Star of the Grosskreutz of the Order of Ludwig, Hesse

A very beautiful star in excellent condition. Silver, gold, enamel. The original name is " Ludewigsorden. Bruststern zum Großkreuz». The period of awarding 1855-1918. Dimensions 81.3*81.4 mm. Number of awards: from 1855 to 1913-248 awards, including 15 awards in the family of the Grand Duke of Hesse, another 18 awards of other citizens of Hesse. 215 awards to non-Hessian citizens, including 144 awards to foreign (non-Hessian) rulers and their family members. Guarantee of authenticity. Very rare.

It was established on August 25, 1807 by Grand Duke Ludwig I (Ludwig I). Ludwig II changed the statute of the Order in 1831 and simplified the name to the Order of Ludwig.   The order has 5 classes:
1. Grosskreuz-Grosskreuz
2. Komtur of the 1st class-Komtur 1 Klasse
3. Komtur of the 2nd class-Komtur 2 Klasse
4. Knight 1st Class-Ritter 1 Klasse
5. Knight 2nd Class-Ritter 2 Klasse

The Grand Duke of Hesse was the Grand Master of the Order. Only princes or civil, court and military ranks with a rank not lower than Lieutenant General(Exzellenz) could be awarded the Grosskreutz. The status of the order was very high. The awardees had the right to add to their title "knight of the Order of Ludwig", and also received the right to add the image of the order to their family coat of arms. The attitude towards the orders themselves was also strict. The order's chancellery kept a list of the knights of the order, and in case of loss of the order, the name of the awarded person was deleted from the lists, with the deprivation of the right to wear the order, the addition of a mention in the title and the removal of the image from the family coat of arms.

The order was subject to return to the order's office not only in the event of the death of the recipient, but also in the case of awarding the knight of the order with a higher degree, the junior degree was obliged to pass. In 1912, the degrees of the order were changed:
1. Grosskreuz-Grosskreuz
2. Komtur of the 1st class-Komtur 1 Klasse
3. Komtur of the 2nd class-Komtur 2 Klasse
4. Cross of Honor-Ehrenkreuz
5. Knight's Cross-Ritterkreuz

In 1917, Duke Ernst Ludwig decided to please himself, in honor of his own 25th anniversary of the reign, and added a Chain of the Order to the order, put it on himself and according to the new statute, crown princes could still receive it upon reaching the age of 21. It is also worth mentioning that since 1851, gold and silver medals of the order have been added to the order.