Royal House Order of Hohenzollern
The House Order of Hohenzollern (German: Hausorden von Hohenzollern or Hohenzollernscher Hausorden) is a dynastic German order of the House of Hohenzollern. It originated as a family/house order and was later adapted into royal Prussian and other variants. It recognized meritorious service, especially to the Hohenzollern family, with military and civil divisions.
Contents
History
._Ehrenkomturkreuz_(1._Ausf%C3%BChrung_ab_1891)._Gold_emailliert._An_Sprungring,_ohne_Band..jpg)
The order was instituted on 5 December 1841 by joint decree of Prince Konstantin (Friedrich Wilhelm Konstantin) of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. These were the Catholic Swabian (southern German) collateral branches of the Hohenzollern dynasty, related to the Protestant Prussian royal line.
Princely House Order of Hohenzollern
It was initially the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern (German: Fürstlich Hohenzollern'sches Ehrenzeichen, Fürstlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern or Fürstlich Hohenzollernscher Hausorden), awarded for loyalty and service to the princely houses. The two principalities (Hechingen and Sigmaringen) were small and were annexed/mediatized by Prussia around 1849–1852. Princely version classes could be awarded with or without swords for military merit.
Princely classes
The Princely House Order was instituted on 5 December 1841—originally as the Hohenzollern Badge of Honor—as a joint house order for the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen lines, comprising four classes:
- Cross of Honor, 1st Class (Ehrenkreuz I. Klasse)
- Cross of Honor, 2nd Class (Ehrenkreuz II. Klasse)
- Gold Medal of Honor (goldene Ehrenmedaille)
- Silver Medal of Merit (silberne Verdienstmedaille)
On 8 April 1844, the Badge of Honor was renamed the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, and the Cross of Honor, 3rd Class, was added.
The Cross of Honor, 1st and 2nd Class, consisted of a gold, white-enameled Ruppert cross with a black border. At its center was a white-enameled medallion; the obverse featured the initials C F (Carl and Friedrich), encircled by a blue enamel band bearing the inscription *Den 5. Dezember 1841* (until 1844: *FÜR TREUE UND VERDIENST* [For Loyalty and Merit]). The reverse displayed the Hohenzollern coat of arms surrounded by a laurel wreath. The Cross of Honor, 3rd Class, was made of silver and was not enameled; its inscription read *Den 8. April 1844*.
The medals featured the initials C F on the obverse, encircled by the inscription *FÜR TREUE UND VERDIENST*, while the reverse displayed the Hohenzollern coat of arms surrounded by a laurel wreath. The Cross of Honor, 1st Class, and the Gold Medal of Honor were surmounted by a crown. The crosses of honor and medals were worn in the buttonhole on a white ribbon with black borders. On 16 February 1852, new statutes were promulgated, which were subsequently expanded in 1866 and 1891. In its final form, the Order comprised the following classes:
- Cross of Honour 1st Class (Ehrenkreuz 1. Klasse)
- Commander's Cross of Honour (Ehrenkomturkreuz; introduced on 10 February 1891)
- Cross of Honour 2nd Class (Ehrenkreuz 2. Klasse)
- Cross of Honour 3rd Class (Ehrenkreuz 3. Klasse)
- Golden/Silver Cross of Merit (Verdienstkreuz)
- Golden/Silver Medal of Honour/Merit (Ehrenmedaille/Verdienstmedaille)
The Honor Cross is enameled in white with a black border and features a central medallion, half-wreathed in oak leaves and half in laurel. The medallion of the Honor Cross, 1st Class, displays the Hohenzollern coat of arms, encircled by the gold Order motto *FÜR TREUE UND VERDIENST* (For Loyalty and Merit) set against a blue enameled background. The Honor Cross, 2nd Class, is smaller; its reverse side bears the crowned initials "C F," encircled by a blue enameled band inscribed *Den 5. Dezember 1841* (December 5, 1841). The Honor Cross, 3rd Class, was crafted from silver and was not enameled; its inscription read *Den 8. April 1844* (April 8, 1844). The Order ribbon was white with three black stripes. The medals featured the Hohenzollern coat of arms and the Order motto on the obverse, and the crowned initials "C F"—accompanied by the inscription *Den 5. Dezember 1841*—on the reverse. On December 18, 1866, two crossed swords were affixed within the angles of the cross to signify merit in wartime service.
