Order of Elizabeth and Theresa

Order of Elisabeth and Theresa Elisabeth-Theresien-Orden Elisabetho-Theresian Military Foundation Elisabeth-Theresianische Militärstiftung
Medal of the Order
Awarded by Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire, Austria-Hungary
Type	State Knighthood Order
Motto	MARIA THERESIA PARENTIS GRATIAM perennem VOLUIT
Day	19 November
Eligibility	see conditions
Awarded for	female headship but male recipients
Status	Dynastic order, nowadays
Sovereign	Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza
Grades	Knight
Statistics
Established	1750, Vienna
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of Love for one's Neighbour
Next (lower)	Order of Elizabeth
Ribbon bar of the Order

The Order of Elisabeth and Theresa (in German: Elisabeth-Theresien-Orden) was a decoration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, created in 1750 by Empress Consort Elizabeth Christine in her testament. It was later revised in 1771 by Empress Maria Theresa, as the Elizabetho-Theresian Military Foundation (Elisabeth-Theresianische Militärstiftung) .

The order must not be mistaken with the Order of Elizabeth, established by Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1898 to commemorate the memory of his late assassinated wife "Sissi".

This section is the translation of the corresponding dutch article

It was created in Vienna in 1750 by Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, widow of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, in her testament, to reward the deserving officers who distinguished in battles. Originally the number of awarded officers was hardly 20. Those had to serve faithfully in the army of the House of Austria for 30 years and having reached at least the rank of colonel and had to be inscribed in the Court Council of War, but without distinction of fatherland, birth or religion. The Order was granted with 16,000 florins of annuity to be divided among the recipients. There was originally three grades of annuity  : 1000, 800 and 500 florins.

In 1771 Maria Theresa settled a maximum number of 21 members, after having rejected several petitions to modify the access to the Order. The yearly pension amount was also revised: six times 853 florins and 76 kreuzers, eight timles 683 florins and zeven times 426 florins and 85 kreuzers (100 Kreuzers = 1 Florin). The religion of the recipients didn't mater. The catholic officers were expected to pray three times Pater Noster and Ave Maria for the founder and the reigning sovereign. The Protestants were free from this but they were expected to offer each year three ducats to the Invalides Institute.