The Order of the Red Eagle () was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements. As with most German and other European orders, the Order of the Red Eagle could be awarded only to commissioned officers or civilians of approximately equivalent status. However, there was a medal of the order, which could be awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted men, lower ranking civil servants and other civilians.

History

The predecessor to the Order of the Red Eagle was founded on 17 November 1705, by the Margrave Georg Wilhelm of Brandenburg-Bayreuth as the Ordre de la Sincérité. This soon fell into disuse but was revived in 1712 in Brandenburg-Bayreuth and again in 1734 in Brandenburg-Ansbach, where it first received the name of "Order of the Brandenburg Red Eagle". The statutes were changed in 1777 and the order named therein as the "Order of the Red Eagle". The order was conferred in one class, limited to fifty knights.

The Kingdom of Prussia absorbed both Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Brandenburg-Ansbach in January 1792, and on 12 June 1792, King Frederick William II again revived the order as a Prussian royal order. After the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Red Eagle was the second highest order of the kingdom in order of precedence.

  • Prince Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia (1891–1927), nephew of Kaiser Wilhelm II, pilot during the Great War, invested with the Grand Cross with Crown
  • Paul von Breitenbach (1850–1930), German Statesman; invested with the Grand Cross of the Order, 1913, by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Großadmiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1849–1930); conferred with the Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross, with Crown; also conferred with the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Stubenrauch (b. 1880) – previously awarded the Knight's Cross, 4th Class, Stubenrauch was the commander of all naval aviation in the Kaiserlich Marine

