Awards of Germany - Order of Guelph Grand Cross-Kleinod

The Grand Cross is the highest class of the order. The ceremony was also attended by a matching breast star. The motto of the order was "NEC ASPERA TERRENT" - even heaviness does not scare us. Awarding the Grand Cross involved at least the rank of lieutenant general. In the year of foundation, 25 large crosses were already awarded, 6 of them with swords. Awards were held until 1837 at the annual order festival on August 12. For this, a golden order chain was worn. The order was established on August 12, 1815 by Prince Regent George, the future King George IV, on behalf of his father, King George III. donated. The Kingdom of Hanover and England were governed in personal union. The order consisted first of 3 classes: a large cross, a commander, a knight and an attached medal. In 1841, the order was expanded to 5 classes. The new classes are now the Big Cross, Commander 1st and 2nd. Class, Knight, Cavalier Cross (4th Class) Silver Cross and Medal. In 1849, the Medal of Merit disappeared. Knightly crosses could now be awarded for special merit with a bow. For military merits he was awarded the Order with swords. For the first 3 classes, the rights of the nobility and access to the court were granted. The order was awarded in England and Hanover. From 1815 until the annexation in 1866 by Prussia and in exile, about 750 large crosses were awarded. The kleinod shown is reduced in size. As a result, assignment as a grand cross or commander is very difficult. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1999.

An eight-pointed cross made of gold with small balls on the tops. Cruciform shoulders with wide, smooth, raised edges. The insides are finely indented. Between the cross sleeves there is one lion with leprosy raised. On the balls of the upper cross, an openwork, five-inch crown was firmly connected, additionally connected to the ornamented element between the peaks. Front and rear large embossed enameled medallion. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple. In the ring of the punch tape - KNAUER -.

Front side:

• The medallion is surrounded by a wide green enameled border of a circular oak-leaved wreath with red acorns.
• It has a blue enameled ring with a gold inscription:
• - NEC - ASPERA - TERRENT -
• The words are separated by three 6 shining stars.
In
• a closed field on a green-red background, a white Hanoverian horse galloping to the left.

Downside:

• The medallion is surrounded by a wide green enameled border of a circular oak-leaved wreath with red acorns.
• It has a gold ring with a Roman numeral: - MDCCCXV - 1815. On top of the ring is a large enameled crown
In
• a closed field on a transculent, red-orange enameled background, a double, ornamented, gold monogram - G - R -.

Tape:

• The leaf is blue 128 mm wide.