Physical Description

An eight-sided star, constructed of silver wire embroidery. The centre medallion is in grey silk and features a stitched cross in red with golden eagles, hunting horns, and golden borders. Around the medallion is a ring of green silk with the stitched golden inscription ‘VIRTUTIS AMICITAEQUE FOEDUS’ (‘covenant of virtue and friendship’). The ring is encircled by sequins. The reverse is enforced with grey-white paper.
These breast stars can differ greatly in size and details from specimen to specimen.

History

The Order of the Hunt was established by Duke Eberhard IV Ludwig in 1702. It was also known as the Order of St. Hubertus.

The Dukes of Württemberg considered themselves to be the imperial masters of the hunt, and the order was created to not only bolster the prestige of Württemberg, but also to establish an association of nobility with whom the duke could hunt.

The order’s motto was “Amicitiae Virtutis Que Foedus”, which means “covenant of friendship and virtue”. The motto was chosen, because the duke hoped to establish friendship and unity between himself and the influential members of the order.

The order was limited to 30 members. This number does not include the leaders of the order, who were rulers of different principalities from throughout the German Empire. The original founding leaders of the order included Margrave Georg Wilhelm von Brandenburg-Bayreuth, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm von Hohenzollern-Hechinger, Prince Carl Alexander, Margrave Carl Wilhelm III von Baden-Durlach, and Prince Friedrich Ludwig von Württemberg-Winnental.

Men were eligible to be admitted into the order at the age of 20 and could receive a place on the council of the order at the age of 25.

The cross of the order was worn from a band that was worn over the left shoulder and secured above the right hip. A Knight of the order was also issued a silver breast star and a golden collar, which was worn on special occasions. Members were penalised if they failed to wear these decorations in public. If a member consistently failed to wear the decorations, their membership was revoked.

In 1807, King Friedrich I converted the Order of the Hunt into the Order of the Golden Eagle. On September 23, 1818, the Order of the Golden Eagle was combined with the Order of Civil Merit to create the Order of the Württemberg Crown.

The Breast Star is an eight-pointed embroidered star. The obverse features the cross of the order embroidered in red, with gold borders. Golden eagles are embroidered between the cross arms, and golden hunting horns are embroidered in the top peak of each cross arm. The eagles and horns are embroidered on a grey silk background. The motto of the order is embroidered in capital gold letters around the medallion. The motto embroidery is on a green silk background.