Foreign

  • George IV, King of Great Britain (1762–1830), invested 6/9/1814
  • William IV, King of Great Britain (1765–1837), invested 6/9/1814
  • Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Prince Talleyrand (France)
  • Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, Prince Metternich-Winnebourg-Ochsenhausen (German: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein), Austrian Foreign Minister, 1809–1848
  • Prince Andreas Rasoumoffsky (1752–1836), PC (Russia)
  • Gustavus, Count de Stackelberg, PC (Russia)
  • Karl, Count of Nesselrode (1780–1862), Privy Councilor (Russia)
  • Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh & Saxe-Coburg_Gotha (1844–1900, GB), invested 5/7/1864
  • Alexander III, Tsar of Russia (1845–1894)
  • Gen Sir Dighton Probyn (1833–1924), VC, GCB – invested at GC / 1st Class (India / GB)
  • Gen. Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny (1840–1914), (GB)
  • Edward VII, King of Great Britain (1841–1910), invested 1/17/1869
  • Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942, GB), invested 1873
  • Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853–1884, GB), invested 3/31/1879
  • Prince Arthur of Connaught (1883–1938, GB), invested 1/13/1883
  • Milan I, King of Serbia (1868–1889), invested 1886
  • Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847–1895), Japanese imperial family and soldier, invested December 1889
  • Marquis Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909), Prime Minister of Japan, received the GC 12/22/1886, later received the GC in brilliants 12/14/1901
  • Marquis Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922), Prime Minister of Japan, invested June 1899
  • Viscount Aoki Shūzō (1844–1914), Japanese minister to Berlin, received the GC 1/26/1895, later received the GC in brilliants 6/18/1897
  • The Guangxu Emperor (1871–1908), 11th Qing Emperor of China, invested 1898
  • First Class Marquis Suyi Li Hongzhang (1823–1901), Chinese politician and diplomat, invested 6/14/1896
  • Yuan Shikai (1859–1916), Chinese politician and general
  • Nikolay Karlovich Giers (1820–1895), Russian Foreign Minister and architect of the Franco-Russian Alliance; Grand Cross (by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle), July 23, 1888
  • Prince Alfred of Edinburgh (1874–1899, GB), invested June 1889
  • George V, King of Great Britain (1865–1936), invested 7/3/1890
  • Alexander, Duke of Fife (1849–1912, GB), invested 1892
  • Gen.-Lt. Constantin von Alvensleben (1809–1892), invested with the Grand Cross, 1892, by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • FM Archduke Friedrich of Austria-Hungary (1856–1936), GC / 1st Class (also held the Ord of the Black Eagle from October 22, 1892) – invested c. 1895
  • Porfirio Díaz, President of Mexico (1876–1880, 1884–1911)
  • St John Brodrick, British Secretary of State for War (1856–1942), invested in September 1902 when he visited Prussia for German Army maneuvers.
  • Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge (formerly Prince Adolphus Duke of Teck) (1868–1927, GB), invested 1903
  • Count Katsura Tarō (1848–1913), Japanese politician and soldier, October 4, 1906
  • Haakon VII, King of Norway (1872–1957), invested 5/27/1907
  • Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI - Nizam (sovereign prince) of Hyderabad, a principality in India; honorary (British and Indian) lieutenant general, invested 1911
  • Albert I, King of the Belgians (1875–1934)
  • LTG Rt. Hon Charles William Stewart, Lord Stewart (GB) British soldier, politician and nobleman, great-grandfather of Winston Churchill
  • MG Carl Löwenhielm, Count of Löwenhielm (Sweden / Norway)
  • Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria-Hungary (1830–1916)
  • Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse & by Rhine (1837–1892), son-in-law of Queen Victoria; brother-in-law of Friedrich III; uncle of Wilhelm II
  • Gen der INF Otto von Bülow – Nov 15, 1917, by statute regarding conferral of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1868–1937), grandson of Queen Victoria, husband of Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh, cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm II, invested with the Grand Cross or the 1st Class (?)
  • General der Infanterie Friedrich Sixt von Armin (1851–1936), awarded the Grand Cross by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle, conferred, 1917
  • Prince Leopold of Bavaria (1846–1930); Awarded the Grand Cross with Swords; also a member of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Prince Franz of Bavaria (1875–1957); awarded the Grand Cross by statute of the Order of Black Eagle
  • Naser al-Din Shah (1831–1896), Shah of Persia (1848–1896)
  • Mozaffar al-Din Shah (1853–1907), Shah of Persia (1896–1907)
  • Pavlo Skoropadskyi, hetman of the Ukrainian State. Granted in 1918
  • Marcos Antônio de Araújo, Viscount of Itajubá. Ambassador of Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil to the King of Hanover and King of Prussia.

Knights 1st Class (1705–1918)

thumb|Karl August Fürst (Prince) von Hardenberg, ca 1822, by Friedrich Georg Weitsch. Hardenberg wears the badge of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class, above his other orders

German

  • Wilhelm Frhr von Humboldt (1767–1835) (Prussia), German language scholar and statesman
  • Karl August, Prince of Hardenburg (1750–1822), Chancellor of State (Prussia), 1804–1806; 1807; and 1810–1822
  • Ernst von Pfuel - Prussian general and Prime Minister of Prussia, awarded the 1st Class with Oak Leaves (1836) and Diamonds (1842). Previously awarded the 2nd Class with Oak Leaves (1830) and Star (1831); 3rd Class (1827)
  • Ludwig von Massow, awarded the 1st Class with Oak Leaves
  • Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse (1806–1877), awarded the 1st Class with Swords
  • Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, awarded the Order, 1st Class, with Oak Leaves, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900 (Source: The New York Times)
  • Dr. Studt, Minister of Public Instruction, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Bolko Count von Hochberg, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Generalleutnant á la suite Viktor Adolph Theophil von Podbielski (1844–1916), hussar general, Prussian Minister of Agriculture, Postmaster General, and President of the German Olympic Committee; awarded 1st Class with oak leaves and crossed swords, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday January 27, 1902
  • Baron Hermann Speck von Sternburg, Prussian Consul to Calcutta, German Ambassador to the United States, awarded the 1st Class, Jan 5, 1903
  • Anton von Werner (1871–1914), awarded the Order, 1st Class, 1912; previously awarded the 2nd Class
  • GenObst Felix Graf von Bothmer of Bavaria (1852–1937), conferred with the Order, 1st Class, January 17, 1914
  • Gen-Lt Philipp von Hellingrath of Bavaria (1862–1939), awarded the 1st Class with Swords, Nov 14, 1918; previously awarded the 2nd Class (7 Jun 1914)
  • Henry William, Baron de Bülow awarded the Order 1st Class, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Majesty Queen Victoria
  • Eduard von Jachmann, Prussian Vice Admiral, awarded 1st Class with Swords

