Order of Louise
Encyclopedia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
to honor his late wife, the much beloved Queen Luise (née Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie, Herzogin zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz). This order was chivalric in nature, but was intended strictly for women whose service to Germany was worthy of such high national recognition. Its dame companion members were limited to 100 in number, and were intended to be drawn from all classes.
Though the Prussian king was technically the "Sovereign of the Orders" of the realm, the Chief of the Order of Louise was the reigning queen. Daughters in the royal family were invested with this order in lieu of the Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
, Order of the Red Eagle
Order of the Red Eagle
The Order of the Red Eagle was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements...
Grand Cross, Prussian Crown Order First Class, and Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
House Order of Hohenzollern
The House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
that were reserved for the sons.
The Order of Louise was renewed with each successive king or emperor. It was, thus, issued from its founding in 1814 (during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm III), renewed in 1850 (during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm IV
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
), in 1865 (during the reign of Wilhelm I
William I, German Emperor
William I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
), and in 1890 (during the reign of Wilhelm II
William II, German Emperor
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe...
).
Original Statutes
When the men of our brave armies bled for the homeland, you found relief in the maintaining care of the women. Faith and hope gave the mothers and daughters of the country the power… for the grand purpose (of the nation). It is impossible to honor or (decorate them enough) for what they have accomplished; but We find it justified to lend them an honor, whose (contributions) are especially acknowledged. We decree therefore hereby following:
1. The honor shall bear the meaningful name:
L u i s e n - O r d e n
Establish that we with this, a small, black-enameled golden cross. The (center medallion) on both sides will be of sky blue enamel; with the letter “L” (on the obverse), surrounded by a wreath of (seven) stars; and on the (reverse) the year “1813/1814”.
2. This order is worn (suspended from) a bow of the white ribbon of the Iron Cross (and shall be worn) on the left breast.
3. The award (will be bestowed) without consideration of social position or rank; however only such persons can receive it, are, who belong to the homeland through birth or marriage, or otherwise nationalized (citizens).
4. The number (of members) is restricted to one hundred.
5. To its selection let's decree hereby a Capitel, which, under the chair of the woman princess Wilhelm Königl. Highness, out of four women …
6. The Capitel will consider candidates, of the feminine sex, from all provinces of the nation, carefully test their credentials, out of which they will decide the worthiest, select up to the available / vacant number (of memberships) and indicate them to Us (the king and emperor) confirmation being specifically reserved for Us. The bestowal / conferral of the award results then, after Our confirmation, under the signature of the Princess Wilhelm Königl. Highness.
7. We hereby order the management of the membership to the (wife of) field marshal count v. d. Gröben.
8. Regarding the loss of the order: We will decide, after considering the expert opinions of the Capitels Allerhöchstselbst, if removal / expulsion should occur, … given general directions, the loss of the order and medal will follow.
Classes of Membership and Insignia
At its initial creation, in 1814, the Order was only available in one class. A second class was added during the reign of Wilhelm I.Dames, First Class, wore the black-enameled cross with its blue-enameled, medallion centerpiece, suspended from a predominantly white ribbon, with three black stripes, as tied in a bow. Though the statutes indicate that the badge was to be worn on the left breast, many period portraits show the members wearing the badge on or at the left shoulder of their dresses.
Dames, Second Class, wore a similarly-designed silver cross, minus the black enamel, which was also worn suspended from the white and black bow. The Prussian State Handbook of 1907 indicates further variants and subsets of the Second Class of the order: II.1 with silver crown, II.1 (without crown), and II.2.
List of members
The following is a partial list of members compiled from the Prussian State Handbook, from the years 1874 through 1907:
- AlexandrinePrincess Alexandrine of PrussiaAlexandrine, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the wife and consort to Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as well as the daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Family:Alexandrine was the seventh child and fourth daughter of Frederick...
, Princess of Prussia (1803 - 1892) - daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm IIIFrederick William III of PrussiaFrederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
and Queen LuiseLouise of Mecklenburg-StrelitzDuchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
; Grand Duchess and consort of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; mother of Friedrich Franz IIFrederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-SchwerinFrederick Francis II was a Prussian officer and the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, reigning from 7 March 1842 until 15 April 1883.-Biography:...
, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin - ElizabethPrincess Elizabeth of PrussiaPrincess Elizabeth of Prussia was the second daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Landgravine Marie Anna of Hesse-Homburg, granddaughter of Frederick William II of Prussia...
, Princess of Prussia (1815 - 1885) - daughter of Prince Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Wilhelm of Prussia was the son of Frederick William II of Prussia and Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt.- Life :...
; granddaughter of Friedrich Wilhelm IIFrederick William II of PrussiaFrederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
; niece of Friedrich Wilhelm IIIFrederick William III of PrussiaFrederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
; cousin of Friedrich Wilhelm IVFrederick William IV of Prussia|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
and Kaiser Wilhelm IWilliam I, German EmperorWilliam I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
; wife of Prince Karl of Hesse and by RhinePrince Karl of Hesse and by RhinePrince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine was the second son of Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse and Wilhelmine of Baden.-Marriage:...
; mother of Ludwig IVLouis IV, Grand Duke of HesseLouis IV , was the fourth Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, reigning from 13 June 1877 until his death...
, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine - Marie, Princess of PrussiaMarie of PrussiaMarie of Prussia was Queen of Bavaria and the mother of Kings Ludwig II and Otto of Bavaria.-Life:Born and raised in Berlin, she was the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, a younger brother of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, and his wife Landgravine Marie Anna of Hesse-Homburg...
(1825 - 1889) – daughter of Prince Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Wilhelm of Prussia was the son of Frederick William II of Prussia and Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt.- Life :...
; cousin of Friedrich Wilhelm IVFrederick William IV of Prussia|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
and Kaiser Wilhelm IWilliam I, German EmperorWilliam I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
; Queen consort of Maximilian II of BavariaMaximilian II of BavariaMaximilian II of Bavaria was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. He was son of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.-Crown Prince:...
; mother of Ludwig IILudwig II of BavariaLudwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King... - Kaiserin AugustaAugusta of Saxe-WeimarAugusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the Queen of Prussia and the first German Empress as the consort of William I, German Emperor.-Early life:...
(nee Augusta Marie Luise Katharina von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, 1811 - 1890)– Chief of the Order, Queen and Empress consort of Kaiser Wilhelm IWilliam I, German EmperorWilliam I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the... - AnnaPrincess Anna of PrussiaMaria Anna Friederike was a Princess of Prussia. She was usually called Anna.-Suitors:...
, Princess of Prussia (1836 - 1918) – daughter of Karl, Prince of Prussia; granddaughter of Friedrich Wilhelm III; consort of Landgraf Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse - LuisePrincess Louise of PrussiaPrincess Louise of Prussia was the second child and only daughter of German Emperor Wilhelm I and Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. She was the younger sister of Frederick III of Germany and aunt of Wilhelm II of Germany...
, Princess of Prussia (1838 – 1923) – daughter of Wilhelm I, grand duchess and consort of Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden; Dame Grand Cross - Princess Josephine of BadenPrincess Josephine of BadenPrincess Josephine Friederike Luise of Baden was born at Mannheim, the daughter of Karl, Grand Duke of Baden and his wife, Stéphanie de Beauharnais.-Life:...
– consort of Sovereign Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern - Kaiserin VictoriaVictoria, Princess RoyalThe Princess Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert. She was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841. She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III...
(1840 - 1901)– daughter of Queen VictoriaVictoria of the United KingdomVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and Prince Albert of Great Britain; Princess Royal of Great Britain; consort of Kaiser Friedrich IIIFrederick III, German EmperorFrederick III was German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days in 1888, the Year of the Three Emperors. Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl known informally as Fritz, was the only son of Emperor William I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service... - CharlottePrincess Charlotte of PrussiaPrincess Charlotte of Prussia , Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen was the second child born to Prince Friedrich of Prussia and Princess Victoria...
, Princess of Prussia (1860 - 1919) – oldest daughter of Friedrich III, consort of Bernhard III of Saxe-Meiningen - ViktoriaPrincess Viktoria of PrussiaPrincess Viktoria of Prussia was the second daughter of Frederick III, German Emperor and his wife Victoria, Princess Royal, a daughter of Queen Victoria...
