Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/457

198 silver. 'To the second division belong, the old Order ' Pour le Mérite,' and the gold and silver Medals which are worn suspended by a black ribbon with a white stripe near each border.

The Order 'Pour le Mérite' as also the medals, are now strictly military decorations for merit in battle.

THE ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE.

The close of the seventeenth century was distinguished by an advance in the several ranks of the reigning houses in Europe. Brunswick was elevated to an Electorate, a Prince of Orange mounted the throne of England, the Elector of Saxony assumed the title of King of Poland, and the Elector of Brandenburg, that of King of Prussia, under the name of Frederick I. This last named monarch founded, on the day of his coronation, (17th January, 1791), the Order of the Black Eagle, the insignia of which are sketched (Plate 65, Tab. I. Nos. 1 to 3.):

The number of the Knights, exclusive of the Princes of the royal family, is limited by the statutes to thirty, who must, at their nomination, have reached the age of, at least, thirty years.

The candidates have to prove their noble descent through four generations by both parents.

The Chapter is held twice a year, on the 18th January, and the 12th July.

The insignia consist of an octagonal cross, blue enamelled, with the initials in monogram: 'F. R.' (Fredericus Rex), in the middle of the obverse, and a Black Eagle, with expanded wings, between each of the arms of the cross. The cross is