Foreign

thumb|Giustino Fortunato, Prime minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

  • Prince Talleyrand of France, Envoy of Emperor Napoleon I (Napoleon Bonaparte) of the French, to Russia, 1807; conferred with both the Order of the Black Eagle and the Red Eagle, before 1807
  • Prince Alexander Borisovich Kourakin of Russia, Envoy of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, to France, 1807; conferred with both the Black Eagle Order and Red Eagle Order, before 1807
  • Prince Leopold of Belgium (future Leopold II), Duke of Brabant, awarded the Order, 1st Class
  • Count Maximilian van Lerchenfeld-Koefering, Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria, and envoy to the United States; conferred before 1845
  • Giustino Fortunato (1777–1862), prime minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, conferred with the Red Eagle Order in 1850
  • Lieutenant General Pierre-Dominique Bazaine (1786–1838) French mathematician and engineer
  • Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, awarded the Order, 1st Class (for non-Christians), 1851
  • Vicomte Vincent-Victor Henri de Vaublanc, Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria, October 21, 1856
  • Kemal Effendi, Turkish Ambassador to Berlin, awarded the Order, 1st Class (for non-Christians), July 2, 1857
  • Prince Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan (1850–1918), son of Naser al-Din Shah, King of Persia.
  • President Paul Kruger (1825–1904), President of the Transvaal (first award in 1884, elevated to First Class in 1896)
  • Friedrich von Beck-Rzikowsky (1830–1920), Austrian field marshal, chief of the general staff of the Imperial and Royal Army of Austria-Hungary, awarded in 1888; elevated to First Class in Diamonds, 6 September 1891
  • Marquis Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940), Japanese minister to Berlin, October 15, 1891
  • Edward Villiers, 5th Earl of Clarendon (1846–1914), Lord-in-Waiting, in connection with the visit of Emperor Wilhelm II to the United Kingdom in late 1899.
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Marshall, Colonel of the 1st Royal Dragoons, in connection with the visit of Emperor Wilhelm II to the United Kingdom in late 1899.
  • Charles Thomas Jackson, American physician and scientist who was active in medicine, chemistry, mineralogy, and geology.
  • Frederick J.V. Skiff, Field Museum of Chicago, Paris Exhibition (1900) organizer, and Director of Exhibits, St. Louis Exhibition (1906), awarded 2nd Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • J.P. Morgan (1837–1913), American Banker, honored after giving an original letter from Martin Luther to Emperor Charles V back to Germany, June 26, 1911
  • Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University, for building the exchange program between American and German professors, and winner of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize
  • Professor Hugo Münsterberg, Harvard Exchange Professor at Berlin, awarded the Order, 2nd Class, August 23, 1911
  • James Speyer, American banker and president of the banking house Speyer & Company, awarded the 2nd Class, Jan 20, 1912
  • His Princely Highness Pakubuwono X (1866–1939), the 10th Susuhunan, ruler of the past Surakarta (now in present Surakarta, Indonesia), awarded the Order, 2nd Class, with Star.
  • Wilhelm Freiherr Lenk von Wolfsberg (1809–1894), Austrian Feldzeugmeister, owner of the Corps Artillery Regiment No. 4 and scientist, awarded the 2nd Class in 1861
  • Maj-Gen the Hon Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley <small>CB, CMG, DSO, MVO</small> (1857–1934) of Great Britain's King's Royal Rifle Corps.
  • Dudley Marjoribanks, 3rd Baron Tweedmouth (1874–1935), invested in September 1902 when he visited Prussia for German Army maneuvers.
  • Vizeadmiral Alfred Meyer-Waldeck, date unknown

