Instituted December 23 1794. A Cross of the order, in Gold, featuring a white Maltese cross with small ball finials, the obverse medallion features the inscription CT (Carl Theodore) on blue enamel, the reverse medallion features a blue enamelled field inscribed VIRTUTI, surmounted by a large red, white and blue enamelled crown, measures 28.2mm (w) x 43.3mm (h – inclusive of cross adorned crown), weighs 13.3 grams, light enamel wear, in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: The Kurpfalz-Bavarian Military Decoration was presented with a letter Serenissimus Elector on February 19 1795 by Elector Carl Theodor to 19 officers from the rank of colonel to sub-lieutenant, who had distinguished themselves in the wars against France in 1793/94. The award is considered to be the forerunner to the Military Max Joseph Order. The statutes and requirements were issued in 1797 in Munich, denoting that the decoration is not a medal but a reward for which “brave and hearty deeds are required, namely those which an officer could either have omitted without responsibility and would have served the army, or which performed with extraordinary prudence, or courage and determination for special honor, and the benefit of the army or troops have been carried out.”
A total of 100 awards can be documented. With the foundation of the Military Max Joseph Order, many holders of the Kurpflaz-Bavarian Military Decoration were taken over into the new order, and to do so returned their original decoration.