The Honor Commander's Cross, introduced in 1891, corresponds to the Honor Cross, 2nd Class, but is slightly larger and was worn suspended from the neck. Lower grades (merit crosses/medals) targeted non-commissioned officers, enlisted men, and civilian equivalents. During World War I, it was frequently awarded to personnel in units like Füsilier-Regiment "Fürst Karl Anton von Hohenzollern" (Hohenzollernsches) Nr. 40 and related reserve/Landwehr units, often on the standard (statute) ribbon regardless of swords.
The Princely House Order continued to be awarded unofficially after the German monarchy's fall in 1918 by the Swabian princely lines.
Adoption as Royal Prussian Order
On 23 August 1851 (some sources note related decrees around 18 January 1851), after annexation, the Prussian branch under King Frederick William IV adopted and expanded it as the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern (Königlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern). This distinguished it from the continuing Princely version. It was primarily for service to the royal family and expanded in scope.
Royal classes
According to the statutes of 23 August 1851—as amended on 18 October 1861—the Royal Order comprised two divisions:
- Crosses, awarded for service to the State and the Royal House;
- Eagles, awarded primarily to scientists, educators, and artists.
Beginning 27 February 1864—during the German-Danish War—the Cross with Swords was awarded to military personnel for "merit in the face of the enemy." Each division was divided into three—and later four—classes:
- Grand Commander (Großkomtur)
- with Star (introduced 18 October 1861)
- without Star
- Commander (Komtur)
- with Star (introduced 18 October 1861)
- without Star
- Knight (Ritter)
- Holder/Member (Inhaber; introduced 9 March 1861)
The Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern was, de facto, the highest Prussian order for bravery awarded to officers up to the rank of Captain. It was widely regarded as a stepping stone to the Pour le Mérite. During the German-Danish War of 1864, the Knight's Cross with Swords was awarded eight times; during the German War of 1866, it was awarded 36 times.
Associated awards included the Members' Cross (Kreuz der Inhaber, rare for NCOs with swords), Members' Eagle (Adler der Inhaber, often a long-service civilian award), and Knights' Eagle (civilian only). Swords denoted military/war merit (worn on the Iron Cross ribbon when applicable). Jubilee numerals (e.g., "50", "60") could be added.
Insignia (general)
- A white-enameled cross pattée (Alisee style) with laurel/oak wreath between arms.
- Royal version featured the Prussian eagle and motto vom Fels zum Meer ("From the cliffs to the sea")
- reverse with Friedrich Wilhelm IV's cipher and 1851 date.
- Ribbon: White with three black stripes (variations by version).
Awards and use
The order was not extremely common pre-WWI but saw heavy use during the war, particularly the Knight's Cross with Swords (HOH3⚔) as an intermediate award between the Iron Cross 1st Class and Pour le Mérite for junior officers showing sustained merit.
Approximate WWI award numbers (Royal version, primarily Knight's Cross with Swords): Around 8,291–8,300 (one source notes ~8,300 total for the order in WWI, with ~320 to naval personnel; Knight's Cross dominated). Higher classes were far rarer. Specific higher-grade WWI figures (from one compilation): Star for Grand Commandery (3), with swords (5); various Commander and other grades in low dozens. Pre-WWI and other periods had significantly fewer awards. The order ranked below the Order of the Crown and Pour le Mérite in precedence.
Post-1918
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated as Emperor/King in 1918 but retained his role as head of the House of Hohenzollern. He continued awarding the Royal House Order in exile (initially Amerongen, then Doorn, Netherlands), starting notably in 1922–1924. Awards went mostly to his inner circle, staff, friends, and some scholars (avoiding high-profile political figures). Awards largely ended after a 1934 German law restricted non-state orders/medals. The Princely version also continued unofficially post-1918.
Romanian variant
A Romanian branch version (Ordinul "Bene Merenti" al Casei Domnitoare) was established under the German Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen kings (e.g., during Carol II's reign), modeled on the Princely one with some differences (e.g., oak leaves, crowns on medals). It lasted until the monarchy's abolition in 1947, with limited post-war exile awards.
Current status
The order remains constituted as a house order under the Hohenzollern family heads: Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia (royal/Prussian line) and Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern (Swabian line). It is no longer a state award.
Note on award numbers
Exact lifetime totals are not comprehensively published in open sources and vary by class/period/version. WWI and exile figures are the best documented. Many recipients of the Knight's Cross with Swords later became Wehrmacht generals in WWII. The order symbolized Hohenzollern loyalty, family service, and (in wartime) combat merit across its branches. For the most detailed recipient lists or physical examples, specialized phaleristic references (e.g., works by Klietmann, Geile, or Wahl) and archives are primary sources.
