Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/18

 form of a cross, the rays of which are connected with each other by golden wreaths of rue, while the middle is the same as that of the star of the Grand Cross. The (simple) Knights wear it at the button-hole.

The oldest member of the ducal family is Grand Master of the Order, but he consults the other Dukes on all important matters connected with the Order.

DECORATIONS OF HONOUR. Anhalt's Decoration of Merit, for saving from danger, was founded in December, 1850. It consists of a silver medal, and contains, on the obverse, the bear, crown, and inscriptions of the former insignia, and on the reverse an oak wreath, with the legend: 'Für Rettung von Gefahr' (For saving from danger). It is worn at the button-hole, suspended by a green watered ribbon with two narrow red stripes.

On the 29th October, 1847, a new decoration was created at Anhalt-Koethen, for disting-uished service bv the Anhalt-Koethen Contingency to the German Bund. The death of the Duke, however, which occurred on the 23rd November, 1847, by which the male dynasty became extinct, retarded the publication of the patent until the 9th December, when Duke Leopold Frederick of Anhalt-Dessau ordered that the decoration should contain the initial of the deceased Duke, though he postponed the distribution until after a final convention, relating to the government, was concluded with Duke Alexander Charles of Anhalt Bernburg.

It is a military decoration bestowed for a certain number of years' service; those spent in campaigns count double, while those passed in prison go for nothing. To the third class belong sergeants and privates; the badge consists of a