Order of Saint Elizabeth

Order of Saint Elizabeth
*St. Elisabethenorden*
Order of Saint Elizabeth; St. Elisabethenorden ;
	Badge and ribbon of the order
Awarded by ; Electoral Palatine Electorate of Bavaria, Kingdom of Bavaria
Type	ladies order
Royal house	House of Wittelsbach
Eligibility	Catholic religion, seize quartiers
Status	defunct
Founder	Electress Elisabeth Auguste
Grades	Dame; Honorary Dame
Statistics
First induction	1766
Last induction	1976
Total inductees	191 Dames; 31 Honorary Dames
Precedence
Next (higher)	Royal Order of Saint Hubert
Next (lower)	Royal Order of Max Joseph
Equivalent	Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception
	; Ribbon bar of the order; ;

The Order of Saint Elizabeth was an chivalric and charitable order for women in the Electoral Palatinate and the Kingdom of Bavaria.

History

The Order of Saint Elizabeth was founded by Countess Palatine Elisabeth Auguste of Sulzbach, the first spouse of Charles Theodore, Elector of the Palatinate, in honor of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and as a charitable institution for the poor on 18 October 1766. It was confirmed on 31 January 1767 by Pope Clement XII. Candidates had to proof their and their husbands noble descent until their great-grandparents (seize quartiers). Originally, it was to six ladies, additionally to ladies of princerly houses, the Hofmeisterin (equals the Mistress of the Robes) and ladies-in-waiting of the Grand Mistress. The nomination took place either on Easter or on Saint Elizabeth’s Day (19 November), the entrance fee was four ducats.

In 1873, the fee was increased to 500 marks for Bavarian ladies and 1.000 marks for foreigners, while the proof of nobility was lowered to the grandparents. Additionally, the Grand Mistress was enabled to appoint Honorary Dames, i. e. princesses consort, who were dispensed from the fee.

Insignia

The badge was a white enameled cross, representing on one side Saint Elizabeth dispensing charity to the poor, and on the other E A, the initials of the founder. It was worn on the left breast by a blue ribbon with a red border, with inverted colours for Honorary Dames.