Physical Description

A Maltese cross, constructed of gold and enamel, with gold crossed swords through the centre. The cross arms are enamelled in carmine with white enamel edges, which in turn feature a gold inner and outer border. The oval centre medallion is enamelled in blue and features a crowned gold Hessian lion walking to the viewer’s left. The medallion’s ring is enamelled in red with gold borders and the golden inscription ‘VIRTUTE ET FIDELITATE’ (‘for virtue and loyalty’). The reverse medallion is blue enamelled with a gold border and the crowned monogram ‘WK’ in gold in the centre. On a loop for suspension, on a magenta-coloured ribbon with narrow white side stripes.

History

The Wilhelm Order was instituted by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I and was conferred in recognition of civil and military merit. Awards conferred for military merit featured crossed swords.

The order assimilated the three lower grades of the House Order of the Golden Lion and also included a Grand Cross and an Inhaberkreuz.

The House Order of the Golden Lion and the Wilhelm Order feature a very similar obverse and reverse design. The main difference between them is that the lion featured on the obverse of the House Order of the Golden Lion has the back paw held higher than the front paw, while the lion featured on the obverse of the Wilhelm Order has both paws held at the same height.