The Order of Berthold the First was a

dynastic order A dynastic order, monarchical order, or house order is an order under royal patronage. Such an order is bestowed by, as a legitimate , a sovereign or the head of a once-sovereign ruling family. These are often considered part of the cultural ...

in the

Grand Duchy of Baden The Grand Duchy of Baden (german: Großherzogtum Baden) was a state in the southwest German Empire on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918. It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and subs ...

. It was established on 29 April 1877 by

Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden Frederick I (german: Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig; 9 September 1826 – 28 September 1907) was the Grand Duke of Baden from 1858 to 1907. Life Frederick was born in Karlsruhe, Baden, on 9 September 1826. He was the third son of Leopold, Gra ...

to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of his accession as an additional class above the grand cross of the

Order of the Zähringer Lion The Order of the Zähringer Lion was instituted on 26 December 1812 by Karl, Grand Duke of Baden, in memory of the Dukes of Zähringen from whom he was descended. Classes It had five classes: *Grand Cross *Commander, First Class *Commander, S ...

. On his seventieth birthday Frederick I separated it from that order and gave it statutes as an order in its own right. After that date, the order could be given to all persons for faithful service or as a special show of recognition and benevolence.

Classes

Originally awarded in only one class, in 1896 it was expanded to three classes: *Grand Cross *Grand Commander (1st Class) and Commander (2nd Class) *Knight Two crossed swords were added if the award was for military service.

Insignia

Badge

The badge is a gold white-cut

Maltese cross The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed ...

with gold spheres at the tips and medieval ducal crowns in the angles. At the centre is a red enamel circle with a gold border and a crowned gold monogram. The suspension ring is attached to a grand ducal crown.

Star

This is eight beamed and gold or four beamed and silver, depending on the class. It has a central round panel showing

Berthold IV, Duke of Zähringen Berthold IV, Duke of Zähringen ( – 8 December 1186) was a Duke of Zähringen and Rector of Burgundy. He was the son of Conrad I, Duke of Zähringen and Clementia of Luxembourg-Namur. He founded numerous cities, including Fribourg. Life ...

on horseback, based on his 1177 seal for the Stift am Grossmünster in Zurich, which was mistaken in 1877 for Berthold I (c. 1000–1078), Duke of Carinthia. The central panel is surrounded by "GERECHTIGKEIT IST MACHT" (Justice is Power) in medieval style lettering. The eight-point-star badge for recipients of the Grand Cross was worn on the left breast, using a shoulder sash worn from the left shoulder to the right hip. Commanders 1st class wear the cross of the order at their collar, commanders 2nd class wear a four-beamed silver star on the left breast and knights a cross on the left breast. In special cases the grand cross could also be awarded with a golden chain. The ribbon of the order was red with narrow gold stripes down each side.

Awards

Excludes awards to foreign sovereigns and to members of the grand ducal house of Baden. Arnhard Graf Klenau: ''Orden in Deutschland und Österreich.'' Band II: ''Deutsche Staaten (1806–1918).'' Teil I: ''Anhalt–Hannover.'' Offenbach 2008. . S. 54.

Bibliography

* Arnhard Graf Klenau: ''Orden in Deutschland und Österreich.'' Band II: ''Deutsche Staaten (1806–1918).'' Teil I: ''Anhalt–Hannover.'' Offenbach 2008. . S. 54–57. *

Lars Adler Lars Adler (born 1976) is a German historian, archivist and phalerist. He has written two authoritative works on the orders of Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhin ...

, Franz Hannesschläger: ''Der badische Orden Berthold des Ersten von Zähringen. Die Stiftung des letzten Verdienstordens im Großherzogtum Baden.'' in: ''OuE-Magazin. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde.'' 12. Jahrgang. Heft 68. (August 2010) S. 194–203. * Hennig Volle: ''Badens Orden.'' Freiburg im Breisgau 1976. S. 46ff.

References

{{Orders, decorations, and medals of the German Empire Orders, decorations, and medals of Baden category:Grand Duchy of Baden Awards established in 1877 1877 establishments in Germany