Order of the Red Eagle
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The Order of the Red Eagle (German: Roter-Adler-Orden) was an order of chivalry of Prussia, awarded to recognize valor in combat or excellence in military leadership. It was, as with the Order of the Crown and other Prussian orders, both a military and a civil award, with the addition of crossed swords to indicate a military award. It could only be awarded to commissioned officers (or civilians of approximately equivalent status), but there was a medal of the order, which could be awarded to enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.
The Order had six classes:
- Grand Cross - wore the Grand Cross badge on a collar (chain) or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
- 1st Class - wore the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
- 2nd Class - wore the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;
- 3rd Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
- 4th Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;
- Medal - wore the medal on a ribbon on the left chest.
[edit] Insignia
The badge of the Order for the Grand Cross was a gilt Maltese Cross enamelled in white, with red eagles between the arms of the cross; the gilt central disc bore the Royal monogram, surrounded by a blue enamelled ring bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constante.
The badge for the 1st to 3th classes was a gilt cross pattée, enamelled in white; that for the 4th class was similar but in plain silver. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background.
The star of the Order was (for Grand Cross) a gilt eight-pointed star, (for 1st Class) a silver eight-pointed star, or (for 2nd Class) a silver four-pointed star with a white enamelled cross pattée, all with straight rays. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background, surrounded by a ring (enamelled blue for Grand Cross, white for the others) bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constanter.
The ribbon of the Order was usually orange with white double edge stripes; however numerous variations of the insignia are known to have existed, depending on the nature of the specific award.
