The Grand Ducal Order of Ludevig was established on August 25, 1807 by Ludwig I of Hesse-Darmstadt as the Order of the House and Merit. In 1831, the order was renamed Ludevigsorden. He was awarded the order in 5 classes, a large cross, commands of the 1st and 2nd classes and knights of the 1st and 2nd classes. The Grand Master has always been the Grand Duke. The Grand Cross was awarded only to princely persons or persons who had the rank of distinction. The insignia of the order were to be returned to a higher class upon death or ascent. The order was included in the title, as well as in the coat of arms of Beliehen. Since 1912, the Knight's Cross of the 1st class has been transformed into the Honorary Cross, a knotted cross. The Knight's Cross Second Class is now the Knight's Cross. The order was accompanied by a gold and silver medal for merit. Since 1876, the order of precedence of grand ducal orders was revised. The Order of Ludevig now stands above all other orders. With the outbreak of World War I, Ludevigorden also became an Order of Military Merit. The last expansion took place in 1917 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the government with the founding of the network. The cross was awarded 5 times, 3 of them are known by name. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1999.
Eight-pointed golden cross. Cruciform arms are covered with gold. The inner sides are enameled with two colors. Outside is a wide red rim, inside is black enamel. Front and back with a round medallion worn. Between the tops of the upper cruciform arm there is a triangular segment with which a golden crown is rigidly connected. On the back is a vertical pin.
Front side:
Downside:
Obverse: Cross of Honor of the Grand Duke of Hesse Ludevigorden
Reverse: Cross of Honor of the Grand Duke of Hesse Ludevigorden
Awards of World War II