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The Knight's Cross of the Order of the Württemberg crown was donated as 3rd Class of the Order on September 23, 1818 by King William I. The motto was "fearless and trew" (loyal). The classes were Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. Attached was a gold and silver medal of merit. The Order of the Golden Eagle (1807) and the Civil Order of Merit (1806) were merged by the new Order. In 1864, the Knight's Cross was extended by a crown. In 1870 the knights were divided into 1st and 2nd class. The award of the knight 2nd class was no longer associated with the personal needle. In the war 1870/71 the swords were donated for all classes. The Knights 2nd class were awarded only until 1886. With the foundation of the Knights of Honor in 1886, the 1st class of knights became honorary knights and the 2nd class became a one-class knight again. An extension for the knights were from 1892 the lions between the cross arms. When awarded with swords these were (crossed) attached to the upper cross arm on the tips. The first crosses were made in gold. From 1916, crosses were also made in silver gilt (with swords). Well-known manufacturers were Eduard Foehr, Stuttgart, F. Steinam, Stuttgart. The Order was required to return, either for promotion to a higher class or for the death of the wearer. Sword decorations could be carried on upgrading.

Ebony gold cross. The cross arms are golden and white enameled. Front and back with applied, round medallion. Between the tips of the upper cross arm a 2-biege, decorated Agraffe with parallel eyelet through which the elongated, double band ring goes.

Front:

The middle shield gold border with broad, dark red translucent enamelled writing ring.

Under the red enamel, a hatching can be seen.

Then the golden inscription: - fearless - and - trew - then a decorative mark.

The enclosed field is white enamelled. Put on the golden, decorated letter - F - under a royal crown.

Back:

The middle shield gold border with broad, dark red translucent enamelled writing ring.

Under the red enamel, a hatching can be seen.

Then the golden inscription: - "Fearless - and - Trew" - then a decorative mark.

The enclosed field is white enamelled. Put on a golden royal crown.

Tape:

Dark red 35 mm wide, edge 2 mm, side stripes black 2 mm.

Awarded:

1818-1918

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https://preview.redd.it/3a0qship3tt21.jpg?width=712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60cba6bc01b70833a120a1d0800b6d8cc7baabf3

Grand Ducal Hessian Order of the Ludwig - Knight's Cross 1st class

The Grand Duke of Ludewigsorden was founded on August 25, 1807 by Ludwig I of Hesse-Darmstadt as a house and Order of Merit. In 1831 the order was renamed Ludewigsorden. The Order was awarded in 5 classes, Grand Cross, Commander 1st and 2nd class and the Knights 1st and 2nd class. The number of members of the classes was not limited. The Grandmaster was always the Grand Duke. The class of the Grand Cross was awarded only to princely persons or to persons who had the rank of excellence. The Order's insignia had to be returned upon award of a higher class on death or promotion. The Order was to be included in the title and in the arms of the Beliehenen. From 1912, the Knight's Cross 1st Class is converted to the Cross of Honor, a pin-back device. The Knight's Cross 2nd class is called only Knight's Cross. Attached to the Order was a gold and silver Medal of Merit. From 1876, the ranking of the Grand Ducal Order was reorganized. The Ludewigsorden now ranks ahead of all other orders. With the outbreak of World War I, the Order of Ludewigsburg also became a Military Order of Merit. The last extension took place in 1917 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the chain.

Eight-pointed golden cross. The cross arms are gold-bound. The insides are two-tone enamelled. Outside a wide red border, inside black enamel. Front and back with applied round medallion. Between the tips of the upper cross arm a triangular segment in which the golden crown is hung. Through the imperial orb of the crown goes the round band ring.

Front:

The golden middle shield with wide white enamelled ring. On it the golden inscription - FOR - MERITS - below a star.

In the enclosed red enameled field the golden letter - L - This surrounded by a golden laurel wreath.

Back:

The golden middle shield with wide white enamelled ring. On it a green-red wreath tied down with a blue bow.

In the enclosed black enameled field the 4-line golden font: - GOD - / - HONOR - / - FATHER - / - COUNTRY -.

Ribbon:

black 36 mm wide, edge 1 mm, red side strips 8.5 mm.

