Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/606

 (GRAND DUCHY) OF SAXE-WEIMAR EISENACH.

ORDER OF THE WHITE FALCON; OR, OF VIGILANCE.

This Order was founded by Ernest Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach, commanding General of the whole imperial Cavalry, on the 2nd August, 1732, and was bestowed on twenty-four exalted personages—princes and chevaliers— who were in charge of some high functions in the civil or military service. The duties imposed upon the members were: "To be true to God: to practice virtue and avoid vice; to promote as much as lay in their power, his Majesty's glory and interest, and to be ready to sacrifice for the Emperor, life and property, if called upon by circumstances to do so; to live with the other Knights of the Order in union, love and perfect confidence, without deceit and falsehood, and to assist them in their emergencies and necessities, as also to afford relief to the poor and oppressed generally, but, more especially, to poor officers and soldiers."

The decoration underwent but little alteration in process of time, except that it was originally adorned with four diamonds, and worn by a ribbon drawn through a ring set in diamonds, across the jacket. The ribbon was of poppy-red colour, with double golden stripes near the border. "The reason," say the statutes, "that the Falcon has been chosen for the insignia of the Order, is because the illustrious founder