Sovereign Knights. Foreign Orders of Russian Emperors

Badge of the Order of the Elephant (Minor elephant)
Second half of the XIXth century
Gold, precious stones, enamel
Came from the treasury of the Moscow jewellery association in 1926.
Star of the Order of the Red Eagle with diamonds and oak leaves
Germany, Prussia, the late XIXth-early XXth century
Motto of the order: SICERE ET CONSTANTER (Sincerely and firmly)
Star of the Order of Cyril and Methodius
Vienna, 1910s
Gold, silver, enamel
Motto of the order: EX ORIENTA LUX (Light from the East)
Star of the Order of the Netherlands Lion I class
Netherlands, second half of the XIXth century
Gold, silver, copper, enamel
Motto of the order: VIRTUS NOBILITAT (Virtue ennobles)
Star of the Order of Fidelity
Germany, Baden, the early XIXth century
Silver, enamel
Belonged to Emperor Nicholas I.
Motto of the order: FIDELITAS (Fidelity)
Badge of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (Grand Cross)
Norway, Oslo, after 1906
Gold, enamel
Motto of the order: RET OG SANDHED (Justice and Truth)
Chain with a badge of the Order of the Black Eagle
Germany, Prussia, the XIXth century
Gold, enamel
Motto of the order: SUUM CUIQUE (“To each according to his merits”)
Belonged to Generalfeldmarschall Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke (1800-1891)
Chain with a badge of the Order of Saint Hubert
Germany, Bavaria, second half of the XIXth century
Gold, enamel
Motto of the order: IN TRAU VAST (Firm in Fidelity)
Badge of the Imperial Order of the Iron Crown on a ribbon
Austria-Hungary, Vienna, second half of the XIXth century
Gold, metal, enamel
Motto of the order: AVITA ET AUCTA (Inherited and improved)
Badge of the Order of the Sacred Treasure I class
Japan, 1888-1917
Silver, copper, enamel, gilding, punching
Grand Cross of the Military Merit Order I class
Germany, Württemberg, the XIXth century
Gold, enamel
Belonged to Emperor Nicholas I
Motto of the order: FURCHTLOS UND TREW (Fearless and loyal)
Cross of the Order of the White Eagle
Poland, the early XIXth century
Gold, silver, glass, enamel
Belonged to Emperor Alexander I
Motto of the order: PRO FIDE, REGE ET LEGE (For Faith, Law and the King)
Star of the Order of the Holy Spirit
France, 1578 – 1830
Silver, enamel

October, 26, 2010 – March, 09, 2011

the One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace

Organized by:: the Moscow Kremlin Museums

01# Badge of the Order of the Elephant (Minor elephant) The project introduces to the audience a magnificent collection of foreign orders from the Armoury Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin, which is considered to be one of the most interesting and well represented collections in the world. It presents the highest orders of Europe and East which are the delicate pieces of workmanship as well as historical monuments, which reveal peculiarities of the Russian award system through several historical periods. The highest European and Eastern decorations, conferred to Russian monarchs starting from Peter I, played an important role in the process of establishment of diplomatic relations of the Russian Empire with other countries.

Most part of the presented articles belonged to Emperors and Empresses and other members of the House of Romanov. The exhibition is distinguished by the exposed insignia of the oldest military- monastic Order of St John of Jerusalem (or the Order of Malta), which was transferred to the Armoury Chamber for further preservation on orders of Emperors Paul I and Nicholas I.

The exposition comprises about 300 exhibits, including various insignia (stars, crosses and chains of different orders), portraits of the Emperors, their order costumes, award documentation, statutes of the orders and photomaterial. For the first time our visitors will see archival documents, relating to award presentation ceremonies and conferment of the foreign orders to Russian Emperors.

The exhibition project explores the history of various orders in the time of the last Emperor Nicholas II, Empresses Maria Fyodorovna and Alexandra Fyodorovna, as well as heir apparent Cesarevitch Alexei Nikolaevich. It also shows the results of research and restoration works, carried out in the Moscow Kremlin Museums for in-depth study of the collection of foreign orders.

The exhibition helps to understand their important role in the creation of the Imperial image of the Russian monarchy and the growth of its might, both in Russia and abroad. Foreign orders awarded to the Russian rulers of the XVIIIth — early XXth centuries reflect a complicated and contradictory history of relations between Russia and the foreign countries and serve the symbols of recognition of the place the Russian Empire occupied in the world.

General partner of the project is Gasprombank

Financial support was provided by E.ON Ruhrgas