Order of Henry the Lion


The House Order of Henry the Lion In German: Hausorden Heinrichs des Löwen, was the House Order of the Duchy of Brunswick. It was instituted by William VIII, Duke of Brunswick on 25 April 1834.
The ribbon of the Order was red with yellow edges. It had five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Commander with Sash, Commander, Knight 1st Class, Knight 2nd Class, plus Medal of Merit for Science and Arts, the Cross of Merit and the Medal of Honour. The Order was named in honour of Henry the Lion, who remains a popular figure to this day.

Order Grades

When the Order was founded in 1834 it was originally established with just four main classes and also an affiliated Cross of Merit:
  • Grand Cross
  • Commander 1st class
  • Commander 2nd class
  • Knight
  • Cross of Merit 1st and 2nd class
When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, swords were introduced to all classes so the order could also act as an award for war merit. These swords were attached under the bottom arm of the blue cross, and on the breast star on grades this was applicable. On March 8, 1877, the Duke decreed that the knights class would be divided into first and second class grades. In 1903 the form order used to set up a silver medal that was also attached to the order. In 1908 a first class was introduced. There was also the officer's cross, as well as a fourth class added and the badge of honour divided into two classes - silver and bronze - from this point on. One year later there were changes regarding the awarding of swords. This was now awarded for war merit crossing the center shield, and in addition, the swords were introduced over the cross. Awards were made to holders of a higher class if they had already been awarded a lower class with swords for war merit. Until the end of the monarchy in November 1918, the medal was awarded in the following order of precedence:
  • Grand Cross
  • Grand Cross 1st Class
  • Commander 1st and 2nd class
  • Officer's Cross
  • Knights 1st and 2nd class
  • 4th class
  • Cross of Merit 1st and 2nd class
  • Badges of honour 1st and 2nd class

Insignia design

The badge of the order is a golden, four-armed eight-pointed, light blue enamelled St. John's Cross with a red, blasted central shield on which the crowned column with the jumping Saxon steed and on the wings of the helmet and the peacock feathers of the coat of arms are attached.
A lion connects the crown and cross, between the wings there are crowned “W” for the founder of the order Duke Wilhelm. The motto IMMOTA FIDES is written on the lapel of the middle shield with the foundation's Roman date MDCCCXXXIV all around.
In contrast to all other classes, the cross of the knights II class is made of silver. The fourth class is also made of silver and is only enamelled in the central medallion.
The Cross of Merit of both classes is a high cross with a medallion attached and the crowned initial of the founder "W" can be seen in it. On the arms of the cross is the motto of the order: IM / MO / TA / FIDES. A green enamelled oak wreath also runs between the cross arms of the 1st class.
The badge of honour is a round medal, with the first class in silver and the second class in bronze. In the obverse is the founders "W" initial, enclosed by a wreath of oak leaves and surmounted by a crown. On the reverse the two-line order motto already described, and above it is a six-pointed star while below are two crossed oak branches.
The breast star of the Grand Cross was a silver eight-pointed star with a stylised version of the blue enamelled cross with a central red medallion bearing the orders motto, and a crowned gold "W" in the very centre. The breast star for the Grand Commander is different, made up of a silver representation of the orders badge, with four golden crowned "W"s between each of the four arms. The central medallion is a made up of a red enamelled disk featuring the orders motto in gold, surrounded by a golden wreath.

Wearing method

The Grand Cross class was carried on a red and yellow sash, worn from the left shoulder and worn with the Grand Cross breast star. On special occasions the badge of the order could also be worn from the collar of the order. The collar was a special class of the Grand Cross and it is not clear if everyone awarded the Grand Cross also received the collar.
The Grand Commander class was also worn on a sash like the Grand Cross, but a different style, but also sometimes on a neck ribbon like the commander class. This grade also came with the Grand Commander class breast star, which was different in design from that of the Grand Cross.
The Commander II class was worn, suspended from a ribbon around the neck and did not come with a breast star.
The officer's cross is a plug-in cross which, like the rest of the classes of the order, was worn on the left side of the chest.
The knights class is worn on a ribbon attached to the left side of the chest.
All versions of the decoration are carried on a crimson ribbon with yellow edges in different sizes according to the relevant classes.

Recipients

The following award numbers can be determined from the registration lists of the Lower Saxony State Archives:
Order class1834-18581859-18791880-19111912-1918total
Grand Cross1217218543421
Grand Cross 92534
Grand Cross 22
Grand Cross 11213
1st class5860118
1st class 22
Commander 1st class957023865468
Commander 1st class 1212125
Commander 1st class 22
Commander 1st class 915125
Commander II class131130443101805
Commander II class 223658
Commander II class 112
Commander II class 317525
Officer's Cross126100226
Officer's Cross 112
Officer's Cross 33
Knight's Cross 1st class329323753311,436
Knight's Cross 1st class 9243135
Knight's Cross 1st class 112
Knight's Cross 1st class 21122
Knight's Cross II. class381,3722861,696
Knight's Cross II. class 27779
Knight's Cross II. class 268
Knight's Cross II. class 11
IV class268256524
IV class 11
Golden Cross of Merit801831,2113441,818
Golden Cross of Merit 10919
Silver Cross of Merit1674122,3794513,409
Silver Cross of Merit 1403143
Decoration of honour 1st class1,804
Decoration of honour II. class796

Four copies of the Grand Cross were made, studded with diamonds were awarded for exceptionally special merits. The first was made in 1835 for 1,200 guilders, the second in 1837 for 963 pounds, and the third and fourth for 7,000 gold marks each.
Known recipients