Awarded:

1831 - 1912

Pictured is most likely a french made piece awarded to a foreign recipient, as noted primarily by the crown & suspension designs and the construction of the middle shield section.

https://preview.redd.it/in346hkkhht21.jpg?width=687&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf4bbd1c98145eb52cf09edfac86bed8d702b626

Ducal Saxony-Ernestine House Order Knight's Cross 1st class with swords

The House Order of the Ernestine Duchies was founded on March 25, 1833 together by the 3 Dukes Ernst I. of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Frederick of Saxony-Altenburg and Bernhard Erich friend of Saxe-Meiningen. The Order consisted of 4 classes: Grand Cross, Commander 1st Class, Commander 2nd Class and Knight. The knights 2nd class were added in 1890. The order could also be awarded to foreigners. But that needed the approval of at least 2 duchies. The awards of the other classes were evenly divided among the 3 duchies. Until 1864, the crosses were marked by letters on the upper cross arms. F for Altenburg, E for Gotha and B for Meiningen. Foreigners received crosses without oak leaves around the medallion. For war earnings from 1850 swords were awarded to the ring or swords between the cross arms.
The knight crosses 1st class were made of gold or silver plated.

Maltese-style golden cross with small balls at the 8 points. The cross arms are white enameled. Front and back with applied golden medallion. Between the crisscross arms one each upwards or downwards walking lion. The one-sided worked golden swords crossed by the middle and overlap on the front of the lion. At the upper cross arm between the tips of a holder with the above attached ducal crown is movable connected. Through the imperial orb of the crown goes the band ring.

Front:

• The gold shield outside surrounded by a green enameled oak leaves wreath.
• Then a blue enameled ring with the golden inscription: - FIDELITER - & - CONSTANTER - (& instead of ET) Below a small rosette.
• In the enclosed golden field the left-looking portrait of Duke Ernst der Frommen (Founder of the Gotha branch reg. 1640-1674)

Back:

• The gold shield outside surrounded by a green enameled oak leaves wreath.
• Then a blue enameled ring with the golden inscription: - DEN - 25. - DECEMBER - 1833 -
• In the enclosed golden field the Saxon coat of arms, green-gold-black enameled.

Ribbon:

• violet 36 mm wide, margins 1 mm, side stripes green 4 mm, black dividing line

Awarded:

• 1850-1918

https://preview.redd.it/ep6424mbs7t21.jpg?width=698&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b35689bbf3fcbba9268dd971a9d104bc14ac716e

Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Cross of knights with swords

This order was founded by King Frederick William IV on January 18, 1851 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the coronation of Frederick I as the first Prussian king.
Thus, the princely House Order of Hohenzollern, which has existed since 1841, was taken over as a royal order. However, it was determined that the House Order of Hohenzollern falls into 2 orders. The royal and royal princely order, each of which existed and could be lent separately and independently from each other. The slogan of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern is "From the rock to the sea". The Order was divided into 2 divisions of crosses and eagles. The crosses were determined by the motive of royal loyalty. The fight against internal and external enemies should be unequivocally expressed. The crosses were subdivided into Grand Commander, Commander, Knight and Owner. The eagles also divided into these classes. The 4th class of the owners was added in 1861 for both departments. Further enhancements this year were the Star for Grand Commander and Commander. In the war of 1864 the swords (for the division of the crosses) were donated for services to the enemy. In 1867, the Order was awarded the Knights of St. John. The Department of Eagles mainly got scientists and civilians. The crosses of knights with swords could only be awarded to officers. NCOs got the cross of the owners. Awarded were soldiers who already owned the Iron Cross 1st class. The crosses of knights with swords should also be protection for the award of the Pour le Merite. The value of the Order should not be diminished by frequent awards. In the practice of the First World War, the cross was considered a precursor to the Pour le Merite although there were no orders in this regard. The crosses were made from about 1916 in gold-plated silver. It is assumed that about 7000 awards that later extended to teams.

Gilded cross with rounded arms. The cross arms are white enameled with a black inside rim. Centered on the front and back of an applied round medallion. Between the cross arms by far a green enameled wreath, left from laurel on the right oak leaves. This, on the front, overlaid by 2 gilded swords going through the middle. On the upper cross arm a moveably attached gilt Prussian royal crown on the back of a broad transverse eyelet for the band is attached.

The gold-plated medallion with a wide blue enameled rim. Then the golden script:

• The gold-plated medallion with a wide blue enamelled rim. Then the golden script:
• - FROM - ROCK - TO - SEA - below 2 bound green enameled branches of laurel
• In the enclosed field, on a white background, the black enameled Prussian eagle with a high-necked breast shield
• Crown, scepter and, orb.

Back:

• The gold-plated medallion with a wide blue enameled rim. Then the golden script:
• - DEN - 18 - JANUARY - 1851 - below 2 tied green enameled branches of laurel
• In the enclosed field on a white background the golden letters in ornate - F - R - W -
• Over it a golden crown.