, Princess of Prussia (1866 - 1929) – second daughter of Friedrich III; consort of Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-LippePrince Adolf of Schaumburg-LippePrince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe was the regent of the Principality of Lippe from 1895 till 1897.-Early life:He was born in Bückeburg the seventh child of Adolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Hermine of Waldeck-Pyrmont .Following the death of Prince Woldemar on the 20 March 1895 and... - SophieSophia of PrussiaPrincess Sophie of Prussia was Queen of the Hellenes as the wife of King Constantine I.-Princess of Prussia:...
, Princess of Prussia (1870 - 1932) – third daughter of Friedrich III; Queen consort of King Constantine I of GreeceConstantine I of GreeceConstantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in... - MargarethePrincess Margaret of PrussiaPrincess Margaret of Prussia was a daughter of Frederick III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal. She married Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse. In 1926 they became Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse...
, Princess of Prussia (1872 - 1954) – youngest daughter of Friedrich III; consort of Friedrich KarlPrince Frederick Charles of HesseFrederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse , Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin Prinz und Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel in German, was the brother-in-law of the German Emperor William II and the elected King of Finland from 9 October to 14 December 1918.-Early life:Frederick was...
, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse - Luise MargarethePrincess Louise Margaret, Duchess of ConnaughtPrincess Louise Margaret of Prussia was a German princess, and later a member of the British Royal Family, the wife of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn...
, Princess of Prussia (1860 - 1917) – daughter of Friedrich Karl, Prince of Prussia; great-granddaughter of Friedrich Wilhelm III; Duchess of Connaught as wife and consort of Prince ArthurPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and StrathearnPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
of Great Britain, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn - Alexandrine, Princess of Prussia (1842 - 1892) – daughter of Prince AlbrechtPrince Albert of Prussia (1809-1872)Prince Albert of Prussia was a Prussian colonel general. Albert was the fifth son and youngest child of King Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His parents had fled to East Prussia after the occupation of Berlin by Napoleon...
(1809 - 1872) and Marie, sister of Prince Albrecht (1837 - 1906) - Princess Marie of Saxe-AltenburgPrincess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg (1854–1898)Princess Marie Friederike Leopoldine Georgine Auguste Alexandra Elisabeth Therese Josephine Helene Sophie of Saxe-Altenburg was the wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, Regent for the duchy of Brunswick.-Family:...
(1854 - 1898) – daughter of Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg; wife of Prince Albrecht of Prussia (1837 - 1906) - Kaiserin Augusta VictoriaAugusta Viktoria of Schleswig-HolsteinAugusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was the last German Empress and Queen of Prussia. Her full German name was Auguste Victoria Friederike Luise Feodora Jenny von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg.She was the eldest daughter of Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess...
(1858 - 1921)– Chief of the Order, consort of Wilhelm II - Luise Sophie von Schlesweig-Holstein (1866 - 1952) – wife of Friedrich LeopoldPrince Friedrich Leopold of PrussiaJoachim Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Leopold Prinz von Preußen was a son of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau, married in 1854.- Family :On 24 June 1889 he married in Berlin Princess Louise Sophie of...
, Prince of Prussia; sister of Empress Augusta Victoria - Irene von HessenPrincess Irene of Hesse and by RhinePrincess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine was the third child and third daughter of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine. Her maternal grandparents were Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert...
– wife of Prince Heinrich of PrussiaPrince Heinrich of PrussiaPrince Henry of Prussia was a younger brother of German Emperor William II and a Prince of Prussia...
; sister-in-law of Wilhelm II - Viktoria Margarethe, Princess of Prussia (1890 - 1923) – daughter of Friedrich Leopold; great-great-granddaughter of Friedrich Wilhelm III
- Viktoria LuisePrincess Viktoria Luise of PrussiaVictoria Louise of Prussia was the only daughter and the seventh child of William II, German Emperor and Empress Augusta Victoria. She was their last surviving child. Princess Victoria Louise is the maternal grandmother of Queen Sophie of Spain and the former King Constantine II of the Hellenes...
