Military Order of Max Joseph

Military Order of Max Joseph
Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden
Military Order of Max Joseph
Badge and breast star of the order
TypeMilitary order in three classes
Awarded forBravery and meritorious leadership in battle
DescriptionWhite-enameled Maltese cross with a blue-enameled center medallion. There are rays between the arms of the Grand Cross and Commander's Cross, but not the Knight's Cross.
CountryKingdom of Bavaria Bavaria
Presented bythe Kingdom of Bavaria
EligibilityMilitary officers
StatusObsolete
Established1 January 1806
Precedence
Next (higher)House Equestrian Order of Saint George
Next (lower)Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown
Military Max Joseph Order
The Grand Cross
Star

The Military Order of Max Joseph (German: Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden) was the highest military order of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It was founded on 1 January 1806 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the first king of Bavaria. The order came in three classes:

Individuals who received the order and were not already members of the nobility were ennobled and would add the title of "Ritter von" to their family name. A Bavarian title of nobility obtained through the Military Order of Max Joseph was valid for the recipient's life only.

The order became obsolete in 1918 with the collapse of the Bavarian monarchy on Germany's defeat in World War I. However, the order's chancery continued to process outstanding award recommendations to at least 1922.