Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/15

 AND

DUCHIES OF ANHALT-KOETHEN, ANHALT-DESSAU, AND ANHALT-BEENBURG.

THE ORDER OF ALBERT THE BEAR.

Order common to the three Anhalt Duchies, is 'Albert the Bear,' founded by Prince Sigismund I. about 1382, and renewed, on the 18th November, 1836, by the Dukes Henry, Leopold Frederick, and Alexander Charles, "in honour," as the patent says, "of their illustrious ancestors, and for the purpose of being presented as a token of honour and distinction to their meritorious subjects." The Order consists of three classes: Knights of the Grand Cross, Commanders, and (simple) Knights.

The decoration of the Grand Cross (Plate 2. Tab. I. No. 2) is worn across the right shoulder, towards the left side, by a green watered ribbon with two poppy-coloured stripes, and is accompanied by a star (No. 1). The Commanders wear it round the neck, suspended by a similar but narrower ribbon (No. 3), while the Knights suspend it at the button-hole, by a ribbon of a like character, not so broad.