The Ordre de l'Union Parfaite was created by

Queen consort A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king, and usually shares her spouse's social Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and status. She holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles and may be crowned and anointed, but hi ...

Sophie Magdalene of Denmark and Norway on 7 August 1732 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of her happy marriage with

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

Christian VI of Denmark and Norway. It was given to both men and women. Its motto was ''In felicissimæ Unionis Memoriam'' ("In Commemoration of the Happiest aritalUnion"). Conferral of the Order ceased after the death of the Queen on 7 May 1770. The

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

name can be translated as ''Order of the Perfect Union'' or ''Order of Friendship''. The use of French was not unusual in the eighteenth century royal Danish court or in Sophie Magdalene's

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

homeland, where other such examples exist, such as the Ordre pour le Mérite and the

Ordre de la Sincérité The Ordre de la Sincérité (), was an order of knighthood of the German Margrave of Bayreuth. The order's name came from 18th-century courtiers who spoke French. The order had fifty knights. It was later renamed the Order of the Brandenburg Red Ea ...

Insignia

130px, Badge, Ordre de l'Union Parfaite The

badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fir ...

or "jewel" of the Order was a white enamelled cross, each arm of which was capped by a golden

crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, parti ...

. Between the arms, a golden Norwegian

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...

bearing a golden, white-shafted

halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge), is a two-handed polearm that was in prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It may have a hook or ...

alternated with a red-enamelled, golden-headed

Brandenburg Brandenburg, officially the State of Brandenburg, is a States of Germany, state in northeastern Germany. Brandenburg borders Poland and the states of Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. It is the List of Ger ...

eagle Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...

. A blue oval

medallion A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...

, encircled by

diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of electricity, and insol ...

, imposed on the center of the cross displayed the crowned intertwined

monogram A monogram is a motif (visual arts), motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbo ...

s of Sophie Magdalene and Christian VI. The

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

ribbon A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mate ...

was dark blue, edged with silver (the ribbon has become discolored over the centuries, but the original hue can still be seen in numerous painted portraits of the recipients). Gentlemen wore the cross in a left buttonhole of their coats. Ladies bore it on their left breasts.

Recipients

Men

* Count Frederik von Ahlefeldt (1770) * Count Frederik Carl Christian Ulrik Ahlefeldt (1770) * Count

Christian Conrad Danneskiold-Laurvig A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words ''Christ'' and ''Chr ...

(1758) *

Friedrich Carl, Duke of Holstein-Plön Friedrich may refer to: Names *Friedrich (given name), people with the given name ''Friedrich'' *Friedrich (surname), people with the surname ''Friedrich'' Other *Friedrich (board game), a board game about Frederick the Great and the Seven Years' ...

(by 1759)Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen, ''Die Fürsten des Landes: Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg''; Neumünster, Germany: Wachholtz Verlag, 2008; page 304. * Gregers Christian Haxthausen (1877) * Friedrich von Gram (1732) *

Gustav Grüner Gustav, Gustaf or Gustave may refer to: *Gustav (name), a male given name of Old Swedish origin Art, entertainment, and media *Primeval (film), ''Primeval'' (film), a 2007 American horror film *Gustav (film series), ''Gustav'' (film series), a Hu ...

(1751) * Count Carl von Hesse-Cassel (31 March 1759) * Count

Frederick von Hesse-Cassel Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Given name Nobility = Anhalt-Harzgerode = *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) = Austria = * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from ...

(31 March 1759) * Count Christian Christoffer Holck (1764) * Baron Adam Christopher Holsten * Heinrich Levetzau (1763) *

Poul Vendelbo de Løvenørn Poul is a Danish language, Danish masculine given name. It is the Danish cognate of the name Paul (name), Paul. Notable people with the name include: People *Poul Andersen (resistance member), Poul Andersen (1922–2006), Danish printer *Poul An ...

(1739) * Volrad August von der Lühe (1747) * Count

Adam Gottlob Moltke Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke (10 November 171025 September 1792) was a German-born Danish courtier, politician and diplomat who was a favourite of Frederick V of Denmark, Frederick V of Denmark-Norway. Moltke was born at Walkendorf, Riesenhof ...

