Order of the Starry Cross

Habsburg chivalric order for women

Order of the Starry Cross

Badge and ribbon of the order

Awarded by the Head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Type| Order of chivalry for women
Royal house| House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Religious affiliation| Roman Catholic
Motto| SALUS ET GLORIA
("Hail and Glory")
Awarded for| Devotion to the service and worship of the Holy Cross
A virtuous life in the exercise of religion and works of charity
Sovereign| Archduke Karl
High Protectress (Höchste Schutzfrau)| Archduchess Gabriela of Austria
Chancellor| Count Norbert Salburg-Falkenstein
Precedence
Next (higher)| none
Next (lower)| Military Order of Maria Theresia
Equivalent| Order of the Golden Fleece

Ribbon of the order

The Order of the Starry Cross (also known as Order of the Star Cross or Star Cross Order; German: Sternkreuz-Orden) is an imperial Austrian dynastic order for Catholic noble ladies, founded in 1668. The order still exists under the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.

## History

[edit]

The Order was founded in 1668 by Eleonora Gonzaga of Mantua, dowager empress of the Holy Roman Empire. This all-female order was confirmed by Pope Clement IX on 28 June 1668 and was placed under the spiritual management of the Prince-Bishop of Vienna. Only high-born ladies could be invested with the Order, including “princesses, countesses, and other high nobility.” Once invested, members were to “devote themselves to the service and worship of the Holy Cross, and to lead a virtuous life in the exercise of religion and works of charity.”

According to legend, the Habsburg dynasty owned a piece of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Though it is impossible to prove its authenticity, the holy relic was set in gold and worn by at least two Holy Roman Emperors, Maximilian II and Ferdinand III. Ferdinand III’s last consort, Empress Eleanora, was given the relic by her stepson, Emperor Leopold I, after Ferdinand’s 1657 death. In the aftermath of a fire at the Hofburg on 2 February 1668 the relic was discovered in near-perfect condition. The dowager empress founded the Order in celebration that the relic had survived the fire, believing it to be a true miracle.

In 1881, Empress Elisabeth accorded multiple noble ladies of the royal Belgian court the Starry Cross, after the engagement of Archduke Rudolf.[1]

Members of the Order wore the following insignia:

> "An oval medallion, with a broad blue enameled border, inclosing a black enameled Eagle with two heads, and claws, both of gold, on which lies a Gold Cross, enameled green, and bordered with brown wood. Over this, on an intwined (sic) wreath in black letters, on a white ground, is the motto of the Order, "Salus et Gloria” – (Hail and Glory.) It is worn, pendent to a strip of black riband (sic), on the left breast."[citation needed]

The order was conceived with only one class.[2]

## High Protectresses (Höchste Schutzfrauen)

[edit]

| Period | Name | Remarks

|
|
|

1. | 1668–1686 | Eleanor, Dowager Holy Roman Empress | born Princess Eleonora Gonzaga
2. | 1686–1720 | Eleanora Magdalena Theresia, Holy Roman Empress | born Princess Eleonora Magdalena Theresia of Neuburg
3. | 1720–1742 | Wilhelmina Amalia, Holy Roman Empress | born Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
4. | 1742–1750 | Elisabeth Christina, Holy Roman Empress | born Princess Elisabeth Christina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
5. | 1750–1780 | Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress and reigning Queen of Hungary and Bohemia |
6. | 1780–1792 | Maria Ludovika, Holy Roman Empress | born Infanta María Luisa of Spain
7. | 1792–1807 | Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress | born Princess Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies
8. | 1807–1816 | Empress Maria Ludovika of Austria | born Archduchess Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este
9. | 1816–1835 | Empress Caroline Augusta of Austria | born Princess Caroline Augusta of Bavaria
10. | 1835–1848 | Empress Maria Anna of Austria | born Princess Maria Anna of Savoy
11. | 1848–1854 | Archduchess Sophie of Austria | born Princess Sophie of Bavaria
12. | 1854–1898 | Empress Elisabeth of Austria | born Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria
13. | 1898–1916 | Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria | born Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony
14. | 1916–1951 | Empress Zita of Austria | born Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma
15. | 1951–2007 | Regina, Crown Princess of Austria | born Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen
16. | 2007–present | Archduchess Gabriela of Austria | current High Protectress

