Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/755

360 an octagonal gold cross, enamelled white, the middle to contain, on the obverse, a green laurel wreath, within a blue border, the latter to show, in golden letters, the motto of the Order ('Furchtlos und trew'), and the reverse to exhibit the initial of the King, in a white field, surrounded by a blue circle with the above legend in it (Tab. I. No. 2).

The cross is worn by the Knights of the Grand Cross and Commanders, round the neck by a dark blue ribbon, accompanied, for the former, by a white octagonal star, embroidered in silver, the middle of which shows the contents of the enamelled obverse of the cross (No. 1). With both classes, the ribbon is appended to the cross by a crown.

The Knights wear the same cross in smaller size at the button-hole.

The gold and silver medals of merit are suspended at the button-hole by a similar ribbon (Tab. II. No. 7). The candidates of the first class must occupy the rank of at least Major-General; of the second class, that of staff-officer, and of the third class, that of officer.

No one can be received into a higher class without having previously belonged to the immediate lower class, nor can any one be received into even the lowest—the third class, without previously possessing the Military Medal of Merit.

The gold medal is conferred on officers down to corporals, and the silver on those below.

The King alone has the right to nominate the Knights, whose reception into the Order is free of all costs, fees and charges.

Civilians receive, with the badge, personal nobility, and the entrée at Court.

The Chapter consists of the Knights of the Grand Cross, the two oldest Commanders, and the four oldest Knights. It only meets by the special convocation of the King.