The Order of Henry the Lion ranks among the most significant dynastic decorations of German nobility in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Duke William of Brunswick-Lüneburg instituted the order on April 25, 1834, in memory of Henry the Lion (circa 1129-1195), the legendary Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, who entered history as the founder of the Welf dynasty and as one of the most powerful princes of the Middle Ages. The order served to honor individuals who distinguished themselves by rendering meritorious military or civil service, including outstanding work in the fields of art and science. The conferral of the award was not dependent on an individual's class or rank, and decorations had to be returned upon the death of the recipient.
When the Order was founded in 1834, it was originally established with just four main classes and also an affiliated Cross of Merit. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, swords were introduced to all classes so the order could also act as an award for war merit. On March 8, 1877, the Duke decreed that the knights class would be divided into first and second class grades. The most significant reform occurred on April 25, 1908, Duke Wilhelm's birthday, when Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg, as Regent of Brunswick, expanded the Order of Henry the Lion with extensive modifications. These expansions notably included the creation of the 1st Class, ranking between the Grand Cross and the Commander 1st Class, making it the second-highest class of the order.
The badge of the order is a golden, four-armed eight-pointed, light blue enamelled cross. The Cross of Merit of both classes is a high cross with a medallion attached and the crowned initial of the founder “W” can be seen in it. On the arms of the cross is the motto of the order: IM / MO / TA / FIDES. The central obverse medallion shows the Brunswick coat of arms with leaping horse on a column. On the reverse of the central shield stands the motto IMMOTA FIDES (Unshakable Loyalty) with the foundation date 1834 in Roman numerals MDCCCXXXIV surrounding it.
The 1st Class was worn as a neck order with the breast star worn on the left chest. The breast star is an eight-pointed silver star. The ribbon of the Order was red with yellow edges. From 1909 onwards, crosses were only manufactured in silver gilt, while earlier pieces were made in gold. The insignia described here were manufactured by F. Siebrecht, court jeweler in Brunswick, one of the most important manufacturers of Brunswick orders. The badge is silver gilt, finely enameled on both sides, with the medallion showing the crowned cipher “W” in gold. The breast star is made of silver, the center medallion in gold with fine enamel, featuring the leaping Welf horse painted in finest detail. The reverse marking “900 S” indicates 90% silver fineness and Siebrecht's maker's mark.
The 1st Class Cross was awarded a total of 120 times from 1908 to 1918, underscoring the extraordinary rarity of this decoration. The First World War (1914-1918) represented the final phase in which the order was conferred. With the November Revolution of 1918 and the abdication of the German princes, the history of the Duchy of Brunswick as a monarchical state also ended, and with it the official conferral of this traditional order. The order ceased to be awarded after the fall of the German monarchy in 1918. The dating of the insignia described here to the years 1908-1918, along with the complete set including badge, breast star, and unworn, unsewn sash in the original presentation case, makes this ensemble an extraordinarily rare and historically significant testimony to the final years of the Duchy of Brunswick.
