Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Order of St. Louis without fleur de lis
(Full size), Knight,
July Monarchy
七月王朝時期
騎士級聖路易勳章
(去除百合花飾官方版)
Item number: M14
Year: AD 1840-
Material: Gold and Enamel
Size: 92.0 x 37.0 mm
Weight: 11.06 g
Provenance: Dixons Medals 2022
InAD 1693, Louis XIV, the reigning king of France, decided to establish the “Order of Saint Louis” under the name of the legendary medieval monarch, Louis IX. This order was created to promote the Catholic faith among military officers and recognize their achievements. The members of the Order were eligible to receive the “Order of Saint Louis,” which comprised three ranks: Knight (chevalier), Commander (commandeur), and Grand Cross (grand-croix). According to the original statutes, the organization consisted of an unlimited number of knights, twenty-four commanders, and eight holders of the Grand Cross, marking the first time in French history that order was open to individuals of non-noble birth.
The method of wearing the Knight rank differs from the Commander and Grand Cross ranks. Instead of being suspended from an 11 cm wide red ribbon fixed from the upper right to the lower left. The Knight’s Order, however, is worn with a single 37 mm wide ribbon of cloud-patterned crimson silk, attached to the left eyelet of the garment.
According to the design of Louis XIV, retired officers awarded this honor received fixed annual subsidies from the surplus of the L’hôtel des Invalides, varying based on the level of the order. The Grand Cross level received 6000 livres, the Commander level received 3000 to 4000 livres, and the Knight level received 2000 livres. However, simultaneously, if an individual who has not been conferred the honor publicly wears the order, they will face the loss of noble titles and even endure up to twenty years of hard labor.
After the outbreak of the French Revolution in AD 1792, the National Convention, established as the supreme authority, declared the founding of the Republic and abolished the Order of Saint Louis. Although in AD1814, during the Bourbon Restoration under Louis XVIII, the Order was reinstated, its bestowal was once again halted in AD 1830 after the July Revolution, when the newly elected ruler, Louis-Philippe I, announced the suspension of the Order of Saint Louis. For known holders of the Order, an official decree mandated the removal of the gold Fleur De lis from the order before it could be worn in public.
The medal itself is oval-shaped, surrounded by a blue enamelled border with a gold edge on both sides. At the ends of the branches are two gold buttons, and near the central part, a gold tail link connects to the medal. On the obverse side, the central design showcases a full-body portrait of King Louis, adorned in golden armor, with a blue enamel-painted white ermine cloak on his shoulders. The king’s right-hand holds a green enamel laurel wreath, while the left-hand grasps a green enamel crown of thorns worn by Jesus and a hanging white veil. He stands on green land in front of a red enameled background symbolizing the suffering of Jesus. On the reverse side of the order, a burning golden sword is centrally displayed, with the blade connected to a green laurel wreath through a white belt.
This order, besides maintaining excellent paintwork, holds particular significance as its appearance and inscriptions provide insights into the intricate and shifting political landscape of France following the outbreak of the French Revolution. For example, the inscription within the blue enamel border on the reverse side adopts the wording “BELLICAE VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM,” established by Louis XVIII in AD 1814. This wording differs from the one set by Louis XIV, which reads “.BELL. VIRTUTIS PRAEM.,” yet both convey the meaning of “reward for martial valor.” Additionally, on the side of the order, four circular depressions are observed, originally adorned with golden Freur De Lis symbolizing the Bourbon monarchy.
However, after the outbreak of the July Revolution in 1830, Louis-Philippe, the new ruler, required holders to remove the Freur De Lis before permitting public wear. This order can be considered a remarkable witness to France’s oscillation between republicanism and monarchy in the early 19th century.
Due to the aforementioned history, the order is recognized by the present-day “International Commission for Orders of Chivalry” as a knighthood.
Borna Barac, Reference Catalogue Orders Medals and Decorations of the World : instituted until 1945 : Part II Bronze Book D-G (Craotia:OBOL d.o.o. Zagreb, 2010)