Knights 4th Class (1830–1918)

thumb|Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class

  • Maj. E.D.Bally, Somerset Light Infantry
  • Sevki Bey, District Governor of Aclun (Northern Syria, Ottoman Empire), awarded the 4th Class
  • Dr. Ernst Freiherr von Bibra 1854 (1806 &ndash; 1878) was a German Naturalist (Natural history scientist) and author. Ernst was a botanist, zoologist, metallurgist, chemist, geographer, travel writer, novelist, duellist, art collector and trailblazer in ethnopsychopharmacology.
  • Hauptmann Curt von Brandenstein, 1879–1964, Pour le Me'rite 26.9.1918, HOH w/ Swords, Hessian Bravery medal, Leibregiment Grossherzogin (3. Grossherzoglich Hessisches) Nr.117
  • Captain von Dresky (later Rear Admiral) – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, for actions at Miang while in command of the cruiser SMS Habicht
  • Hauptmann (Captain) Constantin von Falkenhayn, awarded the 4th Class, for service in the Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40, January 1900
  • Rittmeister Richard Franz Joseph Haegele, awarded the 4th Class, 10/21/1901, for service as commander of the East Asian Field Bakery in the Prussian Army; Later awarded the 4th Class with Swords, for actions in South West Africa (modern day Namibia)
  • Heinrich Johannes Halke, awarded the 4th Class, 1/18/1886
  • Rittmeister (later Generalmajor) Arthur Hay, prior-enlisted cavalry officer, May 12, 1901
  • General Wilhelm Heye, awarded the 4th Class with swords
  • Leutnant Paul von Hindenburg (later GFM & Reichspräsident) – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, after actions against the Austrians at Königrätz, July 3, 1866
  • Charles John Hexamer (1862–1921), co-founded and first president of the National German-American Alliance, awarded in 1904
  • Tarleton Hoffman Bean (1846–1916), first Curator of Fishes at the Smithsonian Institution; Director of the Forestry and Fisheries exhibit at the Paris Exhibition, 1900; Chief of the Departments of Fish, Game and Forestry, St. Louis World's Fair, 1902–05; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • First Lieutenant Carl Hermann Arthur Finster (1865–1929), Author and Diplomat, 1908
  • Joseph Austin Holmes (1859–1915), geologist, and first director of the Bureau of Mines, credited with advances in mine safety, and for the slogan "Safety First"; Chief of Mines and Metallurgy at the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • F.D. Hirschberg, Chairman of Reception and Entertainment, St Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Prof. Otto Jaekel (1863–1929), geologist and paleontologist, awarded April 3, 1913
  • Obst-Lt (later Gen der Artillerie) Friedrich Frhr. Kreß von Kressenstein of Bavaria (1870–1948); awarded the 4th Class prior to World War I
  • John H. McGibbons, Secretary of Awards for Division of Exhibitions, St. Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Lt.Col. Hon. George Henry Morris, Irish Guards
  • Dr. Ludwig Karl Georg Pfeiffer, botanist and conchologist, 1875
  • Premierleutnant (First Lieutenant) Ernst von Prittwitz und Gaffron, awarded the 4th Class in 1864
  • Carl Friedrich Rohte, awarded the 4th Class, 8/22/1907, for service to the Crown
  • Hermann Aleksander Eduard von Salza, Russian Navy, 1910
  • Ernst Friederich Ludwig Scheyder, Amtsrat, presented with Red Eagle August 10, 1911, for dedicated service to the crown
  • Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856–1915), mechanical engineer; President of the American Society of mechanical Engineers, who is credited for innovations in management principles; awarded the 4th Class, Jan. 12, 1906, for work with St. Louis World's Fair
  • Adolf Werner (Artillery Officer), awarded the 4th Class, 1904
  • Lt.Col. L.E.C.Worthington-Wilmer, Somerset Light Infantry