(1747) * Frederik Christian von Møsting (1763) * Count Frederik von Oertz (1761) * Johann Christoph von Reitzenstein *

Claus Reventlow Claus (sometimes Clas) is both a given name and a German Language, German, Danish language, Danish, and Dutch language, Dutch surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Claus von Amsberg, Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer va ...

(1751) * Count Ditlev Reventlow (1756) * Count Conrad Detlev Reventlow (1750) * Mogens Rosenkrantz (1763) * Baron Holger Rosenkrantz (1767) * Baron Verner Rosenkrantz (1763) * Andreas Rosenpalm * Count

Hans Schack Hans Schack (28 October 1608 – 27 February 1676) was a member of the north German noble family Schack, who after many years in French service, entered the Danish service, made major contributions during the war with Sweden, and loyally supporte ...

(1735-1796) (1763) * Count Werner von der Schulenburg (1750) * Baron Georg Wilhelm von Søhlenthal (1738) * Henrik Stampe (1770) *

Christian von Støcken A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words ''Christ'' and ''Chr ...

(1761) * Frederik Christian von Qualen (1768) * Baron Frederik Wilhelm Wedel-Jarlsberg (1763) * Adam Levin von Witzleben (1732) * Frederick Louis von Woyda (1767)

Women

Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern (Danish: ''Juliane Marie''; 4 September 1729 – 10 October 1796) was List of Danish royal consorts, Queen of Denmark and List of Norwegian royal consorts, Norway from 1752 to 1766 as the second con ...

* Louise Friderica von Boyneburg of the House of Hambach *

Birgitte Sofie Gabel Birgitte Sofie Gabel (1746–1769) was a Danish noblewoman. She was the daughter of Baron Verner Rosenkrantz and Else Margrete Sehested and married the courtier and nobleman in 1762. She was known for her beauty and admired for her great intellige ...

(1764) *

Christine Sophie von Gähler Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on Stephen King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' ( ...

(née von Ahlefeldt) (1765) *

Amalie Juliane von Günterrode Amalie may refer to: * Amalie (given name), a female given name, derived from Amalia * Amalie Arena, a hockey stadium in Tampa, Florida * Amalie Oil Company, American motor oil producer See also * * Amélie (disambiguation) * Amalia (disambiguat ...

* Christine Armgard, Duchess of Holstein-Plön (by 1759) * Countess Anna Joachima Danneskiold-Laurvig (née von Ahlefeldt) * Louise Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1764) * Dorothea Christine, Princess of Denmark (by 1759) * Charlotte Elisabeth Henriette Holstein (1770) * Karen Huitfeldt (1755) *

Sophia Magdalena Krag Juel Vind Sophia Magdalena Krag-Juel Vind, née ''von Gram'' (1734–1810), was a Danish Salon holder, landowner and noble. She is considered to have exerted considerable political influence in Danish politics during the late 18th century. Biography ...

Margrethe von der Lühe Margrethe von der Lühe (16 February 1741– 1 October 1826) was a Danish courtier; ''overhofmesterinde'' to the queen of Denmark–Norway, Caroline Matilda of Great Britain, from 1768 to 1770, and the queen dowager, Juliana Maria of Brunswick ...

(1768) * Eleonora Marie von Lüttichau * Margrethe Marie Thomasine Numsen *

Anna Susanna von der Osten Anna Susanne von der Osten (4 February 1704- 1 May 1773) was a Danish courtier and philanthropist. She was the daughter of German-Danish General Lieutenant Christian Georg von der Osten (1674-1735) and Anna Dorothea Gjedde. From 1720-36, s ...

Charlotte Dorothea Reventlow Charlotte most commonly refers to: *Charlotte (given name), a feminine form of the given name Charles ** Princess Charlotte (disambiguation) ** Queen Charlotte (disambiguation) *Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, a city * Charlotte (cake) ...

(née Scheel von Plessen) * Birte Rosenkrantz * Countess Anna Sophie Schack * Princess Wilhelmina Augusta of Schleswig-Holstein-Nordborg-Pløens (1749) * Charlotte Amalie Skeel (1750) * Margarete Giedde Vind *

Frederica of Württemberg Frederica or Fredrica may refer to: * Frederica (given name), including a list of notable people who bear the name * Frederica (novel), ''Frederica'' (novel), a romance novel by Georgette Heyer * Frederica, Delaware, United States * Frederica Acade ...

Sources

* *

Footnotes

{{reflist 18th century in Denmark Union Parfaite, Order of