Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/196

86 the breast, while, finally, the Knights of the fourth class wear the cross round the neck, without the addition of a star.

The Order celebrates a festival at the Castle of Rosenburg every year, on the 15th of April, the birthday of Christian V. Then, as on all other solemn occasions, the Knights of the two first classes wear a mantle of pale-red velvet, trimmed with white fur, white breeches, white stockings, and white shoes; also a black hat with white and red feathers, while the decoration of the Order is suspended by a chain, the links of which consist alternately of the crowned initials of Christian V. (C. 5.) of Waldemar (W.) and of the cross (Tab. I. No. 6.) The motto of the Order is: ' Pietate et Justitia' (By piety and justice).

Various definitions and derivations are given of the word Danneborg; the most probable deduces it from the old Danish ' Brog,' signifying 'cloth, texture, flag.' Danneborg may, therefore, mean, the flag of the Danes—the standard of Denmark.

As a fifth class of the Danneborg Order may be considered the 'Men of Danneborg.' By two royal patents (28th June, 1808, and 28th January, 1809) the silver cross of the Danneborg Order was likewise conferred upon all Danish citizens who had distinguished themselves in their respective spheres by honest conduct and actions benefitting their fellow-creatures. This decoration is also a sort of stepping-stone to knighthood. The military~are bound to shoulder their arms before the wearer, who have also free 'admittance to the meetings of the Danneborg Knights. There exists also a fund in aid of the necessitous members.

The above silver cross (Tab. IT. No. 10) is also worn by the King, Members of the Chapter, and Knights of the Order of the Elephant, while its presentation to Knights of the Order of Danneborg is considered a new proof of royal favour.