<gallery>

Image:Red_Eagle-Certificate.jpg|Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class, certificate given to Ernst Friedrich Ludwig Scheyder in 1911

Image:Ernst-Friedrich-Ludwig-Scheyder-Photo.jpg|Ernst Friedrich Ludwig Scheyder

</gallery>

Medal for Enlisted Men

thumb|Order of the Red Eagle Medal (for enlisted men)

  • Musicmeister Jacob Peuppus, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Feldwebel August Keller, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Sergenten Maximilian Büchert, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Wachtmeister Otto Grieszing, 1. Schwerin Reiter-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Matthias Kürmeher, 4. Infanterie-Regiments, König Wilhelm von Württemberg; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Karl Lemnitz, 2. Fuß-Artillerie-Regiments, Königliche von Preußen; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Fortunatus Klun, Hof-Saal-Kammerdiener, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Adolf Zimmerman, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Thomas Drozda, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Franz Fahnier, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Kramlinger, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Blaha, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Georg Schögl, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903

Sources

  • Atlantic Daily News, October 31, 1906. New York: Hamburg-American Line. Available on the Internet: https://earlyradiohistory.us/1906hamb.htm
  • Danner, David. Recipients of the Military Max Josef Order in World War I. available on the Internet: https://web.archive.org/web/20090524233821/http://home.att.net/~ordersandmedals/MMJO/MMJO1-2.htm
  • Der Rittmeister Militaria, LLC. Internet: https://web.archive.org/web/20080105133048/http://www.derrittmeister.com/home.htm
  • Encyclopædia Britannica. 11th Ed. New York: Encyclopædia Britannica Company, 1911
  • Encyclopedia Americana. New York: The Encyclopedia American Corporation, 1918. p.&nbsp;673
  • Haandbuch des Allerhöchsten Hofes und des Hofstaates Seiner K. und K. Apostoliscen Majistät, fur 1906. Vienna: Empire of Austria-Hungary, 1903
  • Handbuch über den Königlich Preußischen Hof und Staat für das Jahr 1918. (1918 Prussian State Handbook) Berlin, 1918.
  • Index of Royal Colonels of Commonwealth Land Forces. Available on the Internet: https://web.archive.org/web/20080202130333/http://regiments.org/biography/royals/colchief.htm
  • Journal of the Medals and Orders Society of America, Vol 52, No. 3, pp.&nbsp;16 – 17. On the Internet: http://www.medalnet.net/Red_Eagle_Order_Haegele.htm
  • Marquis, Albert Nelson. Who's Who in New England. 2nd Ed. Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Co., 1916
  • The New York Times Archives. The New York Times. January 8, 1898; January 28, 1900; December 25, 1909; August 24, 1911. Available on the Internet: https://query.nytimes.com/search/query?frow=0&n=10&srcht=s&daterange=period&query=Red+Eagle+Order&srchst=p&hdlquery=&bylquery=&mon1=09&day1=18&year1=1851&mon2=12&day2=31&year2=1980&submit.x=0&submit.y=0
  • Schulze Ising, Andreas M. Imperial German Orders, Medals, and Decorations. Martinsville, Virginia: Available on the Internet: http://www.medalnet.net/Red_Eagle_Order_3rd_crown_swords.htm
  • Treaty between France and Russia, Tilsit, July 7, 1807.
  • Verordnungsblatt des Königlich bayerischen Kriegsministeriums, Munich: Kingdom of Bavaria, 1900
  • Verordnungsblatt des Königlich bayerischen Kriegsministeriums, Munich: Kingdom of Bavaria, 1903

References