Order of the Crown (Prussia)


The Royal Order of the Crown was a Prussian order of chivalry. Instituted in 1861 as an honour equal in rank to the Order of the Red Eagle, membership could only be conferred upon commissioned officers, but there was a medal associated with the order which could be earned by non-commissioned officers and enlisted men.
Officially the Order of the Red Eagle and the Order of the Crown were equal. Most officials did however prefer to be appointed in the older Order of the Red Eagle. The Order of the Crown was often used as an award for someone who had to be rewarded while the Prussian government did not want to use the Order of the Red Eagle.
The Order had six classes:
The badge of the Order for the 1st to 4th classes was a gilt cross pattée, with white enamel. The obverse gilt central disc bore the crown of Prussia, surrounded by a blue enamel ring bearing the motto of the German Empire Gott Mit Uns. The reverse gilt disc has the Prussian royal monogram, surrounded by a blue enamel ring with the date 18 October 1861.
The star of the Order was a gilt eight-pointed star, a silver eight-pointed star, or a silver four-pointed star, all with straight rays. The gilt central disc again bore the crown of Prussia, surrounded by a blue enamel ring bearing the motto Gott Mit Uns.
The ribbon of the Order was blue.
The insignias of the order could be awarded in dozens of variations. For example with superimposed Cross of Geneva, with swords and with oak leaves.

List of Knights

The following lists show a fair cross section of individuals who were known to be conferred membership of the Order in its several classes, in order of precedence.