Order of the Black Eagle

Order of the Black Eagle
Schwarzer Adlerorden
Star of the Order of the Black Eagle
TypeState Order (formerly)
House Order (currently)
Established17 January 1701
CountryKingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Prussia
Royal houseHouse of Hohenzollern
MottoSuum Cuique (idiomatically, "to each according to his merits")
EligibilityMembers of ruling houses, senior civil and military officials and other worthy figures appointed by the King of Prussia.
Awarded forCivil or military merit
SovereignPrince Georg Friedrich
GradesKnight
Statistics
First induction1701
Total inductees407 (to 1918)[1]
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Next (lower)Order of Merit of the Prussian Crown

Ribbon of the order

The Order of the Black Eagle (German: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King in Prussia, the following day). In his Dutch exile after World War I, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family. He made his second wife, Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, a Lady in the Order of the Black Eagle.

  1. ^ Preußische Orden.