations,-and-medals-of-hesseestablishments-in-the-grand-duchy-of-hesseawards-established-in-18071807-establishments-in-the-confederation-of-the-rhine