German Awards - Order of Berthold First Commander's Cross with Swords

The commander's cross of the order, shown here, was named 1st. Breast star class and 2nd class without breast star. The commander is the second oldest class after the Grand Cross. Silver gilt crosses were also made.
The Order of Bertold the First was established by the Grand Duke in 1877 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the reign of Grand Duke Frederick I as the "Order of Bertold I of the Zeringen Lion" on April 29, 1877. He was the highest class of the Order of the Tseringen Lion. The order was supposed to remind of Bertold I (1024-1078), who was considered the ancestor of the clan of the Dukes of Tsering. He was Duke of Carinthia. First Berthold II. (1078-1111) - the first duke of Zeringen. The Order of Bertold I, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Frederick I, became an independent order and lost its addition from Zäringer Löwen. The charter was adopted on September 9, 1896. The order became a four-year order and henceforth consisted of the Grand Cross, commander of the 1st and 2nd. Class as well as Knights. The order was awarded regardless of class and birth for faithful service and as a distinctive sign of special recognition and benevolence. The reigning duke was grand master of the order. Could not find (request) order. For excellent behavior in front of the enemy, all classes could be awarded swords. The award began with the Knight's Cross. In case of promotion and death of the awarded, the order was subject to return. Accordingly, the lower class with swords continued to wear when receiving the upper class without swords. The commander's cross with swords was awarded 12 times in the 1st World War. How many are like 1. The class assigned by the breast star is unknown to me.

Eight-pointed cross made of gold. Cruciform arms are covered with gold and covered with white enamel with small gold balls at the tips of the cruciform arms. Lying inside a short distance from the edge is a golden line. Between the cross sleeves on the golden, openwork ducal crown. Front and back with a gold medallion worn. 2 crossed golden swords with paired poles in floral design pass through the center. They are superimposed on the front of the ducal crowns. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder is a parallel eye. An agraph with a ring is suspended in them, on which a 5-beam open crown sits. A ring with an elongated double ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple.

Front side:

• A medallion with a wide, gold, pearl rim.
• The enclosed field is slightly arched and enameled with red.
• He hung a decorated code - F - W - L - for Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig.
• Above it is a 5-bulbous crown.

Downside:

• A medallion with a wide, gold, pearl rim.
• The enclosed field is slightly arched and enameled with red.
• Laid gold ducal crown with 3 tips.
• The swords on the back of the ducal crowns are covered with smooth backs.

Tape:

• Dark red 58 mm, edges 2 mm, side stripes golden 8 mm,

Photos of www.Militariasammlung.de

Obverse: Order of Berthold First Commander's Cross with Swords

Reverse: Order of Berthold First Commander's Cross with Swords

Established:

April 29, 1877 by Grand Duke Frederick I.
September 9, 1896 Independent Order

Awarded:

1896 – 1918

Data:

• Material: Silver, enamel
• Size: 92mm x 59mm
• Weight: 34.5g

estimated collector price:

8900 - 9200 € in gold
3700 - 4000 € silver gilded

OEK Number:

168