Order of Saint Michael Orden zum Heiligen Michael |
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Badge of a knight of the order
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Awarded by Archbishop of Cologne King of Bavaria |
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Country |
Electorate of Cologne Kingdom of Bavaria |
Type |
Military order 1693–1803 Merit order 1808–1918 |
Status | No longer awarded |
Statistics | |
Established | 29 September 1693 |
Last awarded | 1918 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown |
Next (lower) | Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art |
Ribbon of the order |
The Order of Saint Michael (German: Orden zum Heiligen Michael) or Royal Merit Order of Saint Michael (German: Königlicher Verdienstorden vom heiligen Michael) was founded in 1693 by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, as a Military order. Initially, this order was only open to the Catholic nobility.