A French Royal Military Order of St. Louis; Knight’s Class in Gold

A Gold Royal Order of St. Louis; Knights Cross in gold and very fine white, red, green, and blue enamels; maltese cross with fleur-de-lis between the cross arms; the obverse with an oval centre medallion with a portrait of Saint Louis, surrounded by the motto “Lud(ovicus) M(agnus) In(stituit) 1693” (Louis the Great Instituted in 1693); the reverse with a gold sword interlaced with a laurel crown and a white sash, with the inscription “Bell(icae) Virtutis Praem(ium)” (Reward of Wartime Valour); on original ribbon; extremely fine condition. Given it's age and long history, this award is one of the best examples we have had the pleasure of offering. Footnote: This Order was founded by Louis XIV on April 5, 1693. It was renamed the “Military Decoration” in 1791 and was preserved for a short time during the Revolution, but was later discontinued on October 15, 1792. It was re-established by Louis XVIII in 1814 and discontinued permanently in 1830. It was conferred upon Catholic Officers of the Royal Army for meritorious and distinguished military service. It was the first order of merit in France which permitted an Officer who was not of noble birth to be named Knight. The following is the Royal Decree by His Majesty the King Louis XIV of France: Louis, by the grace of God King of France and Navarre, to all present and yet to come, hail. The officers of our troops have distinguished themselves by so many actions of considerable virtue and courage, in the conquest which it pleased God to bless the justice of our arms, that, ordinary awards becoming insufficient to the affection and the thankfulness which we have for them, we have deemed it necessary to seek new ways to reward their zeal and fidelity. In this view have we decided to establish a purely military Order to which, in addition to the external marks of honour which are associated to it, we shall guarantee revenues and pensions which shall rise in proportion to them growing more and more worthy through their behaviour. We have decided that only officers still serving in our troops shall be introduced and that virtue, merit and distinguished service in our armies shall be the only criteria to enter. We shall also in the future give a particular attention to increase the advantages of this order, so that we shall ever have the satisfaction to always be able to grant graces to the officers, and on the other hand, seeing rewards guaranteed by valour, they would every day bear renewed ardour in deserving them by their actions. In these causes, with the advice of our council, and our certain science, full power and royal authority, we have created, instituted and built, by the present, our military Order with the name of Saint Louis, and with the forms, statutes, ordinances and rules as follows.