, Princess of Prussia (1892 - 1980) – only daughter of Wilhelm II; Grand Duchess and consort of Ernst August, Herzog von Braunschweig und Luneberg (Duke of Brunswick) - Cecile of Mecklenburg-SchwerinDuchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-SchwerinCecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Crown Princess of Germany and Prussia as the wife of German Crown Prince William, the son of German Emperor William II...
(1886 - 1954) – wife and Crown Princess of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia; daughter-in-law of Wilhelm II - Sophie Charlotte von Oldenburg (1879 - 1964) – wife of Prince Eitel Friedrich of PrussiaPrince Eitel Friedrich of PrussiaPrince Eitel Friedrich was the second son of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany by his first wife, Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein...
- MariaPrincess Marie of Hohenzollern-SigmaringenMarie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was a Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern, and mother of King Albert I of Belgium.-Family:...
, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1845 - 1912) – daughter of Sovereign Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; sister of Sovereign Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern; wife of Prince PhilippePrince Philippe, Count of Flandersalign="right"|Prince Philippe of Belgium, Count of Flanders was the third born son of King Leopold I of the Belgians and his wife Louise d'Orléans . He was born at the Château de Laeken, near Brussels, Belgium...
of Belgium, Duke of Flanders; mother of Albert IAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
, King of the Belgians - AntoniaInfanta Antónia of PortugalInfanta Antónia of Portugal , was a Portuguese infanta of the House of Braganza-Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, daughter of Queen Maria II of Portugal and her King...
, Infanta of Portugal (1845 - 1913) – consort of Sovereign Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern - ElizabethElisabeth of Wied-Titles and styles:*29 December 1843 – 15 November 1869: Her Serene Highness Princess Elisabeth of Wied*15 November 1869 – 26 March 1881: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Romania...
, Princess of Wied (1843 - 1916) – wife of KarlCarol I of RomaniaCarol I , born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was reigning prince and then King of Romania from 1866 to 1914. He was elected prince of Romania on 20 April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexandru Ioan Cuza by a palace coup...
, Prince of Hohenzollern; sister-in-law of Sovereign Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; Luisen-Orden RmK1 (with Br) - LuisePrincess Louise of Thurn and TaxisPrincess Louise of Thurn and Taxis -Life:...
, Princess of Thurn & Taxis (born 1859) – wife of Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; sister-in-law of Sovereign Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern - Maria Teresa di BorbonePrincess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two SiciliesPrincess Maria Teresa Maddalena of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the only child of Prince Louis of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Count of Trani and his wife Duchess Mathilde...
, Princess of the Two Sicilies (1867 - 1909) – daughter of Prince Louis, Count of TraniPrince Louis, Count of TraniPrince Louis Maria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Count of Trani was the eldest son of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his second wife Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria....
; consort of Sovereign Prince WilhelmWilhelm, Prince of HohenzollernWilliam, Prince of Hohenzollern was the eldest son of Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern and Infanta Antónia of Portugal. His maternal grandparents were Maria II of Portugal and her King consort Ferdinand II of Portugal.William was an older brother of Ferdinand I of Romania...
of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen - JosefinePrincess Josephine of BelgiumPrincess Joséphine Caroline of Belgium . She was the daughter of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.-Marriage and issue:...
, Princess of Belgium (born 1872) – daughter of Prince PhilippePrince Philippe, Count of Flandersalign="right"|Prince Philippe of Belgium, Count of Flanders was the third born son of King Leopold I of the Belgians and his wife Louise d'Orléans . He was born at the Château de Laeken, near Brussels, Belgium...
of Belgium, Duke of Flanders, and MariaPrincess Marie of Hohenzollern-SigmaringenMarie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was a Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern, and mother of King Albert I of Belgium.-Family:...
, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Duchess of Flanders; wife of Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
Sources
- Gottschalck, Friedrich. Almanach der Ritter-Orden. Leipzig, (Kingdom of) Saxony: Georg Joachim Goeschen, 1819.
- Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat für das Jahr 1874. Berlin: Kingdom of Prussia, 1873.
- Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat für das Jahr 1883. Berlin: Kingdom of Prussia, 1882.
- Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat für das Jahr 1907. Berlin: Kingdom of Prussia, 1906.