Ribbon:

• 30 mm wide black ribbon, margins 2 mm, white side stripes 5 mm

Awarded:

• 1851 to 1918 (From 1864 with swords)

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https://preview.redd.it/propamu5qus21.jpg?width=1074&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb1805c82a19eee7f8fc5de4cbcb30ae3ace4153

Princely House Order of Hohenzollern Cross of Honor 3rd class with crown and swords.

The cross of honor 3rd class with crown was awarded after the extension of the princely house order by Prince William starting from 1910. In addition to the crown for the Cross of Honor 3rd Class, the Golden and Silver Cross of Merit were donated. The 3rd class with crown was awarded to lieutenant colonels and also to older captains who already held the cross of honor 3rd class. Here only the crown was awarded to the cross. In the 1st World War, the 3rd class with crown (and swords) was awarded to majors and equivalent officials.

The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern was jointly donated by the Princes Constantine of Hohenzollern Hechingen and Karl Anton Hohenzollern Sigmaringen on December 5, 1841. The Order consisted of 4 classes, First Class Cross of Honor, 2nd Class and Golden Medal of Honor and Silver Medal of Merit. In 1844, the Cross of Honor 3rd grade was added. In 1866, the swords were donated for war earnings. In 1891 the honorary cross was added. After World War I, the orders of the House of Hohenzollern continued to be awarded until 1935. After consultation with King Carol II of Romania (cousin of Prince Frederick), the princely house order also became the House Order of the Kingdom of Romania and could be lent again. The last extensions of the order took place in 1941.

Cross of silver. The cross arms are finely grained without enamel. In the middle of the cross arms, at a distance from the edge, a wide, black enamelled strip with silver edges. The Kreuzarmenden are rounded to the outside. Front and back with applied, round center signs. Between the arms of the cross, a green enameled and silver bordered wreath of oak leaves on the right and laurel foliage on the left. (Front) Through the middle, 2 crossed, gilded swords with Roman crossguards. At the upper cross arm a soldered ordinary eyelet. In this by an inner hinge connected the 5-bügelige crown. The feeding of the crown is red enamelled. Through the imperial orb of the crown goes the band ring.

Front:

The gilt center shield with a wide blue enamelled ring, gold rims.

Then the golden inscription: - FOR - FAITH - AND - MERIT-.

Bottom 2 green laurel branches (3 leaves) tied in the middle.

In the enclosed, white enameled field a curved golden blazon.

This diagonal to 1/4 black - white enamelled. Over it the Fürstenkrone 1/2 red fed.

Back:

The gilt center shield with a wide blue enamelled ring, gold rims.

On it the golden inscription: - DEN - 8 t.- APRIL - 1844 -.

Bottom 2 green laurel branches (3 leaves) tied in the middle.

In the enclosed, white enameled field the ornate letters - FC -.

For Friedrich Wilhelm (Hohenzollern-Hechingen) and Carl (Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen)

Above it a free-floating golden princely crown.

Ribbon:

30 mm wide, white edges 1.5 mm, black side strips 4 mm, black center strip 3 mm.

Awarded:

1910-1918 (Some examples may have been given up to 1935). Only 145 issued in WWI.

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https://preview.redd.it/ib03uxvv19v21.jpg?width=1012&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec7cfc583817bf369e1ba7f8b72a5a100828df17

Hausorden der Wendischen Krone Ritterkreuz

This order was jointly donated by the rulers in Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Pictured is the Mecklenburg-Schwerin variant). It consisted of 4 classes: Grand Cross, Grand Commander, Commander and Knight. The award numbers were limited. The Grand Cross was only awarded 10 times, the Grand Commander only 31 times, the Commanders cross only 65 times and the Knights Cross only 100 times. The order was supplemented by the Cross of Merit in gold or silver.

Ebony gold cross with raised, polished edges. The insides of the cross arms are white enamelled. Front and back with round center shield. Between the arms of the cross the Mecklenburg griffin turned upwards (2) and downwards (2). In the upper cross tips a verznkeltes element to which the golden crown is attached. Through the imperial orb of the crown goes the band ring.

Merit crosses were awarded with 2 different slogans. 1. Mecklenburg-Schwerin: Per Aspera ad Astra and 2. Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Avito viret Honore. Back with different letters -FF- or -FW-. Crosses of gold and gilded silver were awarded.

Front:

Round golden center shield with a wide, red enamelled ring, on it the golden writing of the Schwerin house: - PER - ASPERA - AD - ASTRA - In the enclosed, blue enameled field the golden Wendish crown.

Back:

Round center shield with golden, hatched border. In the enclosed blue enamelled field the opposing, ornate letters - FF -.

Ribbon:

35 mm wide, side stripes red / yellow each 3 mm, central stripe light blue 24 mm.

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Issued from 1864 to 1918

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EDIT: Fixed picture