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The Merit Cross for Military Chaplains (german: Geistliches Verdienstkreuz) was a military and civil award established on November 23, 1801, by
Emperor Franz II
Francis II (german: Franz II.; 12 February 1768 – 2 March 1835) was the last Holy Roman Emperor (from 1792 to 1806) and the founder and Emperor of Austria, Emperor of the Austrian Empire, from 1804 to 1835. He assumed the title of Emperor of ...
in his function as Austrian monarch and was intended to honor military chaplains who excelled in fulfilling their duties in military pastoral care in a particularly strict and dangerous manner in service of the Habsburg Empire
The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...
.
History
The decoration of the order was awarded in gold (1st class) and in silver (2nd class). From December 13, 1916, the award for brave and successful behavior in front of the enemy could also be awarded with swords on the ribbon. The religious sign is a Brabant cross with a medallion enameled blue on both sides, in the middle of which the two-line inscription PIIS MERITIS (For pious merits) can be read. From 1859 the Golden Cross of Merit received a white enameled medallion. The cross is suspended from a trifold ribbon.
Endnotes
{{Orders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary Awards established in 1801