Order of the Zähringer Lion

Insignia of the Order

Ribbon of the Order

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, 1st Class
• Commander, 2nd Class
• Knight, 1st Class
• Knight, 2nd Class

Insignia

The order's insignia consists of a green enameled cross with 4 arms of equal length, whose angles are filled out with golden clasps. The gold-edged medallion shows the tribal symbol of the Zähringers in coloured enamel. Around the circle is the order's motto, FÜR EHRE UND WAHRHEIT (FOR HONOUR AND TRUTH). On the back, the Zähringer lion is portrayed on a red background. The order's band is green with orange-yellow stripes along the edges.

For special awards, the order was granted with oak leaves and from 1866 could also be awarded with crossed swords for military services. The oak leaves originally carried an "L" cipher, which went out of use in 1866. Moreover, in exceptional cases, the grand cross award could also be covered in diamonds - only 8 such awards occurred:

• 1815 Reinhard von Berstett, Minister in Baden
• 1856 Graf von Keller, Oberhofmarschall and Hausmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia
• 1856 Heinrich von Pückler, Hofmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia
• 1857 Graf von Severine, diplomat of Imperial Russia
• 1861 Williamoff, General à la Suite of Imperial Russia
• 1863 Graf Stroganoff, Hofstallmeister of Imperial Russia
• 1875 August von Werder, Prussian General
• 1889 Moritz von Cohn, banker

Sources

• Brockhaus' Konversations-Lexikon. Leipzig 1908
• Badens Orden, Henning Volle, Freiburg im Breisgau 1976
• Order of the Zähringer Lion on Stadtwiki Karlsruhe