Hello,
I would like to start a thread with the summarized history of one of Europe's highest orders for Military Merit, accompanied by some pictures from my own collection.
We can certainly say that, like the the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Military Order of Maria Theresia (Militär Maria Theresien Orden) is the most prestigious chivalric order of the Austrian monarchy, being also the first one to reward exceptional merits towards the Country.
In 1749, the General count Daun proposed the institution of an “Order of Military Honour”, in order to exalt the spirit of emulation amongst the officers’ corps. The proposal was favourably accepted by the empress Maria Theresia.
The victory at the battle of Kolìn on June 18th, 1757, signs the official birth of the Order to which was given the Sovereign’s name. On the same occasion, the first awards happened, resp. to Charles, Duke of Lothringen, and to the Field Marshal count Daun; the statutes were approved on December 12th, 1758.
In the earliest times, the Order was divided in two classes only: Grand Cross and Knight’s Cross, then adding the class of Commander in 1765.
The importance of the class awarded, depended on the recipient’s rank: the Grand Cross to Army or Army Corps commanders; the Commander’s Cross to generals and the Knight’s Cross to all officers.
The decoration consisted in a gold, white enamelled “theresian” pattée cross: the obverse centre medallion bearing Austria’s colours red-white-red, surrounded by the Order’s motto “FORTITUDINI” (to the courage); the reverse centre medallion, bearing the monogram “MT” within a green enamelled laurel wreath.
The Grand Cross breast star, at the beginning of the embroidered type, was later made in silver, with gold borders, surrounded by a green enamelled laurel wreath. The ribbon was red with a white centre stripe. At the recipient’s death, the decoration had to be returned to the Order’s Chapter.
The Military Order of Maria Theresia, at least under the administrative point of view, survived the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, to let be examined all the proposals not yet followed by an award at the end of the hostilities: the Order’s Chapter was definitively closed in 1931.
During the Order’s life, were given 61 Grand Crosses; 140 Commander’s Crosses and 1039 Knight’s Crosses.
The Order became extinct on September 23rd, 1986 with the death of its last Knight, the Navy Pilot, Linienschiffslieutnant Gottfried de Banfield (1890-1986).
Elmar Lang
I would like to start a thread with the summarized history of one of Europe's highest orders for Military Merit, accompanied by some pictures from my own collection.
The Military Order of Maria Theresia - Militär Maria Theresien Orden
We can certainly say that, like the the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Military Order of Maria Theresia (Militär Maria Theresien Orden) is the most prestigious chivalric order of the Austrian monarchy, being also the first one to reward exceptional merits towards the Country.
In 1749, the General count Daun proposed the institution of an “Order of Military Honour”, in order to exalt the spirit of emulation amongst the officers’ corps. The proposal was favourably accepted by the empress Maria Theresia.
The victory at the battle of Kolìn on June 18th, 1757, signs the official birth of the Order to which was given the Sovereign’s name. On the same occasion, the first awards happened, resp. to Charles, Duke of Lothringen, and to the Field Marshal count Daun; the statutes were approved on December 12th, 1758.
In the earliest times, the Order was divided in two classes only: Grand Cross and Knight’s Cross, then adding the class of Commander in 1765.
The importance of the class awarded, depended on the recipient’s rank: the Grand Cross to Army or Army Corps commanders; the Commander’s Cross to generals and the Knight’s Cross to all officers.
The decoration consisted in a gold, white enamelled “theresian” pattée cross: the obverse centre medallion bearing Austria’s colours red-white-red, surrounded by the Order’s motto “FORTITUDINI” (to the courage); the reverse centre medallion, bearing the monogram “MT” within a green enamelled laurel wreath.
The Grand Cross breast star, at the beginning of the embroidered type, was later made in silver, with gold borders, surrounded by a green enamelled laurel wreath. The ribbon was red with a white centre stripe. At the recipient’s death, the decoration had to be returned to the Order’s Chapter.
The Military Order of Maria Theresia, at least under the administrative point of view, survived the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, to let be examined all the proposals not yet followed by an award at the end of the hostilities: the Order’s Chapter was definitively closed in 1931.
During the Order’s life, were given 61 Grand Crosses; 140 Commander’s Crosses and 1039 Knight’s Crosses.
The Order became extinct on September 23rd, 1986 with the death of its last Knight, the Navy Pilot, Linienschiffslieutnant Gottfried de Banfield (1890-1986).
Elmar Lang
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