Item number: M11

Year: AD 1800-1825

Material: Gold and Enamel

Size: 80.0 x 39.0 mm

Weight: 8.43 g

Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022

In AD 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.

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 AD 1814, 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 method of wearing the Knight rank differs from the Commander and Grand Cross ranks. Instead of being suspended from an 11 cm wide red grand cordon 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.

The three ranks of the Saint Louis Order, all crafted in gold, exhibit distinct specifications. The Knight rank, being the most commonly awarded, boasts a diameter of approximately 40 mm and a weight slightly exceeding 11 g. On the other hand, the higher-ranking Commander and Grand Cross ranks feature a larger diameter of 70 mm and a weight slightly exceeding 38 g. The overall appearance features a cross with white enamel borders, showcasing a specific angle adorned with a Gold Freur De Lis symbolizing the Bourbon dynasty of France. Two gold buttons are elegantly positioned at each end of the branches, and near the central end, a gold-coloured dovetail joint expertly connects the badge to the insignia.

The insignia takes an oval shape, surrounded by blue enamel borders with gilded edges on both sides. The front border is inscribed with “Ludovicus Magnus Instituit 1693,” indicating “Louis the Great Established in AD 1693,” the uppercase golden letters abbreviated as “LUD. M. INST. 1693.” At the center of the insignia is a full-body portrait of King Louis, adorned in golden armor and draped in a white ermine cloak with blue enamel paint. In his right hand, the king holds a green enamel laurel wreath, while in his left hand, he grasps a green crown of thorns worn by Jesus, accompanied by a trailing white veil. The king stands on green land, positioned in front of a red enamel background symbolizing the passion of Jesus.

Turning to the reverse side, the blue enamel border is inscribed with “BELL VIRTUTIS PRAEM,” which translates to “Reward for Valor” (BELLICAE VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM). Notably, the letters underlined in the ” BELL VIRTUTIS PRAEM “ inscription, the letters underlined have lost their golden paint due to the passage of time. At the center of the insignia is a burning golden sword, with the blade passing through a white belt and connecting to a green laurel wreath. The green enamel on the laurel wreath’s end on the right side has worn off, revealing the golden base of the insignia.

Due to the aforementioned history, the order is recognized by the present-day “International Commission for Orders of Chivalry” as a knighthood.

物件編號: M11

年代: 公元 1800-1825 年

材質: 黃金, 琺瑯

尺寸: 80.0 x 39.0 mm

重量: 8.43 g

來源: 利物浦獎章 2022

公元1693年，時任法國國王的路易十四決定以中世紀傳奇君王-路易九世之名，創建他本人為大團長的「聖路易騎士團」旨在鼓勵軍官的天主教信仰和立下戰功，更會頒發「聖路易勳章」予其成員。聖路易勳章包括三個等級：騎士級、指揮官級和大十字級。根據原始的章程，組織成員為無數量限制的騎士、二十四名指揮官和八名大十字勳章的擁有者組成，更是法國史上首次對平民出身者開放的勳章。 

法國大革命爆發後，公元1792年成為最高機關的國民公會，宣布成立共和國和取消聖路易勳章。雖然在公元1814年，復辟的路易十八又恢復該勳章的頒發。但公元1830年法國爆發七月革命後，民眾推舉的新統治者：路易-菲利普一世宣布停止頒發聖路易勳章。對於勳章已知的擁有者，官方下令將代表波旁王朝的百合花移除後，即能在公開場合佩戴該勳章。

騎士級聖路易勳章的佩帶方法，不同於指揮官級跟大十字級的綬章是懸掛在一條右上向左下方固定的11公分寬紅色大綬帶底端。騎士級勳章僅能以一條37毫米寬的雲紋火紅色系綬帶，將綬章別在衣服左側的扣眼上。 

根據路易十四的設計，受勳的軍官們退休後，依照勳章等級差異，每年能固定從榮譽軍人院的盈餘得到補助。 大十字級為6000里弗爾、指揮官級為3000到4000里弗爾和騎士級的2000里弗爾。不過同時，若有未受勳者在公開場合佩戴該勳章，將會被剝奪貴族頭銜甚至面臨長達二十年的苦役。

三種等級的聖路易勳章皆為金製材質，頒發數最多的騎士級直徑約為40毫米，重量略高於11克。較高級別的指揮官和大十字級直徑為70毫米，重量略高於 38 克。整體外觀為鑲有琺瑯白的金邊十字架，以特定角度跟象徵法國波旁王朝的金質百合花飾鑲嵌一塊。分支的末端各有兩粒金製鈕扣點，近中心端則以金色燕尾榫跟綬章作連結。

綬章本體呈一橢圓形，雙面皆被鑲金邊的藍色琺瑯邊框包圍。正面的邊框刻有Ludovicus Magnus Instituit 1693，即「路易大帝設立於公元1693年」金色大寫字母縮寫：「LUD. M. INST. 1693」。綬章中央刻有聖路易國王的全身肖像，其身穿金甲，肩披以琺瑯藍塗裝的白底貂皮斗篷。國王右手握著綠色琺瑯月桂花環，左手拿著耶穌的綠色荊棘王冠及一條下垂白色面紗。國王雙腳踏在綠色土地上，站在象徵耶穌受難的紅色琺瑯背景前方。

綬章背面的藍色琺瑯邊框，上面印有BELL VIRTUTIS PRAEM，意為「以彰勇毅」（BELLICAE VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM）銘文。該物件「BELL VIRTUTIS PRAEM」銘文中，以底線標註的字母因年代久遠其金漆已經剝落。勳章中央有一把燃燒的金寶劍，寶劍的劍刃透過一條白色腰帶跟綠色月桂花環相連。右側月桂花環末端的綠色琺瑯已經剝落，顯露出綬章金製底座。

由於上述的歷史，該勳章被現今仍在活動的「國際騎士團委員會」認可為騎士團勳章。