Order of the Name of Jesus

The Order of the Name of Jesus /Jesu namns orden/ was a knight's order that was instituted by King Karl X Gustav in 1656 The name of the order comes from the central symbol of the order insignia consisting of the letters IHS - Iesus Hominum Salvator/Jesus, Saviour of Mankind, just like the Order of Seraphim. The coat of arms of the Vasa family is also included, as in the later Vasa Order.


Gold, enamel, diamonds.
Height 61 mm.
Width 58 mm.
Weight 497 g.

Made in 1655 by the goldsmith Gregorius Schick, Stockholm.

This particular order was probably given to Boguslaw Radziwill (1620-1669) for having saved King Karl's life at the Battle of Warsawa in 1656. According to Polish historiography, two Polish hussars are said to have attacked the king whereupon Radziwill killed one and the king's bodyguards killed the other. The insignia was found in 1913 in the Radziwills own the Nieswies castle outside Minsk (according to Karl X Gustavs Jesu Namns orden, Cederström, 1937).

Collection of Royal Armoury /Livrustkammaren/, Stockholm.
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Details.

 

Under a different light.

On display.

 

Another unique cross of the order from the collection of Livrustkammaren.

Gold, enamel, diamonds.
Height 72 mm.
Width 63 mm.
Weight 27 g.

Made by jeweler Gregorius Schick for Charles XI. Circa 1656.

Collection of Royal Armoury /Livrustkammaren/, Stockholm.

 

Details.