The Ordre de la Générosité (''Order of Generosity'') was a chivalric order of the

Kingdom of Prussia The Kingdom of Prussia (, ) was a German state that existed from 1701 to 1918.Marriott, J. A. R., and Charles Grant Robertson. ''The Evolution of Prussia, the Making of an Empire''. Rev. ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1946. It played a signif ...

, established in 1667 by the nine-year-old crown prince Frederick of Brandenburg, later

Frederick I of Prussia Frederick I (; 11 July 1657 – 25 February 1713), of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was (as Frederick III) List of margraves and electors of Brandenburg, Elector of Brandenburg (1688–1713) and Duke of Prussia in personal union (Brandenburg–Pr ...

. It was also known in German as ''Für Edelmut'' (''For Generosity'') or the ''Gnadenkreuz'' (literally ''Grace Cross''). The Order's jewel consisted of a gemstone in a small golden cross, later with the inscription "générosité". When first set up it had no statutes or constitution, though its guiding principle was that its members should live "generously in all things". Under

Frederick William I of Prussia Frederick William I (; 14 August 1688 – 31 May 1740), known as the Soldier King (), was King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 until his death in 1740, as well as Prince of Neuchâtel. Born in Berlin, he was raised by the Hugu ...

the Order was mainly awarded as a reward for good service in recruiting the Langen Kerls. It was the second highest of the Prussian orders after the

Order of the Black Eagle The Order of the Black Eagle () was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I of Prussia, Friedrich I, King in Prussia, the ...

. In June 1740, immediately after his accession,

Frederick the Great Frederick II (; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was the monarch of Prussia from 1740 until his death in 1786. He was the last Hohenzollern monarch titled ''King in Prussia'', declaring himself ''King of Prussia'' after annexing Royal Prussia ...

took over the format, shape and colours of the order for his new

Pour le Mérite The (; , ), also informally known as the ''Blue Max'' () after German WWI flying ace Max Immelmann, is an order of merit established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia. Separated into two classes, each with their own designs, the was ...

order, though ''De la Générosité'' continued to be sporadically awarded to foreigners until 1791.See Horst Fuhrmann: ''Pour le mérite. Über die Sichtbarmachung von Verdiensten; eine historische Besinnung.'' Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1992,
online
als PDF-Dokument), hier S. 31–35.

References

Orders, decorations, and medals of Prussia category:1667 establishments in Europe category:1740 disestablishments category:1791 disestablishments in Europe Frederick I of Prussia Organizations established in 1667 Organizations established in 1791 {{ODM-stub