Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/482

Rh of General Buguslowsky, and of Welper (merchant) and finally of the widow of the Statuary Eben, under the presidency of the Queen.

THE ORDER OF THE SWAN.

This is the oldest of all the Prussian Orders. It existed in the fifteenth century, under various names, such as: 'The Society of the Madonna of the Swan,' 'The Society for the honour of the Holy Mother of Christ,' ' Order of the Blessed Mary,' ' Order of the wearers of the chain of St. Mary,' 'Order of the Swan,' &c., and had its seat in the Saint Maria Church near Brandenburg.

This church was, most probably, built towards the" year 1140 by the Vandal Prince Pribislaw, and was presented by the Prince of the House Ascania, to the Canons of the Castle of Brandenburg, in 1166. It stood in great repute for sanctity, and drew for a long time a number of pilgrims from various quarters, enriching thereby the revenue of the Canons. This source of income soon, however, ceased with the rise of a new church in the villaze Nykamer, which by its miraculous workings eclipsed the glory of the former, and drew the stream of pilgrims to its own walls.

To restore the ancient glory of the St. Maria Church, the Elector Frederick I. added to it, in 1435, a cloister, instituting therein a chapter consisting of a Dean, Prior and four Priests, which he richly endowed, while his successor Frederick II. founded, in continuation of his father's work, on the 29th September, 1449, a corporation, consisting (besides the Prince himself) of thirty noblemen and seven ladies, who were bound to say daily, in honour of the Blessed Virgin, seven Paternosters and Ave-Marias, or distribute in