Awarded on May 26, 1815 to Count Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov https://asiamedals.info/threads/3rd...warded-to-count-pavel-stroganov-in-1807.25638
Gold, enamel.
Size 85х52 mm.
Collection of the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
The badge is a gold Maltese cross, covered with pink enamel. In the corners of the cross are golden crowned Hessian lions. On the upper ray of the cross there was originally a monogram of the name of the founder - "FL" (Friedrich Landgraf), on the other rays the word "VIRTUTI".
Pour la vertu militaire /For Military Virtue/ was a military order of merit established on 25 February 1769 by Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel. The order, modelled on the Prussian Pour le Mérite, could be awarded in a single class to officers of Hessian army or allied armies for wartime or peacetime military merit. When awarded for peacetime merit, only officers from major upwards were eligible. On October 22, 1820, the French name was changed to German name - Militär-Verdienstorden /Order of Military Merit/. The awarding of the order was carried out exclusively by the monarch of Hesse-Kassel, who was the Grand Master of the order. The number of cavaliers of the order was not limited by the charter. After the death of the recipient, the badge of the order had to be returned to the chapter of the order within three months. Since 1866, after the annexation of Hesse-Kassel by Prussia, the order was no longer awarded, and after the death of the last holder, Prince Alexander of Hesse-Darmstadt on December 15, 1888, the order ceased to exist.
Gold, enamel.
Size 85х52 mm.
Collection of the Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
The badge is a gold Maltese cross, covered with pink enamel. In the corners of the cross are golden crowned Hessian lions. On the upper ray of the cross there was originally a monogram of the name of the founder - "FL" (Friedrich Landgraf), on the other rays the word "VIRTUTI".