Order of the White Falcon /Hausorden vom Weißen Falken/ is a grand-ducal order of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, founded by Duke Ernest Augustus on 2 August 1732, and renewed in 1815 by Charles Augustus.
In the Middle Ages, falconry was usually the entertainment of the nobility, and the falcon was considered a sign of nobility and a symbol of vigilance. As early as the Middle Ages there was a knights' association for falcons . The white gyrfalcon in particular was held in great esteem until the 18th century.
Duke Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar founded the Order of the White Falcon as the Ordre de la Vigilance (Order of Vigilance) on August 2, 1732. The foundation was made with the approval and in honor of Emperor Charles VI, whose cavalry general Ernst August had been since 1732. Over time, however, the number of members fell sharply and the order fell into decline. In 1806 only one knight of the order was still alive; in 1810 the order had become extinct.
When Duke Carl August became Grand Duke by the Congress of Vienna after 40 years of rule and his territory was expanded, the order was revived on October 18, 1815 as the House Order of Vigilance or of the White Falcon and received new statutes. It imposed on the owner the duty to be loyal and devoted to the respective legitimate highest national authority, to promote patriotism and to care for the invalids and war survivors of the liberation wars.
The order initially consisted of only 24 knights. According to the statues of October 18, 1815, the order consisted of three classes and the number of members was limited:
1st class: Grand Master, Prince of the House and 12 Grand Crosses /Großkreuze/
2nd class: 25 Commander's Crosses /Kommandeurkreuze/
3rd class: 50 knights /Ritter/
The order classes were reformed on February 18, 1840:
1st class: Grand Masters, Princes of the House and other Grand Crosses /Großmeister, Prinzen des Hauses und übrige Großkreuze/
2nd class:
Commander with star /Komture mit Stern/
Commander /Komtur/
3rd class:
Knight (1st class)/Ritter (I. Klasse)/
Cross of Honor (Knight 2nd Class) /Ehrenkreuz (Ritter II. Klasse)/
A silver Cross of Merit /silbernes Verdienstkreuz/ was added on July 8, 1878 and a gold one in 1902.
The Grand Duke was the Grand Master and the Chairman of the State was the Chancellor of the Order. The day of the order's festival was October 18th every year, the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig.
In the Middle Ages, falconry was usually the entertainment of the nobility, and the falcon was considered a sign of nobility and a symbol of vigilance. As early as the Middle Ages there was a knights' association for falcons . The white gyrfalcon in particular was held in great esteem until the 18th century.
Duke Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar founded the Order of the White Falcon as the Ordre de la Vigilance (Order of Vigilance) on August 2, 1732. The foundation was made with the approval and in honor of Emperor Charles VI, whose cavalry general Ernst August had been since 1732. Over time, however, the number of members fell sharply and the order fell into decline. In 1806 only one knight of the order was still alive; in 1810 the order had become extinct.
When Duke Carl August became Grand Duke by the Congress of Vienna after 40 years of rule and his territory was expanded, the order was revived on October 18, 1815 as the House Order of Vigilance or of the White Falcon and received new statutes. It imposed on the owner the duty to be loyal and devoted to the respective legitimate highest national authority, to promote patriotism and to care for the invalids and war survivors of the liberation wars.
The order initially consisted of only 24 knights. According to the statues of October 18, 1815, the order consisted of three classes and the number of members was limited:
1st class: Grand Master, Prince of the House and 12 Grand Crosses /Großkreuze/
2nd class: 25 Commander's Crosses /Kommandeurkreuze/
3rd class: 50 knights /Ritter/
The order classes were reformed on February 18, 1840:
1st class: Grand Masters, Princes of the House and other Grand Crosses /Großmeister, Prinzen des Hauses und übrige Großkreuze/
2nd class:
Commander with star /Komture mit Stern/
Commander /Komtur/
3rd class:
Knight (1st class)/Ritter (I. Klasse)/
Cross of Honor (Knight 2nd Class) /Ehrenkreuz (Ritter II. Klasse)/
A silver Cross of Merit /silbernes Verdienstkreuz/ was added on July 8, 1878 and a gold one in 1902.
The Grand Duke was the Grand Master and the Chairman of the State was the Chancellor of the Order. The day of the order's festival was October 18th every year, the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig.
Grand Cross/Commander's Cross.
Gold, enamel.
Size 81 x 50 mm.
Weight 28.87 g.
Made by court jeweler Theodor Müller /TH. Müller Hofjuwelier, Weimar/.
Reverse /motte of the order/
Vigilando ascendimus - By Vigilance We Rise Up