History

The Merit Order of Adolph of Nassau was originally founded by Duke Adolph I of Nassau to commemorate his ancestor and namesake, Adolf, Count of Nassau, who had been the only member of the House of Nassau to have been Roman King of Germany.

The order was conferred in recognition of outstanding services rendered to the Duke and the Duchy of Nassau. It was awarded for distinguished civil and military service, accomplishments in the fields of art and science, as well as others acts of loyalty and merit.

The reverse features two dates, 1292 and 1858. 1292 is the year that Count Adolf became Roman King of Germany, and 1858 is the year that the order was established.

In 1860, the Silver Merit Cross was added to the order.

The order awards that were conferred to recognise military merit feature crossed swords through the centre of the cross, while the awards for civil merit do not have crossed swords.

The order was no longer awarded in Nassau following its annexation by Prussia in 1866.

The awards conferred in Nassau were produced by C. M. Weishaupt & Söhne (Nassau).

In 1890, Duke Adolph inherited the Luxembourgish throne, and consequently the order became an award of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The I Class Commander and the II Class Commander are physically the same; the only difference between the two grades is that the I Class Commander was awarded with an associated I Class Commander Breast Star.