Physical Description

Constructed of gold or silver gilt with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of an eight-armed star with white enameled arms, a green enamel oak leaf wreath lays in the quadrants, and there are small gold flames protruding from the centre between the arms. The obverse centre bears an enamelled Bavarian flag bearing a gilt crown encompassed by a red enamel border with the inscription “VIRTUS ET HONOS” (Virtue and Honour). The reverse centre bears a medallion with a profile of Maximilian Joseph I encompassed by a red enamel border with the inscription “MAX JOS BOIOARIAE REX”. The cross is topped with a Bavarian crown and loop for suspension, on a light blue and white striped sash.

History

The Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown was instituted on March 19, 1808 by King Maximilian Joseph I. The order was founded as a civil counterpart to the Military Order of Max Joseph to reward civil servants of the state and foreigners who displayed acts of exceptional merit. Similar to the Military Order of Max Joseph, individuals who received the Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown received a knighthood and were thus permitted to add the title of “Ritter von” to their family name, and those who were not already members of the nobility were ennobled.

The Order of Merit of the Bavarian crown was initially founded with three grades: Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight (as well as the two medal classes). Each grade possessed a limited number of members: 12 Grand Cross members, 24 Commanders, and 100 Knights, but with unlimited gold and silver medal recipients.
In October 1817, the statues permitted 24 Grand Cross members, 40 Commanders, and 160 Knights. Further adjustments to the statutes were also made on February 16, 1824, on October 12, 1834, and on January 12, 1835.
In 1855, the statutes were modified for the addition of the Commander class.
The order was awarded until 1918.
The motto of the order is “VIRTUS ET HONOS”, meaning “Virtue and Honour”.

The Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown is awarded in the following classes: Grand Cross and Grand Cross Breast Star, Commander and Commander Breast Star, Knight, gold medal, and silver medal.

There are known examples of the Grand Cross in silver gilt, which were awarded in late 1916 and early 1917. These versions are much heavier than the earlier versions and weigh around 120 grams.

The Grand Cross and Commander were both awarded with a Breast Star.