## Current administration

[edit]

According to the website of the Archdiocese of Vienna,[3] the officers of the Order are:

* High Protectress: Archduchess Gabriela of Austria[4]
* Chancellor: Count Norbert von Salburg-Falkenstein
* Secretary: Altgraf Niklas zu Salm-Reifferscheid-Raitz

## Sources

[edit]

* Tagore, Rajah Sir Sourindro Mohun. The Orders of Knighthood, British and Foreign. Calcutta: The Catholic Orphan Press, 1884.

1. ^ Handelsblad (Het) 07-05-1881
2. ^ Ortner, M. Christian. (2017). Austrian orders and decorations. Ludwigstorff, Georg., Kozeluh, Anne. Vienna: Heeresgeschichtliches Museum/Militärhistorisches Institut. pp. V.2, P381. ISBN 978-3-902526-82-3. OCLC 1001429416.
3. ^ Archdiocese of Vienna Archived 2012-12-30 at archive.today \- " Oberste Schutzfrau: Gabriela Habsburg-Lothringen "
4. ^ Sancrucensis, blog article about the Order and its Grand Mistress

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Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary

Ancient|

* Order of the Braid

Empire
(Male head)|

* Order of the Golden Fleece
* Military Order of Maria Theresa
* Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary

Order of Leopold
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(Female head)|

Order of Elizabeth and Theresa
(but male recipients)

Empire
(Female head)|

* Order of the Slaves of the Virtue
* Order of the Starry Cross
* Order of Love of the Neighbour

Order of Elizabeth

Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary

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Kingdom of
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Republic of Venice|

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Protected by
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* Order of the Holy Sepulchre
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See also|

* Sovereign Military Order of Malta

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the Two Sicilies|

* Order of Saint Januarius
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See also: Template:Italian orders, decorations, and medals

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Orders of chivalry for women

Exclusively
for women:|

* Austria: Order of the Starry Cross
* Order of Love of the Neighbour
* Order of Elizabeth
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* Burgundy: Order of the Dames of Rougemont
* Brunswick: Cross of Merit for ladies
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* Cambodia: Order of Satrei Vathana
* Denmark: Ordre de Parfaite Amitié
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* Ethiopia: Order of the Queen of Sheba
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* Order of Beneficence
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* Portugal: Order of Saint Isabel
* Prussia: Order of Louise
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* Romania: Commemorative Cross for Ladies
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* Order of Saint Anastasia (since 2010)
* Order of the Red Cross for Ladies and Misses
* Holy See: Golden Rose (from 1759)
* Saxony: Order of Sidonia
* Ordine of Anna Maria
* Saxe-Merseburg: Order of the Skull
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* Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt & Schwarzburg-Sondershausen: Medal of Honour of Anna Luisa
* Serbia: Medal of Princess Nathalie
* Medal of Queen Nathalie
* Spain: Order of Queen Maria Luisa
* Sudan: Order of Excellence for Women
* Tonga Royal Family Order of Tonga
* Turkey: Order of Charity
* Ukraine: Order of Princess Olga
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* Royal Family Order of Charles III
* Order of the Crown of India
* Royal Red Cross
* Württemberg: Order of Olga

Included a class
for women:|

* Anhalt: Order of Albert the Bear
* Baden: House Order of Fidelity
* Finland: Order of the White Rose of Finland
* Hesse: Order of the Star of Brabant
* Netherlands: Order of the House of Orange
* Saxon Duchies: Saxe-Ernestine House Order
* Thailand: Order of Chula Chom Klao
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